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. The car slipped into gear in a parking lot the other day (finally) and my car surged forward, almost hitting another car. I am no longer driving this vehicle (too dangerous).

- Mariposa, CA, USA

The contact owns a 1999 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the transmission will shift into neutral without warning. There is a 15-20 second delay when shifting the vehicle from park to drive. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing a new transmission. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage is 86,000 and failure mileage was 83,000. The consumer stated lou thomas suburu informed him the transmission could be repaired for $3400 close to the value of the car, but the consumer never had the car fixed at that repair shop. The consumer shopped at other transmission shops one informed could rebuild the transmission but would results may not be good. The consumer purchased a transmission from the salvage yard had it installed and found that it was infact defective. The consumer stated the vehicle has not been fixed to satisfaction and been parked ever since. Updated 07/06/07

- Albany, OH, USA

Consumer has a 1999 Subaru Legacy and complained about a transmission problem. When the consumer started the vehicle and put into drive it idled and then went into drive. When coming to a complete stop, the vehicle went into a mode. The consumer had to rev the engine and it would kick in. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealership and was told there was a problem with the seal and the transmission had to be replaced. Consumer felt it was too soon to replace the transmission at 61,000. The consumer noticed the problem approximately three months ago.

- East Lansing, MI, USA

Downshifting on inclines: Purchased a 1999 Subaru outback Legacy wagon new on Nov. 11/11/98, at fucillo imports, watertown, NY. The downshifting problems occur when going down large hills around 60 mph, gently applying the brakes to slow the vehicle, letting off the brakes, and the downshift jerks you forward. When the automobile was brand new, the abrupt jerk would put my head into the windshield. The salesperson told me that it was the way I drove the car. Odometer failure during August, 2002, the vehicle started intermittent odometer failures. The odometer would drop from ?? to 0 for a few seconds, and then gradually resume. After 6 mo. The dealership did replicate the problem and I had to have the odometer replaced for approximately $200. Transmission hesitation and abrupt engagement in August 2002 (about the same time as the intermittent odometer failure, and the crank seal leak / replacement) the car developed problems with a hesitation when putting the car into drive. On a cold incline start, the vehicle will roll backwards several feet before engaging in drive. After reversing, the hesitation will leave me without any drive power, before jerking into gear. The dealership saw the car in December 2002 (at 65,179 miles) and documented (but not duplicated) the problem. Transmission conditioner treatments haved eased the jerking. Now, 2 years later, a service manager finally duplicated the hesitation and roll back. And suggested transmission replacement for $2,500. Today, the car is over the 60,000 mile warranty at 93,418 miles. I can't help but feel that these problems are related, and are definitely a safety concern.

- Carthage, NY, USA

Failure occurs when stopped and then attempting to proceed. Car behaves as though it is in neutral when it is still in drive. This has occurred many times although intermittent. After a few minutes the transmission has caught. Taken to dealer 2 times (roberts Subaru, downingtown, pa) and although they kept car and drove for a few days they could find nothing wrong. This failure has almost caused car to be rear ended 2 times.

- Chester Springs, PA, USA

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. It is my opinion as a retired accident reconstruction specialist from the Washington state patrol that this has tremendous accident potential on surfaces with a reduced coefficient of friction (ice, snow or rain). The transmission functions properly at all other times. Camelback Subaru in phoenix, AZ., indicates they can not duplicate the problem, yet there is a history of the problem at NHTSA with the very same symptoms.

- Peoria, AZ, USA

The transmission has a design defect which causes it to abruptly and without warning shift down while descending a long grade. This has resulted in two instances of momentary loss of control of the vehicle in icy/slippery conditions. In addition, it will materially and significantly shorten the life of the transmission. Furthermore, it has scared passengers on numerous occaions due to the jerking of the car which results from this design defect. I have contacted the manufacturer which sent me to the dealer. No relief. I asked for the zone representative to call me and it has not taken place. The manufacturer has indicated on the phone that this is 'normal behavior'. I am told that this design defect has been removed from year 2000 Legacy outbacks. If true, that would be tacit admission that the design was flawed as it was not implented in any year but 1999. I have asked the manufacturer to install a new transmissioncontrolunit which eliminates this design flaw, since it would be a relatively simple software modification. They have indicated their reluctance to do so. While the aspect of the jerkiness of the car and the shortened lifespan of the transmission could be chalked up to 'tough kaka', the loss of control (albiet of a very temporary nature so far) resulting from an abrupt gear change down in icy conditions is a safety concern. The manufacturer said that a shift would be of no concern, to which I suggested they ask miki haakinnen, a race driver who lost a race due to the wrong gear being selected....one below the one he expected, which spun him out of the race. I have experienced a similar yaw from the abrupt gear change. Thankfully for the safety of my passengers and myself, I, too, have experience with racecars.....if not for practiced reflexes during the icy-condition downshifts referenced, I am quite confident that the car would have ended up off the road.

- Twain Harte, CA, USA

Transmission downshifts and vehicle on snow packed highways causing vehicle to jerk and swerve resulting in loss of control.

- Vail, CO, USA

Vehicle experiencing hard shift and accelerates at higher speeds when going around a corner / when applying the brake's causing failure.

- Mason, WI, USA

While slowing vehicle on hills, there is a jerking motion which can not be rectified, it is engaging into gear. Mjs

- Auburn, NY, USA

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.

- Somerset, KY, USA