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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

207 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2000
Service Brakes, AirCrash

BRAKES ARE VERY SOFT OR MUSHY AND ARE SLOW TO RESPOND. THEY DO NOT EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE UNTIL THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED VERY CLOSE TO THE FLOOR, THUS REQUIRING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME AND DISTANCE TO STOP. THE INADEQUACY OF PERFORMACE CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY, IN MY JUDGMENT, TO THE ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS INVOLVED BECAUSE TH…

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BRAKES ARE VERY SOFT OR MUSHY AND ARE SLOW TO RESPOND. THEY DO NOT EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE UNTIL THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED VERY CLOSE TO THE FLOOR, THUS REQUIRING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME AND DISTANCE TO STOP. THE INADEQUACY OF PERFORMACE CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY, IN MY JUDGMENT, TO THE ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS INVOLVED BECAUSE THE BRAKES SIMPLY FAILED TO START SLOWING THE CAR DOWN UNTIL THE PEDAL WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. I HAVE JUST REPORTED IT IN WRITING TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I ADVISED MY INSURANCE AGENT AND THE CARRIER OF MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE BRAKES' PERFORMANCE IMMEDIATELY UPON MY REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT ON THE DAY IN WHICH IT OCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #738191

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2000
Visibility

WINDOW HAS CRACKED TWO TIMES FROM THE LOCATION OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER HEATING ELEMENT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT

NHTSA ODI #737658

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2000
Power Train

TRANSMISSION COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL AND JOLT ONTO THE ONCOMING LANE, LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND NO ACCIDENT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #557653

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2000
TiresFire

TIRE SEAM BLEW OUT, IN A PERFECT CIRCUMFERENCE, ACCOMPANIED BY PROFUSE SMOKE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I COULD NOT SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO MY CAR DUE TO THE SMOKE. I THOUGHT I BLEW A GASKET. BROUGHT TIRE TO FIRESTONE DEALER, WHERE THEY DID A SOAP TEST. NO PUNCTURES WERE THERE EXCEPT THE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE …

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TIRE SEAM BLEW OUT, IN A PERFECT CIRCUMFERENCE, ACCOMPANIED BY PROFUSE SMOKE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I COULD NOT SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO MY CAR DUE TO THE SMOKE. I THOUGHT I BLEW A GASKET. BROUGHT TIRE TO FIRESTONE DEALER, WHERE THEY DID A SOAP TEST. NO PUNCTURES WERE THERE EXCEPT THE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE SEAM ON THE OUTSIDE OF TIRE. THEY REPLACED IT, HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHERK WILDERNESS TIRE. IN THYE 28 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE HAD, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT LIKE THIS, OR EVEN SEEN ONE. THE DEGREE OF SMOKE, AND PERFECT FAILURE OF THE SEAM POINT TO A PROBLEM WORTHY OF YOUR INVESTIGATION., PLEASE NOTIFY ME, IN KIND, OF THE PROCEDURE YOU WILL UNDER TAKE TO INSURE THAT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DRIVING THE NEW 2000 OUTBACK EQUIPED WITH THE WILDERNESS TIRES WILL BE SAFE FROM HARM. I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER. (DOT NUMBER: W 2XOW66 TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)

NHTSA ODI #734292

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2000
Wheels

NO SUMMARY (DOT NUMBER: W2XOW66 TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)

NHTSA ODI #734291

16,000 miles · Oct 14, 2000
TiresFire

TIRE SEAM BLEW OUT IN PERFECT CIRCUMFERENCE ACCOMPANIED BY PROFUSE SMOKE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I COULD NOT SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO MY CAR DUE TO THE SMOKE. I THOUGHT I BLEW A GASKET. BROUGHT TIRE TO FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE THEY DID A SOAP TEST. NO PUNCTURES WERE THERE EXCEPT THE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE SEAM…

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TIRE SEAM BLEW OUT IN PERFECT CIRCUMFERENCE ACCOMPANIED BY PROFUSE SMOKE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I COULD NOT SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO MY CAR DUE TO THE SMOKE. I THOUGHT I BLEW A GASKET. BROUGHT TIRE TO FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE THEY DID A SOAP TEST. NO PUNCTURES WERE THERE EXCEPT THE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE SEAM ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THEY REPLACED IT, HOWEVER THEY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER WILDERNESS TIRE. IN THE 28 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE HAD, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT LIKE THIS OR EVEN SEEN ONE. THE DEGREE OF SMOKE AND PERFECT FAILURE OF THE SEAM POINT TO A PROBLEM WORTHY OF YOUR INVESTIGATION. PLEASE NOTIFY ME, IN KIND, OF THE PROCEDURE YOU WILL UNDER TAKE TO INSURE THAT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DRIVING THE NEW 2000 OUTBACK EQUIPPED WITH THE WILDERNESS TIRES WILL BE SAFE FROM HARM. I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734292

NHTSA ODI #10007001

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2000
Tires

I WAS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OUTSIDE OF LA AND MY TIRE SHREDDED INTO 3 PERFECT PIECES. THERE IS A TINY HOLE IN THE TIRE BUT I HAVE ONLY SEEN A TIRE DETERIORATE SUCH AS THIS ON THE NEWS WITH THE CASES OF RECALLED TIRES. PLEASE TELL ME THAT THERE ARE MORE TIRES OUT THERE THAN MINE DOING THIS AND IT IS NOT JUST COINCIDENCE MY TIRE…

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I WAS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OUTSIDE OF LA AND MY TIRE SHREDDED INTO 3 PERFECT PIECES. THERE IS A TINY HOLE IN THE TIRE BUT I HAVE ONLY SEEN A TIRE DETERIORATE SUCH AS THIS ON THE NEWS WITH THE CASES OF RECALLED TIRES. PLEASE TELL ME THAT THERE ARE MORE TIRES OUT THERE THAN MINE DOING THIS AND IT IS NOT JUST COINCIDENCE MY TIRE WAS MADE IN THE SAME PLANT AS ALL OF THE RECALLED TOO. JUNK....JUST JUNK I TELL YA. AND IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AN EXPLORER I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE HERE WRITTING YOU TODAY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2XO W66 TIRESIZE: 225/60R16)

NHTSA ODI #733011

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2000
Tires

RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD SUDDEN AND CATOSTROPHIC DISINTEGRATION OF SIDEWALL AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT HITTING ANY DEBRI. NO LOSS OF CONTROL BUT TOTAL LOSS OF TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/60/16 )

NHTSA ODI #732636

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2000
Steering

CONTINOUS RATTLE IN FRONT END VERY LOUD WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #732458

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2000
Visibility

REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #870894

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.

Go deeper into Subaru Outback problems