NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
111 reports40,493 miles · May 31, 2002
Electrical System
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE CAR JOLTED TO A STOP. THE MECHANIC SAID THE WIRES HOLDING POWER HARNESS IN PLACE HAD BROKEN AT AN EARLIER POINT IN TIME. THIS CAUSED THE POWER HARNESS TO SHIFT TO REST ON TOP OF THE SWAY BAR. THE CONSTANT RUBBING AGAINST THE SWAY BAR CAUSED 3 WIRES TO SHORT, BLOWING ALL FUSES AND THE …
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I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE CAR JOLTED TO A STOP. THE MECHANIC SAID THE WIRES HOLDING POWER HARNESS IN PLACE HAD BROKEN AT AN EARLIER POINT IN TIME. THIS CAUSED THE POWER HARNESS TO SHIFT TO REST ON TOP OF THE SWAY BAR. THE CONSTANT RUBBING AGAINST THE SWAY BAR CAUSED 3 WIRES TO SHORT, BLOWING ALL FUSES AND THE COMPUTER MODULE. A SUBARU REP SAID THERE WAS ONE OTHER CASE LIKE THIS IN THE UP OF MICHIGAN. BUT HE BLAMED PACKED SNOW IN THE WHEEL WELLS. THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS IN MAY. SUBARU ALSO CONFIRMED HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. NO ONE HAS EXPLAINED WHY THE WIRE TIES BROKE CAUSING THE POWER HARNESS TO MOVE. AT 40000 IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND WE HAD TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH PARTIES HAVE SAID IT IS POSSIBLE THE WIRE TIES BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN WARRANTY. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVIES ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**762507
NHTSA ODI #10009361
Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
FRONT CRANK SEAL FAILS. CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE AND POSSIBLE FIRE UNDER HOOD. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARUS. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS SUBARU HAS RELEASED 3 DIFFERENT PARTS IN ATTEMPT TO FIX PROBLEM. SUBARU DENIES THIS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD OR EVEN A PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #754866
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2001
Power Train
ODOMETER FAILURES - ALSO POSSIBLY CAUSING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS
NHTSA ODI #754171
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2001
Suspension
REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS WORN OUT, REAR END STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, AND VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO CONTROL ALSO, SMOKE AND OIL CAME FROM WHEELS. THIS WAS THE 10TH TIME THA CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE IT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #898227
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2001
Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury
I HAD STOPPED AND PUT CAR INTO PARK AND IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE BRICK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #752517
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2001
Unknown Or Other
MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 36,000 MILES THE DEALER CHARGED ME $75 TO RESET IT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 2 WEEKS THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SICNE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER "COMPUTER RESET" WORDS USED BY DEALER IS THIS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THIS MOODEL…
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MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 36,000 MILES THE DEALER CHARGED ME $75 TO RESET IT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 2 WEEKS THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SICNE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER "COMPUTER RESET" WORDS USED BY DEALER IS THIS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THIS MOODEL AND YEAR ? I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATOR RECALL COULD THAT HAVE MADE THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON ? THANK YOU AS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #743337
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Power TrainSeatsVisibilityCrashInjury
HEATED MIRRORS, HEATED SEATS, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ALL QUIT WORKING AND ALTHOUGH SERVICE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG ORIGINALLY, THEY DID FINALLY ADMIT TO A SHORT WITHIN EACH UNIT. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELECTRIAL SHORTING OUT TO CAUSE ALL THE MISC. THINGS TO GO OUT. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS NO CON…
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HEATED MIRRORS, HEATED SEATS, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ALL QUIT WORKING AND ALTHOUGH SERVICE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG ORIGINALLY, THEY DID FINALLY ADMIT TO A SHORT WITHIN EACH UNIT. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELECTRIAL SHORTING OUT TO CAUSE ALL THE MISC. THINGS TO GO OUT. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS NO CONCERN DUE TO REPEATED ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #743253
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury
TRAVEL AT APPROX 30-35 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF ONCOMING VEHICLE - NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #739874
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER HOOD, THEN STALLED AT A STOP. TAKEN TO DEALER WHO REPAIRED VEHICLE, ONE WEEK LATER ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, BUT DID NOT STALL, DEALER REPLACED ENGINE. WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #875893
Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HESITATION AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY DAY AND THE DEALER CAN FIND NO REMEDY FOR IT, THE MECHANICS SAY IT IS A FUEL PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD THE CONSUMER USE HIGH OCTANE GAS, THE FUEL FILTER WAS PLUGGED AND THE DEALER FOUND THE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED,…
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VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HESITATION AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY DAY AND THE DEALER CAN FIND NO REMEDY FOR IT, THE MECHANICS SAY IT IS A FUEL PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD THE CONSUMER USE HIGH OCTANE GAS, THE FUEL FILTER WAS PLUGGED AND THE DEALER FOUND THE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED, ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT REMEDIED THE HESITATION PROBLEM. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #557752
Official recalls
1Jun 25, 2001
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.
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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