2000 Subaru OUTBACK: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10003203 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003217 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON DEVELOPED ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 61, 800 MILES REQUIRING EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. DEALER CLAIMED THE REASON TO BE NO COOLANT FLUSH AT THE 30,000 MILE MARK ON THE VEHICLE
Owner-reported narrative. 61,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006473 · 2002-04-16 (April 16, 2002)
TREAD SEPARATED AND TIRE BLEW WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON PARKWAY. DIDN'T FILL OUT ALL INFORMATION ON CAR SINCE IT DIDN'T APPLY AND DEALER HAS RECORD. *AK *JB *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS******760752.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007001 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
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 O…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007001 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 10010667 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
I PURCHASED NEW A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK STATION WAGON. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING ALREADY. TWO SEPARATE SUBARU DEALERS AND TWO PRIVATE GARAGES TELL ME THE HEAD GASKETS ARE GOING IN THESE CARS LEFT AND RIGHT. THERE ARE LOTS OF ANGRY OWNERS ON THE WEB. THE HEAD GASKETS, VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE ENGINE MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR, ARE GOING WAY TOO SOON!. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010914 · 2003-03-23 (March 23, 2003)
CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CAR HAS 36000 MILES ON IT AND IS SERVICED BY THE DEALER REGULARLY. DEALER CHARGED ME $1200 TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH AND SAID THAT IT WAS MY FAULT, THAT I MUST "RIFE THE CLUTCH" OR HABITUALLY OVERLOAD THE VEHICLE, NEITHER OF WHICH IS TRUE. I SUSPECT THE CLUTCH WAS FLAWED TO BEGIN WITH. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 35,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010914 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗