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: tires
30 reports, newest first. Show all
Tires, Sep 22, 2005
DT: THE CALLER USED SPARE TIRE AND THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. TIRE HAD 110 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THE CALLER WAS GOING BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH. THE TIRE WAS FULL OF BLACK POWDER AND THE RUBBER WAS CRUMBLING. THE CALLER HEARD A RUMBLE, AND WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO PULL OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS ,THE TIRE BLEW OUT. TIRE WAS ONLY ON VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CALLER TO GO TO DEALER AND THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE TIRE. DEALER WOULD OFFER NO HELP. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER DID PAY FOR TIRE. *AK *NM
Tires, Aug 12, 2002
WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE HT P225/60R16 (DOT UNKNOWN) TIRE EXPLODED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL AND STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A FIELD. TEN MONTHS LATER, THE RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE HT (DOT UNKNOWN) TIRE BLEW OUT. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, TIRE MERCHANT WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRE AND COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF BLOWOUT. THE FIRST TIRE HAD LESS THAN 12,000 MILES AND THE SECOND TIRE HAD LESS THAN 21,O00 MILES. *TT
Tires, Apr 16, 2002
TREAD SEPARATED AND TIRE BLEW WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON PARKWAY. DIDN'T FILL OUT ALL INFORMATION ON CAR SINCE IT DIDN'T APPLY AND DEALER HAS RECORD. *AK *JB *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS******760752.
Tires, Apr 1, 2002
MY SUBARU CAME STOCK WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. WHEN THE FORD/FIRESTONE INCIDENT WAS HAPPENING, THE SUBARU WEBSITE POSTED A MESSAGE THAT THE TIRES USED ON THE SUBARU'S WERE NOT IN THE RECALL. THIS MORNING, I HAD A BLOW OUT THAT CAUSED ME TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY INTO THE #3 LANE CAUSING THE TRAFFIC TO SWERVE. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRE, I NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE HAS DELAMINATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. NO OTHER FOREIGN OBJECTS OR OTHER VISIBLE SIGNS CAN BE SEEN TO HAVE CAUSED THE BLOW OUT. IT'S PLAIN TO SEE THAT IT'S DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEY INSIST THAT THE TIRES THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT A PART OF THE RECALL FROM FORD. AND THAT I SHOULD GO TO A SUBARU DEALER TO HAVE THEM INSPECT THE TIRE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 225 60/16)
Tires, Feb 12, 2002
THIS CAR COMES WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES MADE ESPECIALLY FOR THE OUTBACK. AT ONLY 24000 MILES, I HAD A BLOWOUT IN WHICH THE COMPLETE LEFT SIDE OF THE TIRE DISINTEGRATED. A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HEARD OF THE TROUBLE WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, I CALLED THE DEALER WHO ASSURED ME THAT THESE TIRES WERE SAFE AND NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. WHEN THIS DANGEROUS INCIDENT HAPPENED TWO DAYS AGO, I WENT TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER WHO TOLD ME HE COULD NOT GET THESE WILDERNESS TIRES, AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THEM IN HIS COMPUTER. HE WANTED TO BLAME SUBARU FOR THE FAILURE. I CALLED BOTH MY SUBARU DEALER AND THE HEAD OFFICE IN GEORGIA (SPOKE WITH MANAGER KEVIN TRIPLETT), AND HE WANTED TO BLAME FIRESTONE. THESE TIRES ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE, AS IT SIMPLY DISINTEGRATED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I WILL BE HAPPY TO EMAIL YOU PICTURES OR TO SHOW YOU THE TIRE IN PERSON. AFTER WARNING BOTH FIRESTONE & SUBARU OF THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, THEY WOULD ONLY AGREE TO PUT THE SAME PROBLEM TIRE ON MY CAR, AND I REFUSE TO PUT MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN JEOPARDY WITH A DEFECTIVE TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 16)
Tires, Dec 7, 2001
PHOTOS OF THE TIRE DAMAGE ARE POSTED AT HTTP://WWW.SPEAKEASY.ORG/~DERVISH/FIRESTONE/FIRESTONE.HTML. I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES DESPITE THE SUBSTANTIAL TREAD LIFE REMAINING ON THE FIRESTONES. THE FIRESTONES WERE WELL-MAINTAINED: ROTATED, INFLATED, ETC.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2X0W66070 TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)
Tires, Sep 15, 2001
WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE A TIRE THAT I HAVE BEEN NURSING A SLOW LEAK ON FOR A FEW WEEKS, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A NICE SMOOTH HALF CIRCLE IN THE COVERING ABOUT WHERE I THINK THE TIRE MEETS THE TREAD. IT APPEARED TO ME AS THE FIRST SIGN OF TREAD SEPARATION.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2XOW66140 TIRESIZE: P22560R169)
Tires, Aug 14, 2001
TIRE COULD NOT BE BALANCED, TREAD FOUND TO BE SEPARATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2X0W66070 TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)
Tires, Feb 22, 2001
AFTER PUTTING 1000 MILES ON THE TIRES THE CONSUMER NOTICED A DARK BROWN RING ABOUT 1 INCH FROM THE TOP OF THE OUTSIDE TREAD WALL, FIRESTONE COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND OFFERED TO REPLACED THAT TIRE, THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND(FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES P225/60R16 97H M+S). NLM
Tires, Oct 14, 2000, fire
TIRE SEAM BLEW OUT IN PERFECT CIRCUMFERENCE ACCOMPANIED BY PROFUSE SMOKE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I COULD NOT SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO MY CAR DUE TO THE SMOKE. I THOUGHT I BLEW A GASKET. BROUGHT TIRE TO FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE THEY DID A SOAP TEST. NO PUNCTURES WERE THERE EXCEPT THE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE SEAM ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THEY REPLACED IT, HOWEVER THEY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER WILDERNESS TIRE. IN THE 28 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE HAD, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT LIKE THIS OR EVEN SEEN ONE. THE DEGREE OF SMOKE AND PERFECT FAILURE OF THE SEAM POINT TO A PROBLEM WORTHY OF YOUR INVESTIGATION. PLEASE NOTIFY ME, IN KIND, OF THE PROCEDURE YOU WILL UNDER TAKE TO INSURE THAT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DRIVING THE NEW 2000 OUTBACK EQUIPPED WITH THE WILDERNESS TIRES WILL BE SAFE FROM HARM. I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734292
Tires, Oct 14, 2000, fire
TIRE SEAM BLEW OUT, IN A PERFECT CIRCUMFERENCE, ACCOMPANIED BY PROFUSE SMOKE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I COULD NOT SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO MY CAR DUE TO THE SMOKE. I THOUGHT I BLEW A GASKET. BROUGHT TIRE TO FIRESTONE DEALER, WHERE THEY DID A SOAP TEST. NO PUNCTURES WERE THERE EXCEPT THE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE SEAM ON THE OUTSIDE OF TIRE. THEY REPLACED IT, HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHERK WILDERNESS TIRE. IN THYE 28 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE HAD, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT LIKE THIS, OR EVEN SEEN ONE. THE DEGREE OF SMOKE, AND PERFECT FAILURE OF THE SEAM POINT TO A PROBLEM WORTHY OF YOUR INVESTIGATION., PLEASE NOTIFY ME, IN KIND, OF THE PROCEDURE YOU WILL UNDER TAKE TO INSURE THAT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DRIVING THE NEW 2000 OUTBACK EQUIPED WITH THE WILDERNESS TIRES WILL BE SAFE FROM HARM. I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER. (DOT NUMBER: W 2XOW66 TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)
Tires, Sep 30, 2000
I WAS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OUTSIDE OF LA AND MY TIRE SHREDDED INTO 3 PERFECT PIECES. THERE IS A TINY HOLE IN THE TIRE BUT I HAVE ONLY SEEN A TIRE DETERIORATE SUCH AS THIS ON THE NEWS WITH THE CASES OF RECALLED TIRES. PLEASE TELL ME THAT THERE ARE MORE TIRES OUT THERE THAN MINE DOING THIS AND IT IS NOT JUST COINCIDENCE MY TIRE WAS MADE IN THE SAME PLANT AS ALL OF THE RECALLED TOO. JUNK....JUST JUNK I TELL YA. AND IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AN EXPLORER I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE HERE WRITTING YOU TODAY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2XO W66 TIRESIZE: 225/60R16)
Tires, Sep 27, 2000
RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD SUDDEN AND CATOSTROPHIC DISINTEGRATION OF SIDEWALL AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT HITTING ANY DEBRI. NO LOSS OF CONTROL BUT TOTAL LOSS OF TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/60/16 )
Tires, Sep 18, 2000
WITH LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON A BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK, I HAD AN UNEXPLAINED FLAT TIRE (NO NAIL/SCREW/OBVIOUS DAMAGE)ON MY WAY TO WORK. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE DUE TO THE FACT I DROVE ON IT BRIEFLY AND DAMAGED THE TIRE BEYOND REPAIR (COST $165). 8/15, WITH LESS THAN 8,000 MILES ON THE CAR, I WAS DRIVING AT 25- 30 MPH AND HEARD A "POP". AS THE CAR'S HANDLING CHANGED I REALIZED I HAD HAD A BLOW OUT AND PULLED OVER. SUBARU ROADSIDE EMERGENCY SERVICE ASSISTED ME (CASE#SUB0008000902). THE FOLLOWING DAY, I PURCHASED 4 REPLACEMENT MICHELIN TIRES AND REPORTED MY PROBLEM TO FIRESTONE (FILE # 262-223). I HOPE TO GET FINANCIAL SATISFACTION FROM FIRESTONE. I RECEIVED NO SUPPORT FROM THE CAR DEALERSHIP UNINTERESTED IN MY DILEMMA.( DOT NUMBER: W2KO W66 TIRE SIZE: P22560R16 )
Tires, Sep 13, 2000
I HAVE NO FAITH AND FEEL UNSAFE AND INSECURE WITH THESE TIRES. I WANT THEM OFF MY CAR AND THE BEST LES SCHWAB TIRES PUT ON. FIRESTONE SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT LINE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225 60R 16 )
Tires, Sep 12, 2000, crash
I AM NOT SURE IF I HIT THE CENTER ISLAND AND BOTH TIRES BLEW OR BOTH TIRES BLEW AND I HIT THE CENTER ISLAND. IF I HIT THE CENTER ISLAND AND BOTH TIRES BLEW, THEN THERE IS A PROBLEM SINCE THIS IS AN OFF-THE-ROAD VEHICLE AND THE TIRES SHOULD NOT HAVE SUSTAINED ANY DAMAGE. IF THE TIRES BLEW, AND THEN I HIT THE ISLAND, THEN WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER FIRESTONE TIRES. EITHER WAY IS NOT GOOD. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY, BUT WAS ABLE TO BRING IT TO A STOP WITHOUT SUSTAINING ANY BODY DAMAGE. ONLY THE WHEELS WERE DESTROYED ALONG WITH BOTH LEFT SIDE TIRES. I NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, STATE FARM, OF MY SUSPICIONS OF FIRESTONE TIRES AND ALSO THE DEALER. BUT, THIS SIZE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. STATE FARM HAS TAKEN PICTURES OF THE TIRES THROUGH THE BODY SHOP. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P22560697H )
Tires, Sep 11, 2000
THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 225/60R216 TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE WHICH IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL WHILE DRIVING. *MJS
Tires, Sep 6, 2000
PE00020; ORGINIAL EQUIPMENT ON 2000, SUBARU, OUTBACK, TIRE SIZE P225R16. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKS ALONG THE TREAD WHICH SEEMED THAT TREAD MAY SEPARATE. *AK FIRESTONE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT ON RECALL AND THE CRACKS OF THE TREADS WAS DUE TO BAD ALIGNMENT. *YH
Tires, Aug 31, 2000
WHILE PASSING A VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY THE RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE (P225/60R160 BLEWOUT, IT APPEARED THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. NLM
Tires, Aug 31, 2000
CONSUMER BELIEVES FAULTY FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES (225/60R16) CAUSED SEVERE STEERING WHEEL PULL WHILE DRIVING WHICH REQUIRED CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM AVOIDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC OF GOING OFF THE SHOULDER. NLM
Tires, Aug 29, 2000
WHILE DRIVING THE TIRES (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS) FEEL AS IF THEY STICK TO THE ROAD SURFACE. *MJS
Tires, Aug 25, 2000
FRONT LEFT TIRE SPLIT AFTER OWNING VEHICLE ONLY THREE DAYS; HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED; NO WARNING OF PROBLEM; CHANGED TO TEMPORARY SPARE; REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP AND TIRE WAS REPLACED. THIS APPEARS TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO THE INCIDENTS REPORTED RECENTLY ON THE FORD EXPLORERS, BUT THIS SPECIFIC TIRE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET. PLEASE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER RECALLING THIS MODEL.
Tires, Aug 16, 2000
THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 225/60R16 EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *MJS
Tires, Aug 15, 2000
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ALL WILDERNESS TIRES ON MY VEHICLE.( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P22560R/16 )
Tires, Aug 9, 2000
REAR LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT WHIE TRAVELLING DOWN RTE 95 S FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE. IT WAS A COOL, OVERCAST DAY (70-78:). TIRE SHREDDED AROUND THE RIM, NEARLY COMING OFF COMPLETELY. WE PAID FOR AND REPLACED THE TIRE WITH AN IDENTICAL ONE FROM FIRESTONE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/60R16 )