Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
2025–50K
2850–75K
1875–100K
22100–150K
9150K+
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
What owners actually said
207 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2002
Child Seat
HARNESS MATERIAL ON CAR SEAT IS TOO SOFT TO RETAIN FLAT CONFIGURATION; ROLLS UP INTO ROPE-SHAPE INSIDE SHOULDER PADS, BUNCHES AND BINDS IN HARNESS HARDWARE. SEEKING A WAY TO GET INITIATE A REPLACEMENT BY MANUFACTURER. DID CONTACT MFGR., COSCO, WHO SAID STRAPS ARE SOFT MATERIAL INTENTIONALLY FOR KIDS' COMFORT. I DON'T BUY IT; SEA…
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HARNESS MATERIAL ON CAR SEAT IS TOO SOFT TO RETAIN FLAT CONFIGURATION; ROLLS UP INTO ROPE-SHAPE INSIDE SHOULDER PADS, BUNCHES AND BINDS IN HARNESS HARDWARE. SEEKING A WAY TO GET INITIATE A REPLACEMENT BY MANUFACTURER. DID CONTACT MFGR., COSCO, WHO SAID STRAPS ARE SOFT MATERIAL INTENTIONALLY FOR KIDS' COMFORT. I DON'T BUY IT; SEATBELT MATERIAL IN CARS IS SOFT, BUT DOES NOT COLLAPSE LATERALLY. IF CAR SEATBELTS FOLDED, BUNCHED AND ROLLED THIS WAY, THEY WOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY, I SUSPECT. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION, AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #756626
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
4TH TIME FOR THIS RADIATOR OVERHEATING; SUBARU IS REPLACING ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #756309
Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
FIRST RADIATOR FAILED AT APPROX. 21,000 MILES AND OEM REPLACEMENT RADIATOR FAILED AT APPROX. 44,000 MILES. BOTH RADIATORS 10 MOS. OLD.*AK
NHTSA ODI #755436
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2001
Tires
PHOTOS OF THE TIRE DAMAGE ARE POSTED AT HTTP://WWW.SPEAKEASY.ORG/~DERVISH/FIRESTONE/FIRESTONE.HTML. I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES DESPITE THE SUBSTANTIAL TREAD LIFE REMAINING ON THE FIRESTONES. THE FIRESTONES WERE WELL-MAINTAINED: ROTATED, INFLATED, ETC.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2X0W66070 TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)
NHTSA ODI #755410
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001
Power Train
THIS IS THE 2ND CLUTCH ON THE VEHICLE. CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER WILL NOT ADMIT PROBLEM!!*AK
NHTSA ODI #752586
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2001
Tires
WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE A TIRE THAT I HAVE BEEN NURSING A SLOW LEAK ON FOR A FEW WEEKS, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A NICE SMOOTH HALF CIRCLE IN THE COVERING ABOUT WHERE I THINK THE TIRE MEETS THE TREAD. IT APPEARED TO ME AS THE FIRST SIGN OF TREAD SEPARATION.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2XOW66140 TIRESIZE: P22560R169)
NHTSA ODI #752227
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2001
Seat Belts
REAR SEAT SELDOM USED .IN AUG. 2000 MY PASSENGER TRIED TO USE THE SEAT BELT BUT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND IT AROUND HER BODY. I DISCOVERED THAT THE BELT WAS STUCK ON THE ROOF GUIDE AND WAS FRAYED FOR ABOUT ONE INCH. I REMOVED IT FROM THE GUIDE BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT EXTEND AROUND HER BODY. NO MATTER WHAT I DID THE BELT WOULD NOT EXTE…
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REAR SEAT SELDOM USED .IN AUG. 2000 MY PASSENGER TRIED TO USE THE SEAT BELT BUT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND IT AROUND HER BODY. I DISCOVERED THAT THE BELT WAS STUCK ON THE ROOF GUIDE AND WAS FRAYED FOR ABOUT ONE INCH. I REMOVED IT FROM THE GUIDE BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT EXTEND AROUND HER BODY. NO MATTER WHAT I DID THE BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND ENOUGH TO GO AROUND A WOMAN OF 125 POUNDS.TWO ISSUES 1: HOW DID THE BELT FRAY ? 2: WHY WOULDN'T IT EXTEND ?
NHTSA ODI #751472
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2001
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
BRAKE PEDAL GOES 1/2 WAY DOWN BEFORE BRAKES ENGAGE AT ALL. PEDAL CAN BE PUSHED TO FLOOR WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT BY MY 120LB WIFE. ABS DID NOT ENGAGE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED - IMPACT SPEED WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. DEALER INSISTS BRAKES ARE OK. 2001 MODEL HAS 13 INCH DISCS AND IT STOPS GREAT! (OUR RENTAL IS A 2001 OUTBACK WAGON). WE LO…
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BRAKE PEDAL GOES 1/2 WAY DOWN BEFORE BRAKES ENGAGE AT ALL. PEDAL CAN BE PUSHED TO FLOOR WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT BY MY 120LB WIFE. ABS DID NOT ENGAGE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED - IMPACT SPEED WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. DEALER INSISTS BRAKES ARE OK. 2001 MODEL HAS 13 INCH DISCS AND IT STOPS GREAT! (OUR RENTAL IS A 2001 OUTBACK WAGON). WE LOVE THE CAR, IT JUST WORRIES US THAT IT DOESN'T STOPPROPERLY AND THE AIRBAGS DON'T GO OFF - APPARENTLY THE 'COMPUTER' DEEMED IT "UNECESSARY" ALTHOUGH IT WAS A HEAD-ON, SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT, COLLISION!*AK
NHTSA ODI #751423
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Tires
TIRE COULD NOT BE BALANCED, TREAD FOUND TO BE SEPARATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2X0W66070 TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)
NHTSA ODI #750457
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001
Seat BeltsCrash
CAR HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE (DOOR) UNABLE TO REMOVE DRIVER FROM DRIVER'S SIDE...CAR TOTALED....DRIVER DIED AS RESULT OF INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE CRASH...DRIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. *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.
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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