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
207 reports, newest first.
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
Suspension, Aug 23, 2004
FRONT SWAY BAR SNAPPED. *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
Fuel system, Other, Jun 7, 2004
AFTER A TUNE UP FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP, MY 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK EXERTS AN INTERMITTEN PROBLEM OF HESITATION. ONCE MOVING THE CAR DOING OK, ESPECIALLY ON FREEWAY. BUT AFTER EXITING FROM FREEWAY TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAR IS CHOKING AS IF HAVING A TIMING PROBLEM AND CANNOT SLOW RPM TO IDLE. AFTER THAT AS THE LIGHT TURNS, STEP ON THE GAS PADDLE WON'T INCREASE RPM OR MOVING THE CAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT USUALLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT BEGAN TO ROLL AGAIN. IT CONTINUES TO TAKE MUCH MORE TIME TO GET CAR BACK TO NORMAL SPEED. THE PROBLEM IS PROGRESSING TO A GREATER FREQUENCY. NOW AFTER A MONTH, IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS TO RUN. IT ACTUALLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET A FEW TIMES. A TRIP BACK TO THE DEALER DIDN'T HELP. AFTER KEEPING THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS FOR TEST DRIVE THEY SAID THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE REPLICATED AND SO THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTEABLE MECHANIC THAT SPECIALIZES IN SUBARU. HE RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BUT AFTER MANY DAYS OF DIAGNOSTICS AND CHANGEING THE FUEL REGULATOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTOR, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. YET THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE CAR IS NOW IS ALMOST UNDRIVABLE. SO FAR I HAVE SPENT OVER 3000 DOLLARS BUT STILL NO SOLUTION. THIS CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND 70K MILES WITH A WELL MAINTENANCE RECORD. THIS PROBLEM MUST BE KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER SINCE I FOUND SO MANY DESCRIPTION OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE NET, STARTED WITH AN EARLY MODEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS FLAW THAT NEEDS MANUFACTURERS ATTENTION OR EVEN A RECALL. *AK
Power train, Jun 7, 2004
THERE CURRENTLY HAS BEEN SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING 2000-2002 MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBARU OUTBACKS. THESE BULLETINS REFER TO A DEFECT IN THE CLUTCH THAT CAUSES A PREMATURE WEAR OF THE CLUTCH AND YOKE DUE TO AN IMBALANCE IN CAUSING THE CAR TO "JUDDER" OR SHUDDER WHEN ENGAGING INTO GEARS. I HAVE HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, GLEN OWNER OF OAKLAND AUTO WORKS STATE THAT HE COULD NOT WARRANTY THE REPAIR OF CLUTCH BECAUSE THE RECOMMENDED REPAIR BY SUBARU DOES NOT RELIABLY FIX THE PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE END UP HAVING TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES IN A SHORT TIME SPAN. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHANGED THE CLUTCH KIT SEVERAL TIMES AND THE METHOD OF REPAIR TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM YET HAVE FAILED TO PERFORM A RECALL. I AM CURRENTLY UNSURE ON HOW TO PROCEED IN THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE AS THE REPAIR COST IS $1350.00 AND IF THE UNIT FAILS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY I MAY BE SUBJECT HAVING TO PAY THIS AMOUNT AGAIN. SOME OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH ERRUPT FROM THIS DEFECT INCLUDE THE CLUTCH CATCHING FIRE. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STICKING AND NOT RELEASING DUE TO THE YOKE BEING WORN FOR THE CLUTCH "JUDDER". LAST, PREMATURE OF THE CLUTCH WITH ONLY HAVING A LIFESPAN OF 30,000 MILES OR LESS. *AK
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)
Seat belts, May 5, 2004
MY THREE YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WRAPPED THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT AROUND HER NECK WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT. THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS WAY TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT WHICH CONNECTED FROM THE SEAT TO THE CEILING. AFTER NEARLY STRANGLING MY DAUGHTER I FOUND A POLICE OFFICER WHO USED A KNIFE TO CUT THE SEAT BELT AS IT CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN. I LATER READ IN THE MANUAL THAT A CAR KEY COULD BE USED TO RELEASE THE BELT FROM ITS ANCHOR. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Visibility, Apr 23, 2004
CONSUMER WASN'T PLEASED WITH UNDATED CORRESPONDENCE SERVICE PROGRAM WWP-99. (NAR) *PH THE SERVICE PROGRAM WAS ABOUT PUTTING A SPECIAL CONDITIONER IN THE VEHICLE'S COOLING SYSTEM TO PREVENT HEAD GASKET LEAKS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY SATISFACTORY SOLUTION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EH WIPERS NEED TO BE REDESIGNED TO PREVENT THE RIGHT HAND WIPER FROM DUMPING DEBRIS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE INTO THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT. THE RADIO CONTAINS AUDIBLE WINDSHIELD MOTOR NOISE WHEN THE RADIO STATION SIGNAL IS WEAK. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *NM
Structure, Apr 20, 2004
PAINT & TRIM PROBLEMS: THE TITANIUM COLORED PAINT ON THE FRONT BUMPER IS DEFECTIVE AND IS COMING OFF; SOME CAME OFF AT A LOCAL CAR WASH. DEFECTS IN PAINT ARE EVIDENT TO PAINT EXPERTS; ALSO, THE CHROME TRIM PAINT ON THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE FRONT GRILL IS "BUBBLED UP" IN 3 PLACES AND WILL SOON FALL OFF; CAR PURCHASED NEW AND NOT EXPOSED TO SALT; VEHICLE AGE IS A MERE 4 YRS, 49K MILES - THIS IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PAINT; ANOTHER CUSTOMER IN OUR AREA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Mar 16, 2004
PURCHASED CAR WITH 78K ON IT. PRIOR IT DRIVING FROM COLORADO TO WISCONSIN, HAD IT LOOKED OVER. REPLACED LEAKING WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND LEAKING FWD DRIVE SHAFT SEAL. WITHIN A WEEK OF GETTING TO WISCONSIN, RADIATOR AND DRIVER SIDE HEAD GASKET FOUND TO BE LEAKING. HEAD GASKETS ARE BIG ON SUBARU WEB SIGHTS. SOA RECOMMENDS A "CONDITIONER" TO PUT IN THE RADIATOR, BUT IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE YET. PARTS GUY SAID PROBLEM WAS THAT OWNERS ARE NOT ALLOWING CAR TO WARM UP IN COLD ENVIRONMENTS. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 7, 2004
INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WHICH SUBARU SAYS MAY LEAK, IT HAS RECALLED MY VEHICLE TO INSTALL "STOP LEAK" WHICH THEY DESCRIBE AS "COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER." I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 7, 2004
DRIVER SIDE HEAD GASKET LEAKS, ONLY 70 000 MILES ON CAR. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 19, 2004
2000 OUTBACK WAGON, 5 SPD, WITH 48,000 MILES. I'VE BEEN GETTING A "HOT" COOLANT SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD (DRIVER'S SIDE) FOR ABOUT THE LAST 1,000 MILES. WHEN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR RAN EMPTY I KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER'S SHOP. SURE ENOUGH, LEAKING HEAD GASKET ON DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THEY DID THE REPAIRS, THE WATER PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING AS WELL. THE GASKET AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STILL FALLS UNDER THE 60K MILE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. MY WIFE JUST BOUGHT A 2004 OUTBACK SPORT, WITH THE SAME 5 SPD 2.5 ENGINE. I'M HOPING SUBARU HAS FIXED THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IN THE NEW ENGINES, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN RECOMMENDING THESE VEHICLES TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND NOW I'M STARTING TO WONDER. I LIVE IN MADISON; MORE SUBURU'S WERE SOLD HERE LAST YEAR THAN ANY OTHER CITY. I WOULD THINK THAT THE LAST THING SUBURU OF AMERICA WANTS IS A CITY FULL OF DISGRUNTLED SUBURU OWNERS, BUT THAT'S WHATS BOUND TO HAPPEN IF SOA DOESN'T LOOK INTO THESE REPORTED HEAD-GASKET, CLUTCH, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.
Suspension, Feb 16, 2004
BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED PREMATURELY, ONE AT 38000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 75000 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 79000 MILES. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT IN THIS YEAR SUBARU, AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF NOT IMMEDIATELY TAKEN CARE OF. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 15, 2004
FAILURE OF HEADGASKET ON 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON WITH 64,000 MILES. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 20, 2004, crash
I OWN A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A ROUTINE STOP IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, SO I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES SEEMED TO ENGAGE (I COULD FEEL THE STUTTERING) BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW QUICKLY ENOUGH AT ALL. NOTABLY THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 8DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITHOUT WINDCHILL. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT SUBARU HAS RECALLED OLDER (1999) AND LATER (2002) MODELS FOR THIS EXACT SITUATION (HYDROLIC MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW TEMPERATURES). I PLAN TO CONTACT SUBARU TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR POSITION IS ON THIS. I DO NOT FEEL THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 15, 2004
MY LEFT HEAD GASKET BLEW IN DECEMBER 2002. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT 30,000 AND COVERED. THE SAME HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN LAST WEEK AT 43,000 MILES. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND COVERED. THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME. HAS THIS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER SUBARU VEHICLES. MY DEALER ASSURES ME IT SHOULD BE OKAY NOW. I AM NOT SO SURE...IF IT BLOWS AGAIN AFTER 60,000 IT IS NOT COVERED. THE DEALER SAID WITH THE VEHICLE'S HISTORY, THEY WOULD PROBABLY COVER IT.
Structure, Dec 23, 2003
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED THE VEHICLE'S OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECALLED. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR PART QUALITY FOR REAR SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PERFORM RECALL BECAUSETHE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE STATES LISTED FOR THE RECALL.*MR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 22, 2003
2000 SUBARU OUTBACK, 50,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET LEAKING, HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT HERE AND ON THE WEB. OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW, DEALERSHIP NOT HELPFUL, OF COURSE IT'S JUST OUT OF WARANTY,HAD RECCOMENDED THESE TO MANY PEOPLE AND FRIENDS BOUGHT THEM, NOW NOT SO SURE. *AK
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
Power train, Dec 12, 2003
CLUTCH SHUDDERS & REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. HINDSIGHT BEING 20/20, I REALIZE THE CLUTCH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM DATE OF DELIVERY. MY OWN REVIEW OF AUTOMOTIVE WEBSITES INDICATES THAT OTHERS HAVE EITHER HEARD OF OR HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS BEEN OF NO ASSISTANCE. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS DISCUSSION IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WITH SOA ABOUT THIS AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLDGE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *AK
Power train, Dec 4, 2003
AUTOMOBILE PERFORMANCE/MAINTENANCE. *NLM