2000 Subaru OUTBACK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
203 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
68,318 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 104 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 203 complaints (9.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 30 | 14.8% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 10.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 3.9% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.0% |
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 | 20 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 18 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 7 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 7 |
Tires: 20; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 7; Suspension: 7; Tires:Tread/Belt: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 28 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 28; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 9
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 99 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 | 33 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 36 |
| 2004 | 25 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2000: 33; 2001: 18; 2002: 21; 2003: 36; 2004: 25; 2005: 18; 2006: 6; 2007: 6; 2008: 8; 2009: 5; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 30 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 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 10003203 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009135 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002844 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
MY SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON WITH 50K MILES BEGAN HAVING OCCASIONAL ENGINE SURGE AFTER THE BRAKES WERE CHECKED BY THE DEALER. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 2X AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM. JUST APPLYING THE BRAKE WILL KICK THE ENGINE INTO HIGH, AND THE ENGINE MUST BE TURNED OFF TO STOP THE SURGE. IT HAS HAPPEN TO ME 4X IN 2 WEEKS. I HAVE THE CAR BUT WILL NOT DRIVE IT. THE DEALER IS CONSULTING WITH SUBARU. APPARENTLY THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WHICH AT PRESENT HAS NO SOLUTION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT AND I FEEL IMMEDIATE ACTION SHOULD BE …
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038080 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN CHANGING FROM ONE GEAR INTO ANOTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A STEEP SLOPE AND PUT INTO REVERSE. THE DRIVER TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ONTO THE ACCELERATOR THEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS CALLED SHIFT LAG. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074954 · 2004-06-07 (June 7, 2004)
AFTER A TUNE UP FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP, MY 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK EXERTS AN INTERMITTEN PROBLEM OF HESITATION. ONCE MOVING THE CAR DOING OK, ESPECIALLY ON FREEWAY. BUT AFTER EXITING FROM FREEWAY TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAR IS CHOKING AS IF HAVING A TIMING PROBLEM AND CANNOT SLOW RPM TO IDLE. AFTER THAT AS THE LIGHT TURNS, STEP ON THE GAS PADDLE WON'T INCREASE RPM OR MOVING THE CAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT USUALLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT BEGAN TO ROLL AGAIN. IT CONTINUES TO TAKE MUCH MORE TIME TO GET CAR BACK TO NORMAL SPEED. THE PROBLEM IS PROGRESS…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253514 · 2009-01-01 (January 1, 2009)
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 O…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,543 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013690 · 2003-03-30 (March 30, 2003)
DURING A FRONT-END, LOW-SPEED COLLISION, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY SEATBELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN ME IN MY SEAT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, I BROUGHT A PROBLEM TO MY DEALERS SERVICE CENTER, IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED, AND I BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SEATBELT FAILURE DURING MY ACCIDENT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 79,049 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013692 · 2003-03-30 (March 30, 2003)
DURING A FRONT-END, LOW-SPEED COLLISION, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY SEATBELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN ME IN MY SEAT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, I BROUGHT A PROBLEM TO MY DEALERS SERVICE CENTER, IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED, AND I BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SEATBELT FAILURE DURING MY ACCIDENT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 79,049 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114050 · 2005-03-14 (March 14, 2005)
THE BRAKE LIGHT/TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON OUR SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON FILLS WITH WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS. IT IS A CLAMSHELL DESIGN SPANNING THE ENTIRE REAR HATCH OF THE VEHICLE AND INCLUDES THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND REVERSE (BACKUP) LIGHTS. IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAT IN FLORIDA HAS AFFECTED THE SEAM OF THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING IT TO FAIL PREMATURELY, SO THAT RAIN WATER FILLS UP IN THE TAILIGHT ASSEMBLY EVERY TIME IT RAINS, WHERE A SHORT CIRCUIT IS INEVITABLE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WATER INSIDE THE REVERSE LIGHTS PORTION OF THE TAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321803 · 2010-03-24 (March 24, 2010)
MY SUBARU OUTBACK 2000 WAS BROUGHT TO A SUBARU DEALER IN SIOUX FALLS, AFTER BATTERY DIED, AND THEY CHANGED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, AND THEN THEY ALSO STATED THAT BRAKE PAD NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, SO I AGREED AND THEY DID. IT WAS IN MID AUGUST 2009. SINCE THEN I DROVE THAT CAR BETWEEN SIOUX FALLS AND ROCHESTER MN, WHICH IS ABOUR 240 MILES ONE WAY OVER THE WEEKENDS. ON SEPT 20TH, WHEN WE WERE DRIVING BACK FROM SIOUX FALLS TO ROCHESTER, I NOTED SOME NOISE COMING BACK FROM THE LEFT REAF WHEEL, AND IT BECAME WORSE. EVENTUALLY THAT CAUSED VIBRATION, A…
Owner-reported narrative. 138,934 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068371 · 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)
SUBARU OUTBACK VIN[XXX], 2000 MODEL VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE AWAY FROM STOPS. STALLS IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. DEALER REPROGRAMMED PCM ON 4/1/04 WHEN TAKEN IN FOR COOLANT/HEAD GASKET ISSUE RECALL. PERFORMANCE WAS POOR AFTER THIS AND WAS RETURNED TO DEALER 5/04/04. STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE THE PROBLEM, NEW PLUGS FITTED. CAR IS WORSE THAN BEFORE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO SUDDEN STALLING AND BOGGING ON TAKEOFF. MY HUSBAND HAS A 1999 SUBARU IMPREZZA AND HAS SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HAS RETURNED HI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068371 at NHTSA ↗