1999 Subaru Legacy Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 18about this part
- Share
- 19%of 94 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 92,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1999 Subaru Legacy, 19% of the 94 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 92,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Driving in heavy traffic in the left lane of I-78, the shifter popped out of 5th gear by itself (that is, without any human intervention). The vehicle completely lost power immediately, as it was now in neutral.”
NHTSA complaint #10616335, filed 2014-07, 134,700 miles“Automatic transmission problem: hesitates going into gear. Get stuck in neutral. Shift through the gears to see if it will go into gear. Then try revving engine to slip it into gear. It can suddenly catch into gear and then the car surges forward or backwards, causing a dangerous situation. According to complaint sites on the internet, this is a common problem in 5 years of Subaru vehicles. This is not acceptable. Repair shop said the seals are going and I will likely need a new or rebuilt transmission. Subaru should acknowledge the problem and offer a free fix. …”
NHTSA complaint #10392215, filed 2011-03, 141,225 miles“Vehicle has a manual transmission. When driving in 5th gear, transmission will drop out of gear without warning. The 5th gear was repaired on the and there was a packing nut that was supposed to be peened on the gear shaft to keep it from backing off. The manufacturer did not properly peen the transmission. The vehicle needed a new 5th slider nut, retightened, and peened correctly. Also in cruise control when the vehicle dropped out of the 5th gear, it caused the engine to race. (outback)”
NHTSA complaint #10024108, filed 2003-07, 77,000 miles“When I'm going down a decline at around 40mph and the transm. Is in 4th gear and I am coasting and begin to apply the brake the care will shift into 3rd gear and rev the engine to around 3500-4000 RPM. I feel this sudden unexpected transmission shift could cause a loss of traction on slippery roads which is the purpose of my buying an all wheel drive vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #709212, filed 1999-07“When driving down hill 6% + grade and I lightly touch the brake pedal to slow, our 1999 Legacy outback downshifts one or two gears. I have to put the car in neutral then back into drive because it sticks in whatever gear it shifts into at a very high RPM. It does this from 40 to 70 MPH, but only on a steep grade. It does this with or without the cruse control turned on. The frequency of the problem is increasing. …”
NHTSA complaint #762291, filed 2002-05Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 2 | 6% |
| 2020 | 7 | 6% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 | 2 | 2% |
| 2017 | 4 | 3% |
| 2016 | 13 | 9% |
| 2015 | 15 | 9% |
| 2014 | 6 | 11% |
| 2013 | 12 | 18% |
| 2012 | 34 | 38% |
| 2011 | 47 | 28% |
| 2010 | 50 | 33% |
| 2009 | 2 | 3% |
| 2008 | 6 | 9% |
| 2007 | 1 | 3% |
| 2006 | 8 | 9% |
| 2005 | 13 | 7% |
| 2004 | 2 | 4% |
| 2003 | 5 | 8% |
| 2002 | 7 | 13% |
| 2001 | 2 | 3% |
| 2000 | 14 | 15% |
| 1999 | 18 | 19% |
| 1998 | 14 | 12% |
| 1997 | 17 | 12% |
| 1996 | 8 | 7% |
| 1995 | 9 | 5% |
| 1994 | 5 | 8% |
| 1993 | 9 | 12% |
| 1992 | 5 | 9% |
| 1991 | 16 | 21% |
| 1990 | 14 | 17% |
Other parts of the 1999 Subaru Legacy
12 complaintsVehicle speed control
12 complaintsAir bags
11 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsSuspension
8 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaintsTires
5 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsEngine
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Subaru Legacy
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology