Power Train. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports5 fire reports7 injury reports

Interior Lighting complaints

2 reports

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141,204 miles · Jun 26, 2007

Interior LightingSeat Belts

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO ARIZONA AND IT LOST POWER. THE DEALER RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND REPAIRED THE ALTERNATOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS ARE BECOMING MORE DIM AS TIME PROGRESSES. THE REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 142,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,204.

NHTSA ODI #10194706

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2000

Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

WHEN THE INTERIOR FAN SWITCH IS BEING USED, HEADLIGHTS GET VERY DIM, CAUSING POOR DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #862055

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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