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: vehicle speed control
14 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Oct 1, 2013
SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED DUE TO LIGHT TRAFFIC AT A RED LIGHT. CAR STARTED TO FEEL NOT NORMAL AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR KEPT JUMPING FORWARD, NOT WANTING TO STOP. I WAS AFRAID I WOULD HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY I WAS GOING VERY SLOW. RIGHT AFTER THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING FOR NO REASON. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, MY FOOT WAS NEVER ON THE GAS. I HAD TAKEN MY FOOT OF THE GAS BEFORE THE CAR STARTED ACTING UP, SINCE I NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE RED LIGHT. THE RPMS WERE GOING VERY HIGH. I WAS UNSURE WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS KIND OF SITUATION. I PANICKED AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND THEN IN PARK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I CALLED FOR HELP AND WAS LUCKY MY STEP FATHER WAS AROUND THE CORNER. HE PUSHED THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT. THEN HE TURNED ON THE CAR WHILE STILL IN PARK AND IT WAS STILL ACCELERATING VERY HIGH. IT WENT DOWN AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL ACCELERATION. HE THEN DROVE THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC WHICH WAS ABOUT 200 FEET AWAY. I AM NOW HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC DONE TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION TO WHY THE CAR HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I KNOW FOR A FACT I DID NOT PRESS ON THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BREAK, AND I ALSO KNOW IT WAS NOT THE SUBARU FLOOR MAT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Apr 14, 2010, crash
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN SUBARU OUTBACK (2000) CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Oct 4, 2005
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AROUND 50-55 MPH WHEN THE RPMS REVVED TO 6500. THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER FOUND A MECHANIC THAT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME FOR HER. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT IN USE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THE CONSUMER THAT WAS MAKING THE COMPLAINT WAS NOT THE OWNER, BUT HAD BORROWED THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *SC . *AK
Vehicle speed control, Apr 1, 2005
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM INCREASING SPEED.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Feb 24, 2005
ENGAGED CAR INTO REVERSE AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET OF MOVEMENT. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS OR PEDESTRIANS. BROUGHT TO DEALER, NO EVIDENCE OF PROBLEM FOUND ON CAR COMPUTER SYSTEMS. FILED FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA. FOUND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OUTBACK OWNERS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE! *NM
Vehicle speed control, Oct 27, 2004, crash
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE PAVEMENT AND WENT OVER A STEEP BANK. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AT LEAST TWO TIMES LANDING ON IT'S ROOF. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK *NM
Vehicle speed control, Equipment, May 5, 2004
SUBARU OUTBACK VIN[XXX], 2000 MODEL VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE AWAY FROM STOPS. STALLS IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. DEALER REPROGRAMMED PCM ON 4/1/04 WHEN TAKEN IN FOR COOLANT/HEAD GASKET ISSUE RECALL. PERFORMANCE WAS POOR AFTER THIS AND WAS RETURNED TO DEALER 5/04/04. STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE THE PROBLEM, NEW PLUGS FITTED. CAR IS WORSE THAN BEFORE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO SUDDEN STALLING AND BOGGING ON TAKEOFF. MY HUSBAND HAS A 1999 SUBARU IMPREZZA AND HAS SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HAS RETURNED HIS CAR SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO CORRECTION.*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle speed control, Dec 15, 2003
AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE CONSUMER WAS WALKING AWAY AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS. VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, BUT FOR SOME REASON THE MECHANISM WAS NOT ENGAGED. VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK EXPERIENCED ROLL BACK WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. VEHICLE TRAVELED BACKWARDS ABOUT 3 FEET UNTIL CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO OPEN DOOR AND ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG AS TO WHY ROLL BACKS OCCURRED.*MR
Vehicle speed control, Jul 11, 2003, crash
WHILE GOING BACKWARDS INTO GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WENT THROUGH THE BACK OF THE GARAGE OFF DECK AND HIT A TREE. *AK PH *JB
Vehicle speed control, Jan 17, 2003
MY SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON WITH 50K MILES BEGAN HAVING OCCASIONAL ENGINE SURGE AFTER THE BRAKES WERE CHECKED BY THE DEALER. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 2X AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM. JUST APPLYING THE BRAKE WILL KICK THE ENGINE INTO HIGH, AND THE ENGINE MUST BE TURNED OFF TO STOP THE SURGE. IT HAS HAPPEN TO ME 4X IN 2 WEEKS. I HAVE THE CAR BUT WILL NOT DRIVE IT. THE DEALER IS CONSULTING WITH SUBARU. APPARENTLY THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WHICH AT PRESENT HAS NO SOLUTION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT AND I FEEL IMMEDIATE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AND THE PUBLIC NOTIFIED. TS
Vehicle speed control, May 13, 2002
VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. IT WOULD USUALLY HAVE AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, USUALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 7, 2001, crash
WHILE AT DRIVEWAY PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND JUST TAPPED ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND ENGINE OVER ACCELERATED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO DRIVEWAY.*AK *SLC
Vehicle speed control, Feb 26, 2001
ON THREE OCCASSIONS, WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE WITH FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKES, VEHICLE ACCELERATED 5- 10 FEET, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jul 31, 2000
AFTER INTIAL FUELING, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT "LIGHTS" ON DASH. LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON FOR 3/4 OF THE TANK OF GAS. INCIDENCE OF OCCURRING IS ABOUT 90%. ENGINE HESITATION IS OCCURING 100% AT INITAIL ACCELERATION. HESITATION LASTS FOR 2 TO 3 SECONDS AND THEN NORMAL POWER RESUMES. AFTER INITIAL TAKEOFF ENGINE SEEMS TO ACCELERATE AS TO BE EXPECTED.