The 1999 Subaru Legacy has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 422,293 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION01V2160002001-06-25180,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE…
Consequence
DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC99V0400001999-03-03221,987 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V1270001998-06-0820,306 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, ALSO SERVICE PARTS SUPPLIED TO SUBARU DEALERS ARE INVOLVED (LOT NUMBERS F01 J21D2, F01 J30D2, F02 J09D1, F02 J09D2, AND F02 J20D1). THE PUROLATOR OIL FILTER CANS USED ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE CAUSING A VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.
Consequence
THIS VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY CAN RESULT IN OIL VAPOR IGNITION BY THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THESE ENGINE OIL FILTERS.
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12
3crashes
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
10
3crashes3injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
7crashes5injuries
SUSPENSION
6
1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
5
1crashes
AIR BAGS
4
4crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
POWER TRAIN
4
Total complaints119
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Front right coil spring broke at base of strut.”
“Leaking coolant and replaced radiator, thermostat and still leaking and started to overhead. Found out it was head baskets and did research on recalls for this year make and model. Found out on forums that there were multiple problems with both types of engines that year the single and dual…”
“Wife coming home from work spring blew and went through tire came to a sudden stop had it fixed when being fixed repair shop said other side was broke to so had both repaired later found subaru had a recall on this so called them on the 1800 number they said it was vin spec and ours wasn't on…”
“Started noticing a problem when coming down a long, steep hill with extensive shuddering when braking. When I got into town, there was a even more shuddering when coming to a stop at a red light. I had to pull on the parking brake to stop the car. When we started up again, it pulled very hard so…”
“Started noticing a problem when coming down a long, steep hill with extensive shuddering when braking. When I got into town, there was a even more shuddering when coming to a stop at a red light. I had to pull on the parking brake to stop the car. When we started up again, it pulled very hard so…”
“Driving in heavy traffic in the left lane of I-78, the shifter popped out of 5th gear by itself (that is, without any human intervention). The vehicle completely lost power immediately, as it was now in neutral. *tr”
“I was stopped at the intersection of 23rd and union in seattle on my way to work. I was going north. It was about 7:40 a.m. On tuesday, 5/20/2014. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a car coming up behind me and it looked like it was going to fast to stop. The driver didn't even seem to slow…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 subaru legacy outback. The contact stated that while refueling, the filler neck corroded and fuel emitted from the tank. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the filler neck needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Subaru Legacy as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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