IllustrationCLUTCH FAILED AFTER ONLY 30K MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING. THIS WAS PRECEDED BY FOUL BURNING ODOR, WHICH STARTED SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER. *NLM
2000 Subaru Legacy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 Subaru Legacy do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Legacy years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
00–25K
425–50K
850–75K
775–100K
10100–150K
7150K+
36 reports with mileage · 58 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Tires. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
Power Train complaints
14 reportsTRANSMISSION IS LEAKING, DRIPPING FLUID ON EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH IS CREATING BURNING SMELL AND AT TIMES SOME SMOKE. FIRE HAZZARD? THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 29738 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH A 'USED' UNIT (MFG TERM IS REMANUFACTURED, WHICH EQUALS A UNIT THAT ALREADY FAILED FOR SOMEONE ELSE AND WAS REBUILT…
Read full complaint
TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING, DRIPPING FLUID ON EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH IS CREATING BURNING SMELL AND AT TIMES SOME SMOKE. FIRE HAZZARD? THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 29738 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH A 'USED' UNIT (MFG TERM IS REMANUFACTURED, WHICH EQUALS A UNIT THAT ALREADY FAILED FOR SOMEONE ELSE AND WAS REBUILT). THE REPLACEMENT UNIT HAS ONLY 10,000 MILES AND IS LEAKING IN TWO PLACES.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED, DEALER IS REPLACING IT. *SLC
RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE CRACKED. NLM
Official recalls
303V153000 · Suspension:rear
Apr 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
00V091000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly
Mar 24, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT-SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE ARM WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE LEFT SIDE TIE-ROD END CASTLE NUT AND INSTALL A NEW COTTER PIN.
99V249000 · Power Train:driveline:center Support Bearing
Sep 17, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN L MODEL PASSENGER VEHICLES. ANTI-RUST COATING WAS INCORRECTLY APPLIED TO THE TRANSVERSE LINK MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE BODY. OVER TIME THE COATING SHRINKS, CAUSING A TORQUE DECREASE OF THE BOLT THAT SECURES THE TRANSVERSE LINK BRACKET TO THE VEHICLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOOSENING OF THE BRACKET AND SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION OF THE TRANSVERSE LINK FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REMOVE THE ANTI-RUST COATING UNDER THE MOUNTING LOCATION OF THE LEFT TRANSVERVE LINK MOUNTING BRACKET BOLT AND RETORQUE THE MOUNTING BOLT TO THE REQUIRED TORQUE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.