2003 Subaru Legacy Reviews, Ratings & Specs

Safety Recalls (12)

• Recall
  NHTSA Campaign:

  02V282

  Summary:

  Certain passenger and sport utility vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is placed in the "P" (Park) position, the transmission park mechanism, which is intended to hold the vehicle, may not engage. The vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy:

  Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during January 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during November 2002. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
• Recall
  NHTSA Campaign:

  02V240

  Summary:

  On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles with 4-cylinder engines, the water pump pulley center hole was improperly machined. In some instances, the interference fit between the inner wall of the pulley center hole and the water pump drive shaft was not as tight as specified in the drawing specification. This could result in the water pump pulley dislodging from the water pump shaft, which can cause severe engine damage/seizure during vehicle usage.

  Remedy:

  Dealers will replace the water pump. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Sept. 12, 2002. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
• Recall
  NHTSA Campaign:

  04V128

  Summary:

  On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the cruise control cable could come out of its track on the cruise control lever and lodge on the control lever tab when the accelerator pedal is released. If this condition occurs, the throttle will not return to the idle position and will remain in an open position. If this occurs during vehicle operation, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could result in a crash.

  Remedy:

  Dealers will install a cruise control cable retaining clip to the cruise control lever tab on the throttle shaft in order to prevent the cruise control cable from coming out of its track.
• Recall
  NHTSA Campaign:

  03V153

  Summary:

  This applies to certain passenger vehicles sold or currently registered in the States of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Certain rear suspension subframe components were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive road salts for a period of several years, could result in rust-out of the component and possible breakage of the subframe. If such breakage occurs while the vehicle is being operated, control of the vehicle could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy:

  Dealers will clean and rust-proof the rear suspension subframe. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during June or July 2003. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
• Recall
  NHTSA Campaign:

  02V282

  Summary:

  Certain passenger and sport utility vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is placed in the "P" (Park) position, the transmission park mechanism, which is intended to hold the vehicle, may not engage. The vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy:

  Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during January 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during November 2002. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
• Recall
  NHTSA Campaign:

  02V240

  Summary:

  On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles with 4-cylinder engines, the water pump pulley center hole was improperly machined. In some instances, the interference fit between the inner wall of the pulley center hole and the water pump drive shaft was not as tight as specified in the drawing specification. This could result in the water pump pulley dislodging from the water pump shaft, which can cause severe engine damage/seizure during vehicle usage.

  Remedy:

  Dealers will replace the water pump. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Sept. 12, 2002. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
• Recall
  NHTSA Campaign:

  04V128

  Summary:

  On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the cruise control cable could come out of its track on the cruise control lever and lodge on the control lever tab when the accelerator pedal is released. If this condition occurs, the throttle will not return to the idle position and will remain in an open position. If this occurs during vehicle operation, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could result in a crash.

  Remedy:

  Dealers will install a cruise control cable retaining clip to the cruise control lever tab on the throttle shaft in order to prevent the cruise control cable from coming out of its track.
• Recall
  NHTSA Campaign:

  03V153

  Summary:

  This applies to certain passenger vehicles sold or currently registered in the States of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Certain rear suspension subframe components were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive road salts for a period of several years, could result in rust-out of the component and possible breakage of the subframe. If such breakage occurs while the vehicle is being operated, control of the vehicle could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy:

  Dealers will clean and rust-proof the rear suspension subframe. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during June or July 2003. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
• Air Bags May 25, 2016
  Report Receipt Date:

  May 25, 2016

  NHTSA Campaign:

  16V358000

  Summary:

  Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

  Consequence:

  An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  Remedy:

  Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. A notification schedule has not yet been provided. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Saab owners may contact GM at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-16.
• Air Bags May 25, 2016
  Report Receipt Date:

  May 25, 2016

  NHTSA Campaign:

  16V359000

  Summary:

  Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

  Consequence:

  An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  Remedy:

  Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. A notification schedule has not yet been provided. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-16. Note: This notice is only for vehicles that were not covered by 16V-358 for Zone A.
• Air Bags May 25, 2016
  Report Receipt Date:

  May 25, 2016

  NHTSA Campaign:

  16V361000

  Summary:

  Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, and Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or "Zone C.". These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

  Consequence:

  An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  Remedy:

  Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-16. Note: This recall covers vehicles that were not previously covered in 16V-358 for Zone A or 16V-359 for Zone B.
• Air Bags Jul 7, 2014
  Report Receipt Date:

  Jul 7, 2014

  NHTSA Campaign:

  14V399000

  Summary:

  Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is conducting a recall of certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, and Baja vehicles as well as certain 2004 Impreza (including WRX/STI) vehicles, equipped with Takata-brand front passenger air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

  Consequence:

  In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

  Remedy:

  Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQL-48.