Home/ Subaru/ Outback/ 1997

1997 Subaru Outback

Safety Score
81
Safe
Recalls
1
Complaints
50
NCAP Stars

Recalls (1)

Date NHTSA ID Component Units Completion
1998-02-20 98V035000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 61,115 Details

Owner Complaints (showing up to 50)

Date Component Crash Injuries Summary
2012-10-06 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM No 0 NOTICED A LEAK OF FLUID FROM PASSENGER SIDE BY THE REAR WHEEL. DETERMINED IT WAS GASOLINE. UPON INSPECTION FOUND FUEL …
2010-06-26 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Yes 0 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE P…
2009-07-04 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS No 0 DRIVING ALONG I-495 SOUTHBOUND IN MASSACHUSETTS JUST BEFORE EXIT FOR I-90. SPEED WAS 65 MPH. HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING …
2008-12-09 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM No 0 I BOUGHT A 97 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK WGN AND FOUND OUT THE BLOCK WAS CRACKED IN CYL3 AFTER TEAR DOWN FOR GASKET REPLACEM…
2008-08-29 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE No 0 FUEL FILLER NECK RUSTED CAUSING GAS TO LEAK OUT ONTO GARAGE FLOOR AND WHILE DRIVING AND FILLING TANK. VEHICLE WAS BROU…
2008-06-21 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE No 0 LOSS OF COOLANT, OVERHEATED ENGINE, DIAGNOSIS OF BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAR: 1997 SUBARAU LEGACY OUTBACK WITH 2.5 LITER EN…
2008-05-23 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING No 0 OVERHEATING, BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TR
2008-05-15 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE No 0 GAS TANK FILLER PIPE HAS RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
2007-06-14 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING No 0 '97 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED 85,000 MI IS OVERHEATING. BEGAN AS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM APPROX 5 MONTHS…
2006-10-13 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT No 0 DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. THE AAA PRO…
2006-03-16 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING No 0 BLOWN HEAD GASKET 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK LEGACY. *JB
2006-02-21 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING No 0 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 DOHC ENGINE 1) CAR WAS SUDDENLY LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE, BROUGHT IT IN TO SHOP ASAP 2) HEAD GASK…
2006-01-21 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM No 0 OUTBACK 1997: 108,000. CAR OVERHEATED SUDDENLY ON A SHORT TRIP. REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND FLUSHED/FILLED RADIATOR AT L…
2005-06-22 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL Yes 1 CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE RESULTING IN A ROLL-OVER ACCIDENT TOTALING THE VEHICLE
2005-05-16 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION No 0 IN 2001 I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT HOLD THE CAR BACK WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS. I …
2005-03-01 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS No 0 HOOD OPENING ACCIDENTALLY WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ON A HEAVILY RAINY DAY WHEN THE HOOD OPENED UP AND SLAMMED T…
2005-02-26 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM No 0 HEAD GASKET FAILURE. PURCHASED IN 2/07 (EST. DATE) BEGAN TO FAIL AT LEAST IN 1/05 (1X). THEN WEEKLY IN 7/05. BUT MA…
2005-02-04 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE No 0 THIS IS THE STANDARD SUBARU 2.5L HEAD GASKET FAILURE PROBLEM. I ADD THIS TO THE DATABASE TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON S…
2004-12-23 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE No 0 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *BF THE VEHICLE LOST INTERNAL HEAT AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE READ HOT. THE …
2004-12-10 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM No 0 WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE V…
2004-09-29 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH No 0 THE HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HOOD CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, DENTED THE HOOD AND BENT THE HINGES. TH…
2004-06-21 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM No 0 I HAVE A '1997 LEGACY OUTBACK SUBARU. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS. TODAY, JUNE 21, I STOPPED ON MY WAY TO BAR HA…
2004-06-01 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM No 0 AFTER ALTERNATOR REPLACED, NOTICED THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCES OF ELECTRICAL OUTAGES: REAR POWER OUTLET, SEAT HEATER SWITCH…
2004-04-12 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE No 0 NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE. HAD TO HAVE FRONT CRANK SEAL REPLACED. ALSO NEEDED TO GET TIMING BELT REPLACED AS OI…
2004-04-10 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE No 0 THE NOW INFAMOUS "BLOWN HEAD GASKET" IN PHASE I 2.5L ENGINES IS THE FOCUS OF MY COMPLAINT. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS AT L…
2004-02-26 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE No 0 SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF HEAD WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE DIED. SPARK PLUG UNABLE TO BE REINSERTED RESULTING IN A HEAD REPL…
2004-01-21 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS Yes 0 PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK. *MR THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP, RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER REA…
2004-01-14 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST No 0 POWER BRAKES FAIL TO FUNCTION IMMEDIATELY AND SHORTLY AFTER (WITHIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES) AFTER COLD START IN TEMPERATURES B…
2003-09-10 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS No 0 A THICK FILM COVERED THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME DIM. *AK
2003-08-05 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH No 0 CONSUMER STATES THAT LATCHES, LOCKS AND HINGES ARE RUSTED. DEALER STATED NOTHING WE COULD DO. VEHICLE'S WARRANTY EXPIR…
2003-04-11 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH No 1 WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROUTE. 495 AT 65 MPH DURING THE 6:30-6:45 A.M. RUSH HOUR, (PRIMARILY LARGE TRUCKS BARRELING DOWN THE…
2003-02-14 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC No 0 WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB
2002-10-01 WHEELS:MULTI PIECE No 0 CONSUMER STATES ALL 4 ALLOY RIMS ARE CORRODING EXCESSIVELY RESULTING IN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. TS
2002-07-22 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM No 0 WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH WATER PUMP FAILED ,ALLOWING TIMING CHAIN TO SLIP OFF, AND BENDING VALVES TO ENGINE. PLEASE DES…
2002-05-15 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE No 0 CRANK/CAM/OIL PAN SILICONE SEALS FAILEDS EARLY IN VEHICLE LIFE. ALSO, ALTERNATOR BELT FELL OFF, MAIN PULLEY BROKE, CEN…
2002-01-08 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM No 0 CONSUMER NOTICED SPOTS ON THE DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT O RINGS WERE LEAKING AND HAD T…
2001-11-15 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE No 0 CONSUMER STATES THAT ENGINE BLOCK AND HEAD ARE CRACKED WITH NO SIGNS OF OVERHEATING, SUBARU MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND NO …
2001-10-12 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE No 0 ENGINE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXA…
2001-10-11 SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS No 0 RECALL 01 V 216 000/FRONT COIL SPRING: UNABLE TO GET DEALER; HASSETT DEALERSHIP; WANTAH, NY; PHONE# 516/785-7800 TO HON…
2001-08-25 WHEELS No 0 THERE IS AN AIR LEAK AT WELD ON FRONT RIGHT ALUMINUM WHEEL. TIRE CONTINUALLY HAS LOW AIR PRESSURE. SEARS TIRE CENT…
2001-03-12 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING No 0 2.5 LITER ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED, CAUSING REPEATED INSTANCES OF OVERHEATING REQUIRING STOPPING IN DANGEROUS TRAFFIC SITUA…
2001-03-10 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE No 0 OVERHEATING CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE BLOCK WHICH CRACKED REQUIRED REPEATED IMMEDIATE PULLOVERS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO PREV…
2000-08-27 STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP No 0 BACKGROUND: MY 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK DEVELOPED A PROBLEM THAT INVOLVED A FAILED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND COLLATERAL DAMAGE…
2000-07-01 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE No 0 LOCAL SUBARU DEALER HAS SOLD THESE PARTS SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY. IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM. WHEN THIS FAILS TH…
1999-10-11 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP Yes 0 WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT VEHICLE HYDRO PLANED. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE SLID OFF THE ROAD…
1999-07-12 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP No 0 THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO FEEL "MUSHY," AND HAD EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH COULD …
1999-03-27 SUSPENSION Yes 0 CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, GOING INTO ONCOM…
1998-12-30 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING No 0 WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH AND RADIO WILL STOP WORKING, AND THEN IN AN HOUR THEY WILL WORK AGAIN. FUSES WERE CHECKED AND …
1998-11-19 STRUCTURE:BODY No 0 THE LOCATION OF THE CUP HOLDER RIGHT ABOVE OF RADIO, CAUSED LIQUIDS TO SEEP INTO THE STEREO SYSTEM. THE RADIO BEGAN TO…
1998-05-15 UNKNOWN OR OTHER No 0 COFFEE CUP HOLDER PLACEMENT IS ABOVE THE RADIO, AND BY IT BEING DIRECTLY OVER THE RADIO, SPILLLS OR FLUIDS COMING DIREC…