2000 Subaru LEGACY: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10023471 · 2003-06-20 (June 20, 2003)
CLUTCH FAILED AFTER ONLY 30K MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING. THIS WAS PRECEDED BY FOUL BURNING ODOR, WHICH STARTED SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029649 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT BY ERASING THE CODE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE ENGINE. DEALER WOULD NOT CHECK THE ENGINE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031381 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES REAR LIFTGATE CLOSED DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034007 · 2003-08-13 (August 13, 2003)
RECALL REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOO DIRTY. *MR THE RECALL LETTER STATED "WILL CLEAN." THE CONSUMER FOUND IT IRONIC HOW THE TOPSIDE WAS WASHED AND CLEANED YET THE UNDERSIDE WAS ALLEGEDLY TOO DIRTY TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040605 · 2003-09-25 (September 25, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE TIRE WILL BE REPLACED ( BIG O SIZE 18570R14). PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040605 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 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 10053992 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
A LEAK IN THE REAR HATCH CAUSED THE INTERIOR BULBS TO BURN OUT. ALSO, REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPAIR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053992 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V091000 · Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
Reported: 2000-03-24 (March 24, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT-SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE ARM WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE LEFT SIDE TIE-ROD END CASTLE NUT AND INSTALL A NEW COTTER PIN.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V153000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2003-04-22 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V249000 · Power Train:Driveline:Center Support Bearing
Reported: 1999-09-17 (September 17, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN L MODEL PASSENGER VEHICLES. ANTI-RUST COATING WAS INCORRECTLY APPLIED TO THE TRANSVERSE LINK MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE BODY. OVER TIME THE COATING SHRINKS, CAUSING A TORQUE DECREASE OF THE BOLT THAT SECURES THE TRANSVERSE LINK BRACKET TO THE VEHICLE BODY.
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOOSENING OF THE BRACKET AND SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION OF THE TRANSVERSE LINK FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REMOVE THE ANTI-RUST COATING UNDER THE MOUNTING LOCATION OF THE LEFT TRANSVERVE LINK MOUNTING BRACKET BOLT AND RETORQUE THE MOUNTING BOLT TO THE REQUIRED TORQUE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗