2000 Subaru Outback problems
The 2000 Subaru Outback has 247 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (13%) concerns engine. Next are tires (13%) and transmission (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 247 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 22 and 9
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 5
- Typical mileage
- 78,000 miles 126 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 6 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 18 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 20 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 25 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 15 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 11 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 13 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 7 |
What the data shows
Of the 126 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 78,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 84,000 miles (25 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 22 complaints mention a crash; 9 complaints mention a fire; 11 injuries reported; 5 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2000 ranks 13th most-complained-about out of 31 model years of the Subaru Outback with enough data (164 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
1. Emergency braking from 50+ MPH on a freeway because the driver in front, in their own words, "just stopped"! 2. 2000 outback failed to slow. Hit rear of the lexus SUV. "torpedoed" under the SUV up to 1/2 the hood length. No air bag deployment (again!) 3. Car is totaled! This is the 2nd major accident due to the failure of the braking system. Subaru of america denies any product defect.
Car hit on driver's side (door) unable to remove driver from driver's side...car totaled....driver died as result of injuries sustained in the crash...driver was wearing seat belt.
Clutch shudders & required replacement. Hindsight being 20/20, I realize the clutch appears to have been defective from date of delivery. My own review of automotive websites indicates that others have either heard of or have had this problem and subaru of america has been of no assistance. I have had numerous discussion in the last few months with soa about this and they refuse to acknowldge they have a problem.
A very bad fuel smell inside cabin when it's cold outside and the vehicle is warming up and the vent is running. Fuel leak up by fuel filter area. Checked all hoses and clamps no leaks. Dealer checked it out and couldn't find a leak or problem. Afraid this may start a engine fire sometime.