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: power train
42 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Power train, Jun 2, 2016
I WAS ADVISED BY A MECHANIC ON 4/20/15 THAT THE REAR CRADLE IS VERY RUSTY, ENOUGH THAT I SHOULD AVOID CARRYING HEAVY LOADS. I JUST NOTICED ON THIS WEBSITE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2003 FOR INADEQUATE RUSTPROOFING OF THAT PART; HOWEVER, WE NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF A RECALL. CAN THIS BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED NOW? THERE WAS NO INCIDENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM.
Power train, Jul 17, 2014
STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE FORWARD GEARS. EVIDENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A KNOWN DEFECT AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
Suspension, Power train, Structure, May 5, 2013
I WAS DRIVING ALONG, AROUND 50 MPH. I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND SWERVED, AS IT WAS SNOWING... I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THE REAR SUB-FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND HAD BROKEN, ALLOWING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO BREAK FREE AND SMASH UP INTO THE FUEL TANK AND CAUSE SEVERE JERKING. I HAD DONE A LITTLE READING, SUBARU HAD A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR INFERIOR METAL ON THE REAR SUB-FRAME. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN FOR THE RECALL IN 2003. WHERE THEY DEEMED IT NOT BAD ENOUGH TO REPLACE THE SUB-FRAME, BUT CLEAN IT AND SPRAY IT WITH ANTI CORROSION SUBSTANCE. AS IT NOW STANDS, THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE, AND THE RECALL FIX WAS CLEARLY NOT A PROPER SOLUTION. I CALLED SUBARU, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT HAD BEEN IN FOR A RECALL IN 2003, THERE WAS NOTHING MORE ON THERE END THAT THEY WOULD DO. I AM A LONG TIME SUBARU FAN, AND I REALLY JUST WOULD LIKE THEM TO HONOR THEIR MISTAKE, AND FIX THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. OR PURCHASE IT BACK FROM ME, AND I WILL GLADLY PURCHASE ANOTHER SUBARU. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE SUB-FRAME WHERE IT HAS CLEARLY RUSTED AND BROKE FREE. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE METAL IS INFERIOR, CONSIDERING EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS IN FUNCTIONAL AND SERVICEABLE CONDITION. THANKS YOU. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 10, 2011
THE TPS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ALL LEADS FROM THE WIRING HARNESS HAVE BEEN GROUND AND LUBRICATED, BUT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SHOCK REMAINS. THE MANUFACTURER'S TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT, HAVING MADE THE FORMER GUESSES ON THE TPS REPLACEMENT AND LEADS, SUGGESTS REPLACING THE ECM AND TCM TO SEE IF THAT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. THE SEVERE SHIFT SHOCK IS THE MOST CURRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS EGREGIOUSLY DEFECTIVE VEHICLE IN WHICH ALL MAJOR PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SINCE PURCHASING IT NEW, THE REPAIR COST SO FAR EQUIVALENT TO THE PURCHASE PRICE. THERE IS 126,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ONLY ONE OWNER WHO HAS ALWAYS DRIVEN IT WITH THE UTMOST CARE. THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT STATE SINCE JULY 2010 IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE - WITHOUT FOLLOWING AN OBVIOUS PATTERN, THE AT DASHBOARD LIGHT FLASHES AND WITHIN SECONDS THERE IS SEVERE SHIFT SHOCK, ON HIGHWAYS AT 65MPH AND IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC AT 10MPH. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY SO THAT THE COMPUTER COMPONENTS CAN HOPEFULLY RESET, WHICH RESETTING DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN. IF THE ENGINE IS NOT SWITCHED OFF, THE SEVERE SHIFT SHOCK CONTINUES. HAVING THIS HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED IS SO DANGEROUS, AND TRYING TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FROM SUBARU OWNERS, BUT SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICE DENIES ALL RESPONSIBILITY, SIMPLY STATING THAT THE VEHICLES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIPS. THE DEALERSHIPS ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS THE DEFECT IS INHERENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Mar 16, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE TAKES 15-20 SECONDS FOR THE GEARS TO SHIFT. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Power train, Mar 2, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTS THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE GEARS, THE VEHICLE JERKS VERY STRONGLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REBUILT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 4/23/09 *CN UPDATED 04/27/09*JB
Power train, Apr 28, 2008
2000 SUBARU OUTBACK, TRANSMISSION SLIPS UNTIL WARMED UP. STARTED AT 60,000 MILES AND GETTING WORSE. WEB RESEARCH INDICATES A COMMON FAILURE OF PISTON SEALS AND A KNOWN PROBLEM AS SUBARU HAS REDESIGNED. WHAT ABOUT US PAST CUSTOMERS? *TR
Power train, Jan 8, 2008
TRANSMISSION WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO GO INTO DRIVE FROM PARK OR REVERSE. HAPPENS AT RANDOM. ENGINE CAN BE COLD OR WARM AND IT STILL HESITATES. SOMETIMES TAKES OVER A MINUTE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE. ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE GET STRANDED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY TOPPED OFF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SAID THE DELAY WAS NORMAL. ISSUES BEGAN AT 65K MILES AND HAVE PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. CAR NOW HAS 77K MILES AND ONLY OPTION GIVEN HAS BEEN TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jan 4, 2008, fire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN IDLING. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS A DELAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JOLT FORWARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PARTS FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT 64,000 MILES, THE CONTACT SMELLED ROTTEN EGGS WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25- 60 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 55,000 AND 80,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Power train, Nov 21, 2007
TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT OF 2000 OUTBACK BEFORE 70,000 MILES. IT IS STATED ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF OUTBACK. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO LAST FORA LONG TIME WITH LOW MAINTENANCE. I DON'T FEEL THAT I OR ANYONE ELSE SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION IN A CAR THAT HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT. I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE CAR PAID FOR AND IT WILL COST ME $2700.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT ONE THAT COULD STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Oct 12, 2006
THERE IS A DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A SUBARU SERVICE CENTER AND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT $3600. *NM
Power train, Dec 7, 2005
THE CLUTCH ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK 2000 IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2000. AT TIMES RANDOMLY IT WOULD SLIP OR THE PEDAL WOULD NOT RETURN UP. SLIPPING OF THE CLUTCH OR THE PEDAL BEING STUCK MULTIPLE TIMES ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO ACCIDENT WHEN CHANGING LANES OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. *JB
Power train, Nov 18, 2005
VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE FROM PARK, OR VEHICLE WILL DISENGAGE FROM DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING, PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO ENGAGE INTO DRIVE IN SEVERAL HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES. *NM
Power train, Structure, Nov 17, 2005
PASSENGER SIDE SUN ROOF DRAIN PLUGS UP, SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. BACKED UP WATER DRAINS INTO INSIDE REAR CARGO AREA. MY VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE LARGE ALL WEATHER RUBBER MAT IN THE CARGO AREA. SINCE THE AREA WHERE THE WATER POURS OUT IS NEAR THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR THE MOST OF THE WATER ENDS UP ON THE CARPET UNDER THE MAT AND IT IS NOT ALWAYS NOTICEABLE. ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR THAT FIXES LEAKS FOR DEALER SAID THE FIX SHOULD TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM, DID NOT. THIS CONTRACTOR, DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST CONTRACTOR, SAID BASICALLY THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO PREVENT DRAINS FROM PLUGGING UP. WAS NOT DRIVING THIS TIME, WASHED CAR AND SAW WATER ON RUBBER MAT WHILE CLEANING INSIDE OF CAR. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING, IN REAR VIEW MIRROR I SAW WATER COMING FROM HEADLINER AREA, VERY DISTRACTING. ALSO, WORRY ABOUT POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO HEADLINER AND FUTURE BODY STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO ROOF AREA. IF DRAINS CONTINUE TO PLUG UP HEADLINER COULD POSSIBLE BECOME WEAK AND FAIL. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. NOT SURE OF ACTUAL DATE THIS WAS ADDRESSED WITH DEALER BELIEVE IT WAS ADDRESSED WHEN I TOOK CARE IN TO HAVE CV JOINT REPAIRED. DEALER DID NOT REPORT WORKER TO SUBARU. *JB
Power train, Nov 17, 2005
DRIVER SIDE FRONT CV JOINT BOOT TORE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, 62,289 MILES. NEIGHBOR WHO IS A FORMER SUBARU MECHANIC SAID SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNLESS I RAN OVER SOMETHING AND PUNCTURED BOOT, I DID NOT. SUBARU WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY OUT OF WARRANTY AT 36K. A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD DUE TO CV GREASE LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL MECHANICAL FAILURE IF PROBLEM IS NOT CAUGHT IN TIME. *JB
Power train, Nov 17, 2005
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT CV JOINT BOOT TORE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, 39,744 MILES. VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR A BOOT TO TEAR FOR NO REASON, NEIGHBOR WHO IS A FORMER SUBARU MECHANIC SAID SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNLESS I RAN OVER SOMETHING AND PUNCTURED BOOT, I DID NOT. SUBARU DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THOUGH PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD DUE TO CV GREASE LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL MECHANICAL FAILURE IF PROBLEM IS NOT CAUGHT IN TIME. *JB
Power train, Oct 15, 2005
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DELAY IN ENGAGING FROM A STOP INTO ANY FORWARD GEAR FROM ANY GEAR. *NM
Power train, Jun 16, 2005
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DELAYED ENGAGEMENT WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR UP TO 10 SECONDS THEN IT WILL ENGAGE ABRUPTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. SUBARU HAS DEEMED THE PROBLEM A TRANSMISSION FAILURE REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT 74,000 MILES DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT# 10074032, 10090065, 10106683, AND 10122566. SUBARU OF AMERICA DENIES THAT THERE IS A PATTERN OF COMPLAINTS/PROBLEMS.
Power train, May 31, 2005
VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS AGO WAS EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT DELAY IN ENGAGING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM ANY GEAR INTO DRIVE. HAD DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND DO A TRANSMISSION FLUSH OF ALL FLUID. THE PROBLEM REALLY DIDN'T GET BETTER UNTIL FINALLY ON 3/19/05 AT ONLY 51,800 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE IN DRIVE AT ALL. A TRANSMISSION SHOP LOOKED AT IT AND SAID AN 'O' RING FAILED CAUSING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO NEED TO BE REBUILT AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED. COST WAS $2,644 AND WAS ONLY 6 WEEKS PAST EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY.
Power train, Jan 3, 2005
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. VEHICLE DELAYED WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO DRIVE. ALSO, CONSUMER WOULD BE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT CHANGING GEARS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK......INITIALLY, DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. AFTER 2 MOR EVISITS TO DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Power train, Aug 30, 2004
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. WHEN DRIVER APPLIED THE GAS VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER TO WAIT UNTIL IT FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT UNTIL IT HAPPENED PERMANENTLY. *AK
Power train, Aug 6, 2004
BURNING SMELL EMINATING FROM TRANSMISSION. *AK
Power train, Jul 16, 2004
DRIVING NORMAL SHIFTED THE CAR AND THE CLUTCH FELT SOFT AND THE RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION WAS SLOW. I CALLED THE DEALER REPAIR AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RECALL. I TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. IT COST ME $216.00 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WASN'T COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK
Power train, Electrical system, Jun 15, 2004
INTERMITTENTLY, THE GEAR POSITIONING LEVER STICKS IN GEAR. THE CONSUMER DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND PLAYS WITH THE LEVER TO UNSTICK IT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED A PART IN THE GEAR POSITIONING LEVER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. ALSO, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PARK GEAR. *LA
Power train, Jun 14, 2004
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN INTERNAL FAILURE. *AK WHEN THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE NO CODES REGISTERED, ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN NEED OF REPAIR. *NM