1999 Subaru Legacy L 30th Anniversary Wagon 2.2L four cylinder from North America

Summary:

Great value - excellent SUV alternative!

Faults:

So far, nothing has gone majorly wrong with the car!

The automatic transmission seems to shift a little hard between 2nd & 3rd, but I had the fluid replaced, and it seemed to help.

Last year the check engine light came on & wouldn't go off. It turned out the gas cap wasn't screwed on tightly! It finally went away.

Sometimes the power antenna doesn't extend all the way. Also, in the winter, it gets stuck until the car warms up.

General Comments:

This little Subaru has surprisingly a lot of room. So far, I have hauled 5 trees inside of it, and some very large boulders for landscaping.

Our 90 pound Labrador Retriever fits great in the back for long rides, with room to spare for cargo. He has room to stand and turn around!

My wife thinks the car is "nerdy," yet she admits it is very comfortable to ride in for long trips. Much more so than our 2000 Nissan Altima.

I wish the roof rack was adjustable.

The factory AM/FM cassette player is decent, but the radio reception is not the greatest. Sometimes the power antenna doesn't extend all the way up.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th May, 2004

1999 Subaru Legacy Outback from North America

Summary:

Not a good bargain

Faults:

Needs a new transmission; owner had maintained well and did not drive hard.

General Comments:

Until the transmission problem, it was a good car; however, it should not blow transmission at 124,000.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 9th February, 2004

19th Oct 2004, 13:06

I just had the transmission rebuilt on my 1999 Subaru Outback Limited and it had 93,000 miles on it. I couldn’t get it in drive, reverse yes, but no drive. The technician I spoke with to help me get it going told me, ‘oh yes, I just fixed two like that’. Later, I was told that’s how things go with aging vehicles. I was treated like ‘chopped liver’. I asked for assistance and was offered 2% of the cost. I refused it. I am not sure why they even bothered with that amount given that the total cost came out to $1,500. I thought I was buying a quality car in terms of longevity. It might not have been so bad had I not had to replace the cam seals 6 months ago for $500. It’s disappointing. I too have maintained the car well, always taken it in for every oil change, check-up, etc. with the dealer.

16th Feb 2006, 23:24

I second the comments on 1999 Subaru transmissions. It is an infrequent, yet known problem that Subaru won't face up to. Same deal; my 1999 Outback transmission started a delay from Park or Reverse to Drive. Once it got up to over a minute, I took it in for a rebuild. The dealer refused to diagnose the problem and offered a new transmission for $3,500. I had it rebuilt in a private shop for $1,600. The problem was pistons in the low clutch assembly that had hardened and took over 125 PSI to move.

Now it runs great, but this is my fifth Subaru; the second I bought new and it is my last.

28th Dec 2008, 18:52

My wife also purchased a Subaru. I didn't like the price, she loved the car. A while after owning it, I drove it and liked it (1 month). A short time after it was having transmission problems; end result new transmission.

Now presently we are dealing with an overheating issue. I went online to review any similar issues and there are tons. Starts with overheating, end result being warped heads and a blown head gasket, estimated cost 1500 to $2000.

These items should have been recalled; end result, I will never purchase or recommend a Subaru ever.

In reply to 28th Dec 2008, 18:52

2nd Jan 2012, 21:35

You won't recommend a Subaru, nor purchase another one, simply because you don't maintain it?

Just wow!