Suspension Problems of Subaru Legacy - part 1

Vehicle: 2012 Subaru Legacy VIN: [xxx] owner location: syracuse, NY (salt-belt state) dealer: romano Subaru (syracuse, NY) dealer findings / estimate: “urgent work — subframe with sway links — $3,119. 89” (front subframe replacement required), plus alignment and related items; total estimate $4,394. 75. Summary of safety defect: the front subframe has corrosion holes near structural/mounting points. This compromises suspension/steering integrity and presents a risk of sudden loss of control while driving. Manufacturer response (Subaru of America): I opened a case with Subaru corporate. Subaru denied assistance on the basis of vehicle age (2012) and absence of a front-subframe recall, and instead offered a $500 coupon toward a new vehicle. This response does not address the current safety defect documented by a Subaru dealer. Why NHTSA action is warranted: •Subaru has already recalled the rear subframe on these models in salt-belt states (NHTSA 19v-297) due to corrosion-related failure. •my vehicle exhibits the same corrosion failure on the front subframe, a critical load-bearing structure. •a safety defect should be addressed regardless of vehicle age. The manufacturer’s refusal leaves an unsafe vehicle on the road or forces the owner to pay for a safety-critical repair that appears systemic in salt-belt regions. Requested action: I request NHTSA investigate front subframe corrosion on 2010–2014 Subaru Legacy/outback vehicles in salt-belt states and determine whether the rear-subframe recall should be expanded to include front subframes. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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While turning the wheel to back out of a parking spot, we heard a loud clunking sound. From that point on, while braking there were loud clunking sounds and the car pulled to the right. We brought it to our mechanic and was informed the front sub frame/ engine cradle, was completey rusted out due to corrosion from the inside. There was a mounting bolt protruding through a hole in the subframe and the suspension components were loose and damaged. They provided a photo showing the large hole and mounting bolt protruding. We were told it was unsafe to drive. We have to replace the sub frame, control arms and sway bar links. The sub frame supports these components, the engine and other parts!.

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Took it for inspection was told the part that holds the engine up is rotting away and it will not pass inspection next year this is disappointing I have cars older then this and they are in better condition this vehicle was brought brand new this should not occur I could understand if it was old this car is only 8yrs old I have pics to support.

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The front subframe of my 2010 Subaru is completely rusted through and is available for inspection. My safety was put at risk because if the subframe broke in half while I was driving it would cause an accident from lack of steering control. Many people online said they had the same problem. The car was vibrating and shaking at high speed. The vehicle has not been inspected by any representatives. Subaru of America was called and they refused to do anything to help us. I am sure there are many more of these cars on the road with this problem who are unaware as I was and it is extremely unsafe. People are going to be killed!!!.

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Replaced steering rack 2/12/20 replaced steering rack 12/07/22 replaced sway bar links 11/09/23 inspection found rear lateral link bushings torn and alignment hardware seized in bushings torn and seized/replaced bushings and hardware to complete a proper alignment. 01/23/24 replaced front sway bar links and strut mounts and performed alignment.

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Dealer has reported rear subframe if broken. I googled this and found recall 03v153000 which seems applicable but Subaru says it does not apply to my car. Problem description seems identical.

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The front subframe and engine cradle broke while driving (corrosion). Car began swaying and brakes were affected. Car pulled hard to the right when applying minor pressure to brakes on highway immediately after hearing the part break. The car only has 110,000 miles on it and according to the repair shop and dealership this is an increasingly common problem for the car make and model for this specific part.

When I brought car in for an oil change. Cam carrier leak, was reported to me that there was a cam carrier leak. When I look online there are countless reports of this. Seems like there could be something faulty with the engine. Subaru offered to cover the repair as a 1 time curtesy. But if there is an issue with the design of an engine then this should be looked at further. The rear brushings are also failing don't think this should happen so quickly, maybe faulty brushings. No warning lights.

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This 2011 Subaru Legacy would pull severely to the right when braking, nearly jerking the steering wheel out of the drivers hand. The car was taken to a private auto repair shop where it was found the motor cradle (part #50527aj00b) was completed rusted out so the a-arm to the wheel was unstable. In trying to locate a new part, online and from local dealers, it was found the part was on backorder. We were number 142 in line to receive the part. There is obviously a severe and dangerous problem with this issue as a car would veer into the other lane or offroad when braking. Subaru corporate office was contacted and I was told I would have to take the vehicle to the Subaru dealer. This would require a tow so I decided to have the private auto repair shop fix it as it was also undriveable. This complaint is to bring attention to this as a safety issue. My grandchildren were transported in this vehicle and were at risk of serious injury or death because of this problem. I feel Subaru should notify other owners of this problem on this make and model to avoid risk of serious injury or death. I have a video of the car and tire that shows what was happening before I took it to the auto repair shop. I was unable to upload the video file but would like to get it sent for your review. I can be emailed at brune5@msn. Com. My phone number is (309) 696-8849. Daniel brune.

To whom it may concern. I’ve purchased a second hand vehicle from new jersey I live in California. It is 2002 Subaru outback h-6 3. 0 with 52,000 miles. Upon delivery I took it to orange coast Subaru for general inspection when it was brought to my attention that there’s an open recall from 2004 stating excessive corrosion in the rear sub frame. It applies on vehicles in cold wet states where new jersey is one of them. Service advisor assure me that all is fine and they marked it as resolved. Upon inspection when I received the car back to my horror the sub frame is corroded to the point of disintegration. I took it back in and I’ve reached out to Subaru of north America where they look into it and concluded that the factory warranty is expired, 5 years 60k miles and they will not fix the recall. Base on my research there’s no expiration on manufacture recall and I’m not sure why they will not take care of it . Please help me navigate this matter. Thank you kindly sharron barshishat 714-2275771 the person at Subaru headquarters info is; jenna Subaru of America, inc. Customer advocacy department 1-800-subaru3 (1-800-782-2783) direct: (856)438-2457 customers@Subaru. Com case number 230324-0201246.

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The contact's daughter owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made squeaking sounds. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear lateral link had detached from the rear sub frame, and that the rear strut was leaning against the rear driver's side tire. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the rear sub frame was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 03v153000 (suspension) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Front sub-frame rusted through. Local mechanic said unsafe to drive. Insurance will not cover claim because this is "prior issue" not accident related. Subaru dealership confirmed safety risk and will repair for >$3000.

While braking at lower speed the driver's side lower control arm broke out causing the car to pull very hard to the left. Both lower control arms and the subframe had to be replaced.

The front subframe failed due to corrosion from the inside according to the service department. The vehicle is unsafe to drive with this condition. It only has 38,180 miles on it. It has not been driven in a reckless fashion. I have never heard of this failure in a low mileage auto.

I was going down the hill in my development, I made it approximately 2-300ft at 7-10mph when suddenly there was a loud “bang”. I could not see anything, my airbags had deployed and blocked my field of vision. I ended up hitting an electrical pole. There was no need for the airbags to go off. I could have been killed. There is no airbag recall on my VIN number.

Front subframe has rotted away in several spots. This makes the vehicle extremely unsafe to drive. With possible wheel loss or control of steering. Problem has been confirmed by independent repair shop during state inspection. No warning lights are on or possible for this issue. Issue was first noticed from noise coming from front of vehicle like rocks bouncing around, followed by strong pulling to the right when braking.

The vehicle was diagnosed at a Subaru dealership as having a rusted sub-frame with mounting bolt holes loose and suspension components moving freely. The vehicle is deemed unsafe to drive. (on April 8, 2022, my car suddenly made a loud clunking noise and drove very rocky). The car had not given any previous warning signals of this problem.

Vehicle is difficult to control, especially when driving on uneven roads, or when it is windy. It takes a lot of effort to keep the car in one lane. The ride is rough, and you can hear and feel every little bump in the road. More than a rough ride, this will oftentimes throw my vehicle off path which feels like the car is not in my control momentarily. For instance, it will follow the direction of any cracks/grooves in the road, despite both my hands being on the wheel. This deviation requires immediate correction or risk collision. A passing vehicle moving at a high rate of speed will also push my car off track, which is obviously dangerous on the freeway.

The contact owns a 2001 Subaru outback. The contact stated that while his son was driving at highway speeds, the vehicle would wobble without warning. After the contact test drove the vehicle and experienced the failure himself, he took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and discovered that the rear control arm had rotted out due to severe corrosion. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the vehicle had been placed under NHTSA campaign number: 03v153000 (suspension). The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and confirmed the prior recall on the vehicle; however, they could not offer any further assistance. The contact also took the vehicle to the dealer where they informed him that the entire subframe had rotted out due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in their possession. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

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The contact owns a 2002 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 mph, there was an abnormal sound of metal fragments dropping. The vehicle was seen by an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the underneath of the vehicle was rusted. The contact was unaware what parts had detached from the vehicle or needed to be replaced. In addition, the vehicle was accelerating independently. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.

Rear driver side wheel bearing is bad at 75,000 miles.

See all problems of the 2007 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Problem was the undercarriage support, little or no protection from essentially a drop, car "leaped' off embankment bottoming out. The result was spinal trauma to the occupants. Very little shock absorption in the seat or suspension. The car rocked back and forth, front and rear but the sudden impact on the undercarriage wasn't absorbed.

Tl the contact owns a 2000 Subaru Legacy. While the vehicle was undergoing a state inspection, the contact was informed that the rear suspension showed severe rust. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired twice per NHTSA campaign number: 03v153000 (suspension) by patriot Subaru of saco (located at 769 portland rd, saco, me 04072, (207) 284-7900). The contact was informed that there were two sub sections underneath the vehicle that needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 182,159.

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Takata recall auto accident front driver side crushed up to firewall and no airbags went off , zero ! wife leg was badly brused because of this ! auto was in motion at 25 miles a hour at a intersection going straight ahead was hit on driver front from side by cross traffic.

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I checked under the car and the rear suspension is so rusted it is unsafe to drive . I looked on the internet and it is a common issue. With the amount of unsafe cars driving around with this issue I would say the ball was really dropped on the original recall.

1997 Subaru Legacy outback. Came out to my parked vehicle with the right front tire flat due to part of the suspension spring being snapped and sticking into inside of the tire. Spring was intact when I parked it. Frightening to think if that had happened while driving on the highway of which I was the day before this happened.

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The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the suspension was unstable and the vehicle veered left or right while driving over 50 mph. The vehicle was taken to a dealer (the motor company, w 1680 us-41, marinette, WI 54143, (715) 735-7474) who provided an alignment, but the condition continued to progress. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no solution. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000.

I own a 2002 Subaru Legacy in western new york, I recently was told there was an issue that was recalled back in 2004 but my car was never notified or addressed of the issue with corrosion. The recall ( NHTSA campaign number: 03v153000 ) I was driving on the high way when I hit a small bump and the back end of the Subaru dropped and the tire started to shred causing me to loose control of the car , thank good the car came to a rest in the median and no crash or fatalities occurred.

The weld that attached the front right strut assembly to the body completely failed. The wheel collapsed into the wheel well. This happened while I beginning to make a right turn. The vehicle was not moving more than 3-4 mph. For some months before the weld failed there was vibration during braking that we could not diagnose. I ended up replacing the brake pads, rotors, brake cylinders on both front wheels to no avail. I have pictures of the collapsed wheel. I don't know how to upload the picture. I can send it to an email address if you wish.

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Subframe corrosion.

See all problems of the 2004 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. While driving approximately 75 mph, the vehicle rolled over a bump in the road and became uncontrollable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to be diagnosed twelve times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 500.

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Wife coming home from work spring blowed 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 wasnt on there I wish it met that our car wouldnt have done the same thing. They refused to give any on the repair cost, so they addvertise the car is a safe car you hand down to your children but according to the manager I spoke with a 1999 and 140 thousand miles the car was beyond their worries. The car is in otherwise good shape. I guess from where they stand if they make it a few yrs on a bad design noone gets hurt they are off the hook . I just think this is unsafe and it should be taken care no matter what . . .

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Veh. Was traveling at approx. 25mph up a low incline on slushy paved 2 lane surface. Veh. Broke traction spun sideways and travelled sideways into brush and striking a tree in the driver. Side front fender (side impact). Drivers head struck and broke drvrs. Door window. Drvr. Sustained several facial lacerations requiring plastic surgery and resulting in probable scarring. Front seat passenger sustained right leg injury resulting in severe bruising and swelling. Both were treated in an emergency room and released. Veh. Is equipped with side curtain airbags which did not deploy. If deployed, the drvr. Side airbag would have prevented the drvrs. Injuries.

See all problems of the 2005 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Tl-the contact owns a 2005 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that when taking the vehicle to have recall repairs done for NHTSA campaign id number: 14v311000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The dealer diagnosed that the rear suspension, right rear spring, both rear lateral links, and the rear suspension subframe (corrosion build up) needed to be done prior to recall repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 169,000. Ne.

The rear suspension is rustey that it has rust holes thourth it and this is also the that holds the drive in place I have look at other Subarus and they are the same way if that breaks it could cause vary bad crash.