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
What owners actually said
94 reports
60,000 miles · Jan 29, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
DEALER FOUND LEAKING FUEL HOSES.ROBLEM SRATRED OUT WITH A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE GETS BELOW ABOUT 30 DEGREES F. THIS PROBLEM STARTED LAST WINTER AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS "BAD GAS". THIS YEAR THE FUMES WERE MUCH WORSE SO I STARTED LOOKING ON-LINE FOR A SOLUTION. I FOUN…
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DEALER FOUND LEAKING FUEL HOSES.ROBLEM SRATRED OUT WITH A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE GETS BELOW ABOUT 30 DEGREES F. THIS PROBLEM STARTED LAST WINTER AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS "BAD GAS". THIS YEAR THE FUMES WERE MUCH WORSE SO I STARTED LOOKING ON-LINE FOR A SOLUTION. I FOUND OTHERS HAD THE PROBLEM TOO AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO TIGHTEN LOOSE AND LEAKING FUEL HOSES. THIS WEEK MY DEALER FOUND TWO LEAKING FUEL HOSES IN MY CAR AND SEEMED TO BE AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDE-SPREAD.FUEL LEAKS SEEM PRETTY SERIOUS AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10055195
39,000 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Exterior LightingStructure
A LEAK IN THE REAR HATCH CAUSED THE INTERIOR BULBS TO BURN OUT. ALSO, REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPAIR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10053992
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2003
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 67,500 MILES, WITHIN THE WARRANTY TIME PERIOD BUT OUT OF THE MILAGE LIMIT. DEALER CANNOT FIND A REPLACEMENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10049470
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. *MR THERE WAS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WHERE IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A WEEK OR MORE, THEY WOULD LOCK UP AND ONLY ROCKING BACK AND FORTH WOULD RELEASE THEM, WHEN THAT OCCURRED AND THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED, THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND FOR A LONG TIME. THE FRONT…
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PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. *MR THERE WAS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WHERE IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A WEEK OR MORE, THEY WOULD LOCK UP AND ONLY ROCKING BACK AND FORTH WOULD RELEASE THEM, WHEN THAT OCCURRED AND THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED, THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND FOR A LONG TIME. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10044098
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2003
Tires
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE TIRE WILL BE REPLACED ( BIG O SIZE 18570R14). PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10040605
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2003
Suspension
RECALL REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOO DIRTY. *MR THE RECALL LETTER STATED "WILL CLEAN." THE CONSUMER FOUND IT IRONIC HOW THE TOPSIDE WAS WASHED AND CLEANED YET THE UNDERSIDE WAS ALLEGEDLY TOO DIRTY TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10034007
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2003
Structure
CONSUMER STATES REAR LIFTGATE CLOSED DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10031381
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT BY ERASING THE CODE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE ENGINE. DEALER WOULD NOT CHECK THE ENGINE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10029649
30,000 miles · Jun 20, 2003
Power Train
CLUTCH 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
NHTSA ODI #10023471
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Power Train
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…
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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
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2000 Subaru Legacy Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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