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#BS-1999-SUBLEG-2517

1999 Subaru Legacy

Based on reports from 119 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
119
Crashes
28
Fires
1
Recalls
3
TSBs
39
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 119 complaints, 28 crashes, 1 fires, and 3 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

overheating due to bad head gasket design

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
2

o2 oxygen sensor failure check engine light on

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

lurching

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $1.20

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Speed ControlHIGH

12 owners reported speed control issues — failures commonly reported around 101K miles.

!Inspect the Power Train:automatic TransmissionMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

1
0–30K
4
30–60K
9
60–90K
7
90–120K
7
120–150K
6
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (9 reports) • Median: 101K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Speed Control (12 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Speed Control12 (10%)
Power Train:automatic Transmission11 (9%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip10 (8%)
Air Bags:frontal7 (6%)
Suspension6 (5%)
Other6 (5%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline5 (4%)
Fuel System5 (4%)

1999 Subaru Legacy: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 1999 Subaru Legacy, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 101,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 101K-mile mark.

Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 1999 Subaru Legacy, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip Issues

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1999 Subaru Legacy, with 10 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Air Bags:frontal Issues

Air Bags:frontal complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1999 Subaru Legacy, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to air bags:frontal-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

10
00
10
01
16
02
13
03
4
04
5
05
1
06
3
07
4
08
3
09
2
10
3
11
3
12
4
14
1
15
1
17
1
19

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1999 Subaru Legacy. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (3 recalls)

01V216000Sep 2001

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

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 ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.

98V127000Sep 1998

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

99V040000Jun 1999

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

The worst model year for the Subaru Legacy is the 2013 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 119 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Subaru Legacy Model Years

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View all Subaru Legacy years →

1999 Subaru Legacy: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1999 Subaru Legacy?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1999 Subaru Legacy is related to the speed control, with 12 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1999 Subaru Legacy reliable?
The 1999 Subaru Legacy has 119 complaints, 28 crash reports, and 1 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1999 Subaru Legacy problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1999 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?
Yes, the 1999 Subaru Legacy has 3 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Subaru Legacy problems start?
Based on 34 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 101,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 119 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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