2000 Subaru LEGACY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
92 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
94,815 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 92 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 14.1% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 13.0% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
Tires: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Suspension: 7; Electrical System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Air Bags: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 56 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 20; 2001: 15; 2002: 8; 2003: 7; 2004: 9; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 6; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10049470 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 67,500 MILES, WITHIN THE WARRANTY TIME PERIOD BUT OUT OF THE MILAGE LIMIT. DEALER CANNOT FIND A REPLACEMENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107264 · 2005-01-12 (January 12, 2005)
WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT THE GEAR SEEMED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO A LOWER GEAR, AND PLACED THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, DROVE TO THE MECHANIC, WHO CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. . THE ENGINE RUNS. BUT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044098 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. *MR THERE WAS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WHERE IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A WEEK OR MORE, THEY WOULD LOCK UP AND ONLY ROCKING BACK AND FORTH WOULD RELEASE THEM, WHEN THAT OCCURRED AND THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED, THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND FOR A LONG TIME. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079931 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
VEHICLE STOPPED DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND THERE WAS A LOST OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. *MR THE VEHICLE STOPPED DURING THE DEALERS TEST DRIVE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM POINTED TOWARDS A KNOCK SENSOR AIR FLOW SENSOR, OR POSSIBLY AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116251 · 2005-04-02 (April 2, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL "PERCOLATE", OR SKIP, AND STALL COMPLETELY UPON APPLYING BRAKE AT STOP LIGHT. STARTING UP AGAIN, IT WILL SKIP AND / OR COME TO A DEAD STOP AFTER ACCELLERATING. VERY DANGEROUS... HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO, SENT TO SUBARU REPAIR, WHERE THEY CHANGED THE PLUGS AND WIRES. IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY, APRIL 1, 2005. I WILL CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN AT CHASE PARKWAY SUBARU IN WATERTOWN, CT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 58,975 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 757447 · 2002-01-28 (January 28, 2002)
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP IN COOLER WEATHER (BELOW 45F) THE VEHICLE SHAKES, BUCKS, AND SHIMMYS VIOLENTLY. ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, IT HAS ALMOST STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092422 · 2004-10-15 (October 15, 2004)
INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. THE RADIO, FOLLOWED BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND THE EXTERIOR AUTO. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE DEALERSHIP HAS PULLED THE STEERING COLUMN APART AND CHECKED THE FUSE AND WIRING FOR MOISTURE, BUT NO MOISTURE WAS FOUND. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS ALSO PERFORMED. NO FAILURE WERE CODES FOUND. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10238636 · 2008-08-18 (August 18, 2008)
UNDER WARRANTY HAD THREE HEAD GASKETS ON 2000 LEGACY 2.5L (38,000, 55,000, 75,600 MILES RESPECTIVELY). AT 97,000 MILE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF #2 CYCLINDER. SUBARU BLAMED ME SINCE I REPLACED THE PLUGS AT 65,000. I PAID $1700 AT LYNNES SUBARU IN ARPIL TO REPLACE LEFT SIDE HEAD WITH NEW ONE. AT 99,500 MILE I AM SEEING THE COOLANT STARTING TO DROP IN RESERVOIR. ONLY 400 MILES LEFT ON 100K HEAD WARRANTY FOR RIGHT SIDE AND 10K MILE ON WARRANTY FOR NEW HEAD. THE CAR IS SITTING UNTIL I GET IT INTO DEALER. BESIDES HEADGASKETS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER,…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 762609 · 2002-06-03 (June 3, 2002)
CAR PURCHASED MARCH 2000. IN JUNE TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE REPORTED IT WAS PERIODICALLY RUNNING ROUGHLY. CHECKED IT AND STATED "THERE WAS NO PROBLEM". THE CAR CONTINUED TO DO THIS OFF AND ON. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN OCT. 2000. BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALER 10/20/00 TO PERFORM SERVICE RE: RECALL WXV-79 ECM. BROUGHT CAR IN FOR SERVICE 01/12/01. REPORTED CAR STILL RUNNING ROUGH AND ALSO ON OCCASION GET A STRONG RAW GAS SMELL. ALSO REPORTED TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SEEM TO ENGAGE CORRECTLY (PROBABLY RELATED TO ROUGH IDLE PROBLEM). DEALER CHECKED AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 762609 at NHTSA ↗