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.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 25, 2003
THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR 3-5 DAYS BEFORE GOING OFF. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE FAILURE CODE FOUND WAS FOR THE OXYGEN SENSOR OR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. THERE'S A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE WXW-80 FOR OTHER 2000 MODEL SUBARUS, BUT IT'S FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION BUT HAS THE SAME DESIGN, PER CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Steering, Nov 20, 2003, crash
WHILE DRIVING 65-MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER ISN'T SURE IF THE STEERING MECHANISM FELL OFF AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
Suspension, Oct 30, 2003
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER JULY OF 2002. DEALER CLAIMED COULD NOT DO REPAIRS BECAUSE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE. KELLY SUBARU, 3122 W. TENNESSEE ST., TALLAHASSEE FL., 32304 850-575-6166.*AK
Power train, Equipment, Oct 27, 2003
PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE ON SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON 2000. ORIGINAL CLUTCH REPLACED AT 7500 MILES AND FOUND TO HAVE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, BENT FORKS.EW CLUTCH PLACED IN CAR. SHORTLY AFTER, SMELL OF BURNING, ESP. WHEN BACKING UP OR IN COLD WEATHER, WHICH LASTED FOR 1 MONTH. CLUTCH THEN FAILED PREMATURELY AFTER 40,000 MILES. MY HYPOTHESIS IS THAT THE CLUTCH LOST A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ITS LINING AND LIFE SPAN WHEN BURNING UP IN THE FIRST MONTH OF USE. NUMEROUS POSTING ON EDMUNDS.COM REGARDING PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE, BURNING SMELL, AND CLUTCH SHUDDER IN SUBARU OUTBACKS. MY EXPERIENCE, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER OWNERS, SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS A GENERAL DEFECT PRESENT IN SUBARU CLUTCHES FROM 2000-2002. LEASE INVESTIGATE THIS DEFECT AND CONSIDER A RECALL.*AK
Power train, Oct 1, 2003
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN CHANGING FROM ONE GEAR INTO ANOTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A STEEP SLOPE AND PUT INTO REVERSE. THE DRIVER TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ONTO THE ACCELERATOR THEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS CALLED SHIFT LAG. *AK *NLM
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 22, 2003
FAILURE OF RADIATOR AT 48000 MILES. THE PLASTIC BODY SEPARATED FROM THE METAL PORTION, CAUSING AN OCCASIONAL LEAK OF COOLANT.*JB
Power train, Sep 21, 2003
WE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2000 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK AS SIMILARLY REPORTED IN COMPLAINT # 766462 (TRANSMISSION LEAKING FLUID, SMOKING, FAILURE). SUBARU DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WORK (2 INCIDENTS BETWEEN AUG 2002 AND MAY 2003), AND ONLY A LETTER BY US IN JUNE 2003 (NOTING PREVIOUS REPORTS IN NHTSA WEBSITE & ELSEWHERE) FINALLY CONVINCED SUBARU USA HEADQUARTERS TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM FURTHER. THE FIX SUBARU PERFORMED WAS REPLACEMENT OF A SEAL BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, WHICH SEEMS TO LARGELY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM (ALTHOUGH A SLIGHT SMOKE ODOR STILL OCCURS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS). SUBARU USA ALSO REFUNDED ALL OUR PREVIOUS CHARGES BY THE DEALER FOR PRIOR UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIRS (WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREE UNDER THE WARRANTY). THERE APPEARS TO BE AN INHERENT DEFECT IN THIS TRANSMISSION (4EAT MODEL) UNDER HIGH HEAT CONDITIONS, WHICH HAS A LONG HISTORICAL TRACK RECORD IN THIS REGARD. IN ONE INCIDENCE, WE ALMOST INCURRED A SEVERE FIRE ON THE ROAD AND THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY FATAL HAZARD. NHTSA SHOULD EXAMINE THIS PROBLEM CLOSELY WITH SUBARU.*JB
Suspension, Sep 15, 2003
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL ON THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. RECALL NUMBER UNKNOWN. *AK (RECALL # 03V153000) *SCC *JB
Other or unspecified, Sep 12, 2003
DEALER DOESN'T HAVE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND SOLVENTS TO REMOVE CORROSION ON RECALL NHTSA# 03-V-153-000. CONSUMER RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE JULY 2003. *PH
Suspension, Sep 12, 2003
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 03V153000 CONCERNING THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME CORROSION IN JULY 2003. DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE RECALL DEFECT. *AK *PH *JB
Electrical system, Sep 5, 2003
SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON, YEAR 2000, MILAGE 33,000 - PROBLEM: SPEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WORK ON AND OFF. THEY BOTH 'DIE' THEN THEY BOTH COME BACK ON AGAIN. ON THE FREEWAY, ONE FINDS THEMSELVES WITHOUT SPEED INFORMATION WITHOUT WARNING
Suspension, Aug 12, 2003
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V153000, BUT A WELD ON RIGHT REAR OF REAR SUSPENSION THAT SHOULD BE RUST PROOFED ALREADY CRACKED.*AK
Steering, Aug 7, 2003
THE REAR LEFT TRAILING ARM BROKE IN HALF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PART REPLACED BY ROSSYLN AUTO EXPRESS SHOP. THE COST OF REPAIRS WERE OVER $400.00. SUBARU DID NOT REIMBURSE CONSUMER. *AK *CB *JB
Suspension, Aug 1, 2003
POSSIBLE DEFECT OF REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL WHICH STATED IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FOR AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN A "SALT BELT" AREA, CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO SALT COULD CAUSE THE REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY TO RUST-OUT AND EVENTUALLY BREAK. *PH *JB
Structure, Jul 25, 2003
THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK. 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. DEALER STATED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO FIX THIS RECALL. CONSUMER STATED DEALER HAS CANCELLED TWICE HIS APPOINTMENTS. *AK
Structure, Jul 17, 2003
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 03V153000 CONCERNING REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME CORROSION, AND CONTACTED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT SETUP TO MAKE THE REPAIRS UNTIL LATE AUGUST. ALSO, CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND GOT A RECORDING SAYING THAT DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THE NUMBER WAS OUT OF SERVICE.*AK
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
Visibility, Jul 7, 2003
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. *AK
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
Power train, Apr 13, 2003
"FUZZY LOGIC" TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER IS DANGEROUSLY SLOW, INCONSISTENT, AND UNPREDICTABLE. SCANNING 19 INPUTS IS EXCESSIVE OVER-KILL AND REMOVES MUCH OF DRIVER'S CONTROL AND PEACE OF MIND. *NLM
Equipment, Apr 8, 2003
THE AIR DEFLECTOR WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN THE HOOD AREA, BECAME UNATTACHED, AND FLEW INTO THE WINDSHIELD, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH A SPEED. *JB *TT
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 30, 2003, crash
DURING A FRONT-END, LOW-SPEED COLLISION, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY SEATBELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN ME IN MY SEAT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, I BROUGHT A PROBLEM TO MY DEALERS SERVICE CENTER, IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED, AND I BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SEATBELT FAILURE DURING MY ACCIDENT. *NLM
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 30, 2003, crash
DURING A FRONT-END, LOW-SPEED COLLISION, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY SEATBELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN ME IN MY SEAT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, I BROUGHT A PROBLEM TO MY DEALERS SERVICE CENTER, IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED, AND I BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SEATBELT FAILURE DURING MY ACCIDENT. *NLM
Power train, Mar 23, 2003, fire
CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CAR HAS 36000 MILES ON IT AND IS SERVICED BY THE DEALER REGULARLY. DEALER CHARGED ME $1200 TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH AND SAID THAT IT WAS MY FAULT, THAT I MUST "RIFE THE CLUTCH" OR HABITUALLY OVERLOAD THE VEHICLE, NEITHER OF WHICH IS TRUE. I SUSPECT THE CLUTCH WAS FLAWED TO BEGIN WITH. *JB