2000 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 207 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 17th highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2000 reports, 17 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 7 people were injured and 3 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpNov 29, 2013
Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's and Legacy's. The affected fuel pumps were sold or installed into the aftermarket applications on or after July 26, 2013, and may may leak fuel from the base of a fuel line connection when the gas tank is full.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Airtex will notify owners, and will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Recall is expected to begin on January 2, 2014. Customers may contact Airtex at 1-800-880-3056. The recall is expected to begin during January 2014. This recall is being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru.
Campaign 13E065000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearApr 22, 2003
THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.
IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL CLEAN AND RUST-PROOF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Campaign 03V153000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
35 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 7, 2003
CAR WAS OVERHEATING. TOOK TO DEALER TO CHANGE THE TIMING BELT AND TO INVESTIGATE THE OVERHEATING. CHANGED TIMING BELT AND BLEW SAND OUT OF RADIATOR FINS. INVESTIGATED ON THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THE SYMPTOMS WERE VERY SIMILAR TO A HEAD GASKET BEING BLOWN OUT IN VERY MANY CASES. THE NEXT WEEK THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS BEING PUSHED OUT OF THE OVERFLOW RESERVOIR AS DESCRIBED IN PROBLEMS FOUND ON THE WEB. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 16, 2003
I OWN A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD, WHITE VIN [XXX]. IT HAS APPROX. 63,000 MILES AND HAS HAD FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, AN ANTI-FREEZE SMELL AFTER THE CAR HAS INITIALLY WARMED UP. AS IT TURNS OUT, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE NEAREST SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR IT'S 60,000 MILE SERVICE AND WAS DISMAYED TO RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMING ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS GONE AND NEEDED REPLACING. IN THIS DAY AN AGE OF MODERN VEHICLES, A HEAD GASKET RARELY BECOMES DEFECTIVE AT 63,000 MILES; CHECK STATISTICS!!! I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WHEN SUBARU WENT TO THE 2.5L ENGINE SIZE AS MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE NOW EXPERIENCING THIS UNWARRANTED REPAIR AT SUCH AN EARLY TIME FRAME. AS THESE IRRITATED SUBARU OWNERS APPROACH THE 60,000 TO 80,000 MILE MARK AND START EXPERIENCING THESE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENTS, YOU SHOULD BECOME INUNDATED WITH COMPLAINTS. BEFORE THIS OCCURRED, I RECOMMENDED SUBARU'S TO MAY PEOPLE, BUT WITH THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR, WHICH SHOULD BE PARTLY OR WHOLLY COVERED BY SUBARU, I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND A SUBARU TO ANYONE EVER. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 18, 2003
I PURCHASED NEW A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK STATION WAGON. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING ALREADY. TWO SEPARATE SUBARU DEALERS AND TWO PRIVATE GARAGES TELL ME THE HEAD GASKETS ARE GOING IN THESE CARS LEFT AND RIGHT. THERE ARE LOTS OF ANGRY OWNERS ON THE WEB. THE HEAD GASKETS, VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE ENGINE MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR, ARE GOING WAY TOO SOON!. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 22, 2003
2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON DEVELOPED ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 61, 800 MILES REQUIRING EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. DEALER CLAIMED THE REASON TO BE NO COOLANT FLUSH AT THE 30,000 MILE MARK ON THE VEHICLE
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jul 6, 2002
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THE DEALER REPLACED THE FIRST GEAR OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT REPEATEDLY CAME OUT OF GEAR WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP INCLINES, SUCH AS IN A PARKING GARAGE. AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED, THE CAR EMITTED A VERY STRONG SMELL. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE DEALER SAID THE SEALS ON THE TRANSMISSION WERE LEAKING AND REPLACED. IT IS APPARENT THAT A PETROLEUM PRODUCT IS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND BURNING AND THE SMELL ENTERS THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY. DEALER SAYS I NEED TO KEEP A/C ON AND THE RECYCLE AIR BUTTON PUSHED. ISSUES UNRESOLVED.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Apr 16, 2002
THERE IS SLIPPAGE IN TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVING, IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, AND WILL HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT OIL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON TOGETHER AND THEN THE POWER GOES OUT, THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN STOPPING AND MOVING , THE PROBLEM IS STILL ON GOING. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SHOWS THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS BUT THEY CAN?T IDENTIFY THE CAUSE UNLESS IT HAPPENS IN THEIR PRESENCE. *YD
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 16, 2002
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON AND INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK *MJ
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 23, 2002
PROBLEM STARTED WHEN DRIVING TO MINNESOTA FROM CALIFORNIA. LOWER THERMOSTAT WENT OUT AND CAR OVER HEATED, REPLACED. LOWER THERMOSTAT WENT OUT AGAIN. CAR STILL HEATING UP FUNNY, DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG. TURNS OUT HEAD GASKET GONE. NEXT THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACK, THEY PUT IN NEW BLOCK AND GAVE US AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW LESS THEN A YEAR LATER CAR OVERHEATS AGAIN. SUBARU SEEMS TO BE DOING NOTHING TO HELP.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 2, 2002
4TH TIME FOR THIS RADIATOR OVERHEATING; SUBARU IS REPLACING ENGINE. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 8, 2001
FIRST RADIATOR FAILED AT APPROX. 21,000 MILES AND OEM REPLACEMENT RADIATOR FAILED AT APPROX. 44,000 MILES. BOTH RADIATORS 10 MOS. OLD.*AK