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2000 Subaru Outback Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 207 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Subaru Outback, most often about the transmission (20% of complaints, typically around 58,000 miles). It is 17th of 27 Outback model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2000 Subaru Outback problems
Transmission
42 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 58,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly, driveline, manual transmission.
Consumer complained about a transmission problem. Vehicle delayed when it was put into drive. Also, consumer would be driving and suddenly the transmission would go into neutral without changing gears. Consumer contacted the dealer, who recommended that the transmission needed to be replaced. ......initially, dealer…
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.
Engine
38 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 81,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Cylinder head gaskets replaced at 81,098 miles. Due to the low mileage, the vehicle was not under warranty because 8 years had passed (8 years or 100,000), whichever comes first. August 2014 vehicle would take several seconds to engage into drive from reverse. Eventually, the problem became worse and I was afraid that…
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…
Wheels and tires
32 complaints · 16%Parts named most often: tread/belt, sidewall.
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…
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…
Suspension
24 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 127,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
The contact owns a 2000 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the rear cross bar was rusted. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 03v153000 (suspension:rear) for the same failure. The manufacturer was contacted who advised that the vehicle was previously repaired at their expanse and…
There was a burned rubber smell and noise coming from the left rear wheel area of the car. The suspension subframe snapped and caused the left rear tire to be shaved from contact with the wheel well. We were told by our mechanic that we had no recourse on this recall and he offered US $500 for the vehicle stating that…
Speed control
14 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: linkages, cruise control.
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. 2000 Subaru Outback experienced roll back while parked in…
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…
Body and structure
13 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 130,000 miles. Parts named most often: frame and members, body.
There was a burned rubber smell and noise coming from the left rear wheel area of the car. The suspension subframe snapped and caused the left rear tire to be shaved from contact with the wheel well. We were told by our mechanic that we had no recourse on this recall and he offered US $500 for the vehicle stating that…
Due to heavy corrosion, we had to replace the rear subframe on this vehicle. Obviously the 2003 recall on this part was inadequate. I would like the rear subframe to be recalled as it should have been in the first place, rather than just undercoating the part and having it rot away anyway.
Brakes
12 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, pedals and linkages, controls.
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…
1. Emergency braking from 50+ MPH on a freeway because the driver in front, in their own words, "just stopped"! 2. 2000 Outback failed to slow. Hit rear of the lexus SUV. "torpedoed" under the SUV up to 1/2 the hood length. No air bag deployment (again!) 3. Car is totaled! This is the 2nd major accident due to the…
Fuel system
12 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 120,000 miles.
In cold weather (usually 25 f and below) there is a strong fuel smell. Worse the colder it gets. I am worried for my baby's health and also worried I was inhaling this leaking fuel throughout my pregnancy. It is obviously not something that should be happening and is unhealthy. I reported this to a mechanic shop and…
During weather under 20 degrees the fuel line leaks. It has been tightened several times however continues to return. This happens every winter.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 Subaru Outback recalls
Suspension: rear
Risk: If such breakage occurs while the vehicle is being operated, control of the vehicle could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2000 Subaru Outback
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 Subaru Outback?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (42 complaints, typically around 58,000 miles); engine (38 complaints, typically around 81,000 miles); wheels and tires (32 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2000 Subaru Outback have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 22, 2003 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the Subaru Outback?
- It is 17th of 27 Outback model years by number of complaints, with 207 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.