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.
Wheels, Oct 14, 2000
NO SUMMARY (DOT NUMBER: W2XOW66 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 )
Steering, Sep 25, 2000
CONTINOUS RATTLE IN FRONT END VERY LOUD WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS.*AK
Visibility, Sep 19, 2000
REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK
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
Steering, Aug 30, 2000
STEERING NOISE- WHENEVER GOING OVER ROUGH ROADS,TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY, TURNING ONTO UNLEVEL ROAD, FRONT END MAKES CLUNKING NOISE. DEALER SAYS SUBARU IS AWARE OF IT AND IT IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. THE NOISE COMES FROM THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY DESIGNED THE STEERING. STILL DON'T THINK A BRAND NEW CAR SHOULD EXHIBIT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITHOUT A FIX AVAILABLE.
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 )
Tires, Aug 8, 2000
I HAVE A 2000 SUBARU WHICH CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES COMPLETELY BLEW APART. LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED. I SAFELY STOPPED THE CAR. I DON'T HAVE A FIRESTONE DEALER IN MY AREA SO I CONTACTED THEM BY PHONE. THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE. I BELIEVE THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225 60R16 )
Tires, Aug 8, 2000, crash
AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE MILEAGE, I HAVE A BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK LEGACY STATIONWAGON AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL MACHINE. IT CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE MY OUTBACK FLIPPED OVER IN THE ROAD WITH ME OR MY HUSBAND IN IT. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR TO REPLACE OUR SATURN WHICH WAS TOTALLED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN SOMEONE HIT IT AT 50 MPH. I WORK FOR THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION AND AS YOU MAY BE AWARE WE DO LOTS OF RECALLS ON DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. THE ACCIDENTS ARE RACKING UP ALMOST DAILY WITH THESE TIRES. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. I DON'T WANT TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY AND HAVE TO GO OUT AND REPLACE BRAND NEW TIRES ON A BRAND NEW CAR. LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE AND SO IS MAY BRAND NEW SUBARU! HELP!*AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Tires, Aug 6, 2000, crash
TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIGHWAY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. NO KNOWN OBJECTS HIT. ACCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO VIRGINIA IN HOT WEATHER. TIRE WAS SHREDDED LEAVING LITTLE TIRE ON WHEEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/60R16 )
Tires, Aug 5, 2000
THE TIRE BLEW OUT ON A CURVE, IN WINTER, THOUGH THERE WAS ONLY 6725 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER SAID IT MUST BE THAT I WAS PARKING ON CURBS AND IT WAS MY FAULT. I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND HARDLY EVER PARK AT CURBS, SO THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. I DIDN'T REPORT IT UNTIL NOW BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Tires, Aug 3, 2000
AFTER PULLING OVER FROM DRIVING 65MPH AND THEN TAKING OFF AGAIN, DRIVER REALIZED THAT TREAD WAS TORN OFF THE FLAT TIRE. TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER OF THE SAME. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 225/60/R16 *MW
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.
Seat belts, Jul 19, 2000
DUE TO CONSUMER HEIGHT THE SEAT MUST BE PULLED ALL THE WAY FORWARD SO THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE CAN BE REACHED, BUT WHEN PULLED FORWARD THE SEAT BELT IS TOO TIGHT. *ET