Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
325–50K
1250–75K
1675–100K
17100–150K
7150K+
59 reports with mileage · 68 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
127 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2002
Power Train
IN HOT WEATHER, ESPECIALLY IN SLOW-MOVING TRAFFIC, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL NOT RETURN AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MAY 2001, BUT THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT A MONTH LATER, THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. THE CLUTCH RECENTLY STARTED TO FEEL "STICKY" AGAIN, AND…
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IN HOT WEATHER, ESPECIALLY IN SLOW-MOVING TRAFFIC, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL NOT RETURN AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MAY 2001, BUT THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT A MONTH LATER, THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. THE CLUTCH RECENTLY STARTED TO FEEL "STICKY" AGAIN, AND FAILED ON JUNE 30 WHILE IN A TRAFFIC JAM. AFTER LETTING IT COOL FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE AGAIN. THE CLUTCH FLUID WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE LATEST THEORY FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA IS THAT THERE IS A POCKET IN THE CASTING OF THE MASTER CYLINDER THAT TRAPS AIR WHICH CAN'T BE RELEASED BY PRESSURE BLEEDING THE SYSTEM AND IT MUST BE "GRAVITY BLED". THEY DID THIS AND THE PROBLEM HAS GONE AWAY (AT LEAST FOR NOW). NO REASON WAS GIVEN FOR THE RETURN OF THE FAILURE AFTER A YEAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #763972
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2002
Power Train
WHEN MAKING A TURN ON ROAD THERE IS SLIGHT VIBRATION. TRANSFER CASE HAD FAILED, CAUSING LOUD NOISE WHILE TURNING.DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8013220
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT AT 15 MPH, AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND KNEE INJURIES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8006336
Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON SUBARU 2.5L ENGINES. CONTACT SUBARU MECHANICS TO OBTAIN UNUSUAL HIGH NUMBERS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #758588
Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2001
Suspension
RECALL 01 V 216 000/COILSPRING: UNABLE TO GET DEALER; FREDERICK MOTORS; FREDERICK,MD; PHONE# 301/663-6111 TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #899590
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2001
Suspension
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V-216, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE OUT OF PARTS AND IT WOULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS IN AND THEN ANOTHER COUPLE WEEKS TO GET ON THE SERVICE SCHEDULE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #563791
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE WILL REV /ACCELERATE WHEN CONSUMER TURNS AIR CONDITIONER( A/C) ON. PROBLEM USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN A/C IS ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #897167
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE IN FRONT SLOWED DOWN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF ON ITS ON. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, BUT AVOIDED OTHER CARS. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, FLIPPED THREE TIMES, AND ENDED ON DRIVER'S SIDE . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING …
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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE IN FRONT SLOWED DOWN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF ON ITS ON. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, BUT AVOIDED OTHER CARS. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, FLIPPED THREE TIMES, AND ENDED ON DRIVER'S SIDE . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER WAS BRAKING, IN WHICH CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE, HOWEVER VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*JB
NHTSA ODI #893147
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2001
Latches/locks/linkages
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT REGARDING THE DOOR CATCHER. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #561441
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2001
Tires
WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK S/W IN 1999 AND RECENTLY HAD A FLAT TIRE. UPON PLACING THE "MINI" SPARE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR AND DRIVING (UNDER 50 MPH) ONLY 19 MILES TO A TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLAT REPAIRED, THE REAR END WAS DAMAGED. IT COST $800 TO HAVE THE REAR END GEARS REPLACED. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE "MINI" SPA…
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WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK S/W IN 1999 AND RECENTLY HAD A FLAT TIRE. UPON PLACING THE "MINI" SPARE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR AND DRIVING (UNDER 50 MPH) ONLY 19 MILES TO A TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLAT REPAIRED, THE REAR END WAS DAMAGED. IT COST $800 TO HAVE THE REAR END GEARS REPLACED. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE "MINI" SPARE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT DISABLING THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE, BY FINDING AND REPLACING A FUSE UNDER THE HOOD (LISTED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPARE REMOVAL LAST ON PAGE 2 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL). OH YEAH, THE SPARE CAN ONLY BE USED ON THE REAR WHEELS. THIS INFORMATION IS ALL "HIDDEN" IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. SINCE WE HAVE AUTO INSURANCE THAT INCLUDES TOWING, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER OFF TOWING THE CAR TO THE TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLAT REPAIRED (FOR FREE) THAN USING THE SPARE PROVIDED AND PAYING $800 TO HAVE THE REAR END REBUILT. (TOWING NEEDS TO BE DONE ON A FLAT BED TRUCK WITH ALL WHELLS OFF THE GROUND.) PLEASE WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS IMPROPERLY LABLED "SPARE TIRE". ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE FROM SUBARU WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. 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: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. DUE TO POOR WELDS, IGNITION KEYS CAN STICK, SHIFT LEVERS/LINKAGES CAN BREAK AND SHIFT LEVERS CAN MOVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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