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2000 Subaru Outback

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Subaru Outback do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 207.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

104 reports with mileage · 103 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports5 fire reports7 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

5 reports
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100,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL LEAK SOMEWHERE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT; GASOLINE ODOR WENT INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WORSE IN VERY COLD OR VERY HOT WEATHER. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR 3 OR 4 YEARS. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD COST $200 TO TRY TO FIND THE LEAKS -- MAYBE SOME HOSE CLAMPS NEAR THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE THE CULPRIT, BUT ARE HARD TO GET TO WITHOUT …

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FUEL LEAK SOMEWHERE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT; GASOLINE ODOR WENT INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WORSE IN VERY COLD OR VERY HOT WEATHER. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR 3 OR 4 YEARS. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD COST $200 TO TRY TO FIND THE LEAKS -- MAYBE SOME HOSE CLAMPS NEAR THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE THE CULPRIT, BUT ARE HARD TO GET TO WITHOUT TAKING APART SOME OF THE ENGINE? I'VE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS ONLINE BULLETIN BOARDS. I SUPPOSE NHTSA WON'T FORCE SUBARU TO ISSUE A RECALL UNTIL SOME LARGE NUMBER OF DRIVERS/PASSENGERS DIE FROM AN ENGINE FIRE THAT STARTS FROM THIS TYPE OF LEAKING. MOST RECENT INCIDENT: LATE JANUARY, 2010. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319868

129,050 miles · Feb 14, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

A VERY BAD FUEL SMELL INSIDE CABIN WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE AND THE VEHICLE IS WARMING UP AND THE VENT IS RUNNING. FUEL LEAK UP BY FUEL FILTER AREA. CHECKED ALL HOSES AND CLAMPS NO LEAKS. DEALER CHECKED IT OUT AND COULDN'T FIND A LEAK OR PROBLEM. AFRAID THIS MAY START A ENGINE FIRE SOMETIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310284

96,543 miles · Jan 1, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

THERE IS A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON ON COLD DAYS AND IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A RECALL SINCE IT IS FUEL RELATED AND A SERIOUS RISK. THE FUEL LEAKS FROM A RUBBER HOSE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE …

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THERE IS A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON ON COLD DAYS AND IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A RECALL SINCE IT IS FUEL RELATED AND A SERIOUS RISK. THE FUEL LEAKS FROM A RUBBER HOSE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE THAT CONNECTS TWO HARD GAS LINES. I TRIED TIGHTENING THE CLAMPS AND IT DID NOT HAVE MUCH AFFECT. THE HOUSE HAS NO HOLES OR TEARS IN IT. NEITHER DO THE HARD GAS LINES. SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT CANT HOLD THE PRESSURE OR WHAT? I NOTICED IT AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES. I STOPPED FOR A MINUTE AND GOT A STRONG GAS SMELL. THERE WAS GAS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN I CHECKED IT WHEN I GOT HOME. I DROVE A TOTAL OF TEN MILES MAYBE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253514

30,000 miles · Dec 16, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER - DEFINITELY SMELLS OF LEAKING GAS - DEALER ADVISED AND LOOKED AT CAR A NUMBER OF TIMES - COULD NOT RESOLVE. I GAVE THIS CAR TO MY DAUGHTER AND I FEAR AN ENGINE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252028

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2002
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineSuspension

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE KEPT PULLING TO THE RIGHT, AND FRONT END WAS WOBBLING, CAUSED BY THE CARRIAGE BOLT THAT FELL OFF. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE BIKE RACK DROPPED DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON DUE TO EVAPORATION LEAK FROM SYSTEM AND LOOSE GAS CAP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SEAL…

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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE KEPT PULLING TO THE RIGHT, AND FRONT END WAS WOBBLING, CAUSED BY THE CARRIAGE BOLT THAT FELL OFF. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE BIKE RACK DROPPED DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON DUE TO EVAPORATION LEAK FROM SYSTEM AND LOOSE GAS CAP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SEAL WAS DAMAGED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8013900

Official recalls

1

03V153000 · 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.

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.

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