2000 Subaru Outback complaints

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. *NM

2000 SUBARU OUTBACK 1) CAR OVERHEATED AND HAD TO BE TOWED 2) TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP - HOLE IN RADIATOR, BLOWN HEAD GASKET (BOTH REPLACED) 3) DROVE LESS THAN 20 MILES AND COOLANT STARTED LEAKING FROM RADIATOR HOSE 4) TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, RADIATOR HOSE FIXED AND REPLACED OTHER HEAD GASKET 5) DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. APPARENTLY THE OXYGEN SENSOR IS NOW BAD. THERE ARE TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2000 SUBARUS - READ THE FOLLOWING BLOG TO SEE THE 100+ OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. SUBARU SHOULD FIX THE COOLANT SYSTEMS BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS. HTTP://SCOTT.MCGERIK.COM/2004/02/18/SUBARU-OUTBACK-HEAD-GASKET-LEAK/. *NM

FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE IN HALF WHILE PULL OUT OF A GAS STATION. DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH. THIS CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS/ BY WAYS NO OFF ROADING. HAS 93K ON CAR. SUBARU DEALER WILL NO GIVE A BREAK ON PRICE, PART OR LABOR BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARRANTY. I HAVE ALREADY FOUND 6 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THIS SITE. *JB

THE CLUTCH ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK 2000 IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2000. AT TIMES RANDOMLY IT WOULD SLIP OR THE PEDAL WOULD NOT RETURN UP. SLIPPING OF THE CLUTCH OR THE PEDAL BEING STUCK MULTIPLE TIMES ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO ACCIDENT WHEN CHANGING LANES OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. *JB

VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE FROM PARK, OR VEHICLE WILL DISENGAGE FROM DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING, PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO ENGAGE INTO DRIVE IN SEVERAL HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES. *NM

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT CV JOINT BOOT TORE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, 39,744 MILES. VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR A BOOT TO TEAR FOR NO REASON, NEIGHBOR WHO IS A FORMER SUBARU MECHANIC SAID SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNLESS I RAN OVER SOMETHING AND PUNCTURED BOOT, I DID NOT. SUBARU DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THOUGH PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD DUE TO CV GREASE LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL MECHANICAL FAILURE IF PROBLEM IS NOT CAUGHT IN TIME. *JB

DRIVER SIDE FRONT CV JOINT BOOT TORE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, 62,289 MILES. NEIGHBOR WHO IS A FORMER SUBARU MECHANIC SAID SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNLESS I RAN OVER SOMETHING AND PUNCTURED BOOT, I DID NOT. SUBARU WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY OUT OF WARRANTY AT 36K. A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD DUE TO CV GREASE LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL MECHANICAL FAILURE IF PROBLEM IS NOT CAUGHT IN TIME. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE SUN ROOF DRAIN PLUGS UP. BACKED UP WATER DRAINS INTO INSIDE REAR CARGO AREA. MY VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE LARGE ALL WEATHER RUBBER MAT IN THE CARGO AREA. SINCE THE AREA WHERE THE WATER POURS OUT IS NEAR THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR THE MOST OF THE WATER ENDS UP ON THE CARPET UNDER THE MAT AND IT IS NOT ALWAYS NOTICEABLE. SPOKE WITH CONTRACTOR THAT COMES IN AND TAKES CARE OF WATER LEAK FOR DEALER HE SAID IS THE FIX SHOULD TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM. FOUND IT DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING THAT WATER WAS POURING DOWN INSIDE OF CAR, COULD SEE IN REAR VIEW MIRROR. ONCE WATER DRAINED OUT LEAK STOPPED, BUT WATER WOULD BUILD UP AGAIN. WORRY ABOUT POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO HEADLINER AND FUTURE BODY STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO ROOF AREA. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE SUN ROOF DRAIN PLUGS UP, SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. BACKED UP WATER DRAINS INTO INSIDE REAR CARGO AREA. MY VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE LARGE ALL WEATHER RUBBER MAT IN THE CARGO AREA. SINCE THE AREA WHERE THE WATER POURS OUT IS NEAR THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR THE MOST OF THE WATER ENDS UP ON THE CARPET UNDER THE MAT AND IT IS NOT ALWAYS NOTICEABLE. ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR THAT FIXES LEAKS FOR DEALER SAID THE FIX SHOULD TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM, DID NOT. THIS CONTRACTOR, DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST CONTRACTOR, SAID BASICALLY THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO PREVENT DRAINS FROM PLUGGING UP. WAS NOT DRIVING THIS TIME, WASHED CAR AND SAW WATER ON RUBBER MAT WHILE CLEANING INSIDE OF CAR. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING, IN REAR VIEW MIRROR I SAW WATER COMING FROM HEADLINER AREA, VERY DISTRACTING. ALSO, WORRY ABOUT POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO HEADLINER AND FUTURE BODY STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO ROOF AREA. IF DRAINS CONTINUE TO PLUG UP HEADLINER COULD POSSIBLE BECOME WEAK AND FAIL. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. NOT SURE OF ACTUAL DATE THIS WAS ADDRESSED WITH DEALER BELIEVE IT WAS ADDRESSED WHEN I TOOK CARE IN TO HAVE CV JOINT REPAIRED. DEALER DID NOT REPORT WORKER TO SUBARU. *JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DELAY IN ENGAGING FROM A STOP INTO ANY FORWARD GEAR FROM ANY GEAR. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AROUND 50-55 MPH WHEN THE RPMS REVVED TO 6500. THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER FOUND A MECHANIC THAT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME FOR HER. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT IN USE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THE CONSUMER THAT WAS MAKING THE COMPLAINT WAS NOT THE OWNER, BUT HAD BORROWED THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *SC . *AK

I OWN A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED. THE CAR HAS APPROX 45,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE KEPT THE CAR UP TO DATE WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I USED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT BUT THEY NEVER COMPLETED THE WORK I REQUESTED AND PAID FOR (I.E. LITTLE THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE THERE WAS ENOUGH COOLANT IN THE CAR, ETC). WAS HAVING A STRONG BURNING ODOR FROM MY CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO. GOT THE CAR INTO A MECHANIC TODAY WHO SPECIALIZES IN SUBARU AUTOMOBILES. I FOUND THAT I HAD A CRACKED HEAD GASKET THAT WAS LEAKING OIL EXTERNALLY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT SUBARU SEEMS TO HAVE, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE, A DEFECTIVE GASKET IN THEIR AUTOMOBILES WITH THE 2.5L ENGINES. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WILL HELP REIMBURSE MY COST OF REPAIR. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT!! IN MY OPINION, I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU IS CLAIMING THAT THEY CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM BY RECALLING THE CARS AND RUNNING A SEALANT THROUGH THE COOLANT SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BAD COVER-UP. COULD YOU IMAGINE IF SUBARU HAD TO RECALL THOUSANDS OF CARS TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART LIKE A GASKET? THEIR INCOMPETENT DEALERSHIPS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT! PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. I REALLY HOPE I'M NOT WASTING YOUR TIME. AS I MENTIONED, I TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND SUBARU IS NOT ADDRESSING IT. THANKS.*JB

DT: THE CALLER USED SPARE TIRE AND THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. TIRE HAD 110 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THE CALLER WAS GOING BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH. THE TIRE WAS FULL OF BLACK POWDER AND THE RUBBER WAS CRUMBLING. THE CALLER HEARD A RUMBLE, AND WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO PULL OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS ,THE TIRE BLEW OUT. TIRE WAS ONLY ON VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CALLER TO GO TO DEALER AND THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE TIRE. DEALER WOULD OFFER NO HELP. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER DID PAY FOR TIRE. *AK *NM

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DELAYED ENGAGEMENT WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR UP TO 10 SECONDS THEN IT WILL ENGAGE ABRUPTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. SUBARU HAS DEEMED THE PROBLEM A TRANSMISSION FAILURE REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT 74,000 MILES DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT# 10074032, 10090065, 10106683, AND 10122566. SUBARU OF AMERICA DENIES THAT THERE IS A PATTERN OF COMPLAINTS/PROBLEMS.

VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS AGO WAS EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT DELAY IN ENGAGING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM ANY GEAR INTO DRIVE. HAD DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND DO A TRANSMISSION FLUSH OF ALL FLUID. THE PROBLEM REALLY DIDN'T GET BETTER UNTIL FINALLY ON 3/19/05 AT ONLY 51,800 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE IN DRIVE AT ALL. A TRANSMISSION SHOP LOOKED AT IT AND SAID AN 'O' RING FAILED CAUSING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO NEED TO BE REBUILT AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED. COST WAS $2,644 AND WAS ONLY 6 WEEKS PAST EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY.

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM INCREASING SPEED.*AK

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 TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY, AS THE LENS IS CLEAR. THIS IS A BIG LIFE SAFETY HAZARD. I CONTACTED SUBARU MOTORS OF AMERICA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND 1) THEY DENY THAT THEY HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM HAVING EVER HAPPENED TO ANY SUBARU OWNER, AND 2) THEY ARE DENYING MY REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR (VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY). HOWEVER, THE DEALER'S REPAIR TECHNICIAN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN FLORIDA - HE HAS REPAIRED THE SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. I EXPRESSED CONCERN TO SUBARU AMERICA ABOUT LIABILITY FROM THIS SAFETY HAZARD, BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT DID NOT EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN FATALITIES. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A MANDATORY RECALL BE PERSUED SINCE SUBARU DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS DESIGN. I CLEARLY SEE THIS AS BOTH A DESIGN FLAW AND A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

ENGAGED CAR INTO REVERSE AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET OF MOVEMENT. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS OR PEDESTRIANS. BROUGHT TO DEALER, NO EVIDENCE OF PROBLEM FOUND ON CAR COMPUTER SYSTEMS. FILED FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA. FOUND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OUTBACK OWNERS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE! *NM

FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE NEAR THE RIGHT WHEEL FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I DISCOVERED THE BROKEN PART HANGING DOWN NEARLY TO THE GROUND ON JANUARY 1, 2005. THIS HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO HANDLE ERRATICALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AND I PLAN TO GET IT REPAIRED. I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REMEDY THIS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY (72,400 MILES). *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. VEHICLE DELAYED WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO DRIVE. ALSO, CONSUMER WOULD BE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT CHANGING GEARS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK......INITIALLY, DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. AFTER 2 MOR EVISITS TO DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS. NOW 90,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE NEW OR SHORTLY AFTER CAUSING A HOT ANTIFREEZE SMELL LIKE IT IS DRIPPNG ON THE EXHAUST. DEALER NEVER COULD FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL. THEY ADDED THE STOP LEAK SOLUTION BUT IT CONTINUES TO SMELL AND USE SOME FLUID. DEALER SAYS THAT SUBARU HAS AN OPTION TO REPLACE HEAD GASKETS, BUT DEALER IS RELUCTANT TO DO IT. I AM HAVING TO NOW GET TOUGH ABOUT IT. I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE IN MY WIFES 1998 OUTBACK DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. UPSET BECAUSE IT WAS JUST IN FOR FULL SERVICE CHECK PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRING. SUBARU HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I AM NEARLY PAST THAT NOW. I DON'T WANT THEM TO PUT IT OFF UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY. I HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED COMPLAINT ABOUT SENSORS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEMS.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/ SENSOR FAILURES. HAD ANALYSIS DONE ON MY CAR WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED OUT TO BE KNOCK SENSOR. PREVIOUSLY CHANGED OXYGEN SENSOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, DEALER SAID THAT CATYLITIC CONVERTER WAS BAD POSSIBLY DUE TO ENGINE RUNNING RICH. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY BAD SENSORS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. IS IT RELATED TO THE HEAD GASKET LEAK?*AK

MY 2000 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK FRONT STABILIZER/SWAY BAR BROKE AT BOTH ENDS SIMULTANEOUSLY, AT THE SAME LOCATION, GOING DOWNHILL ON A BLACK TOP ROAD. AN AUDIBLE "PING" SOUND OCCURRED WHEN IT HAPPENED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE STABILIZER/SWAY BAR ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2004 AT MY EXPENSE. SUBARU REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE PART OR LABOR. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 38K MILES ON IT.

HANDLE GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE PROPERLY. THEREFORE COULD NOT USE SEAT *BF *TC

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE PAVEMENT AND WENT OVER A STEEP BANK. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AT LEAST TWO TIMES LANDING ON IT'S ROOF. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK *NM

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. WHEN DRIVER APPLIED THE GAS VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER TO WAIT UNTIL IT FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT UNTIL IT HAPPENED PERMANENTLY. *AK

FRONT SWAY BAR SNAPPED. *AK

BURNING SMELL EMINATING FROM TRANSMISSION. *AK

DRIVING NORMAL SHIFTED THE CAR AND THE CLUTCH FELT SOFT AND THE RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION WAS SLOW. I CALLED THE DEALER REPAIR AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RECALL. I TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. IT COST ME $216.00 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WASN'T COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY, THE GEAR POSITIONING LEVER STICKS IN GEAR. THE CONSUMER DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND PLAYS WITH THE LEVER TO UNSTICK IT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED A PART IN THE GEAR POSITIONING LEVER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. ALSO, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PARK GEAR. *LA

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN INTERNAL FAILURE. *AK WHEN THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE NO CODES REGISTERED, ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN NEED OF REPAIR. *NM

THERE CURRENTLY HAS BEEN SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING 2000-2002 MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBARU OUTBACKS. THESE BULLETINS REFER TO A DEFECT IN THE CLUTCH THAT CAUSES A PREMATURE WEAR OF THE CLUTCH AND YOKE DUE TO AN IMBALANCE IN CAUSING THE CAR TO "JUDDER" OR SHUDDER WHEN ENGAGING INTO GEARS. I HAVE HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, GLEN OWNER OF OAKLAND AUTO WORKS STATE THAT HE COULD NOT WARRANTY THE REPAIR OF CLUTCH BECAUSE THE RECOMMENDED REPAIR BY SUBARU DOES NOT RELIABLY FIX THE PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE END UP HAVING TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES IN A SHORT TIME SPAN. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHANGED THE CLUTCH KIT SEVERAL TIMES AND THE METHOD OF REPAIR TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM YET HAVE FAILED TO PERFORM A RECALL. I AM CURRENTLY UNSURE ON HOW TO PROCEED IN THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE AS THE REPAIR COST IS $1350.00 AND IF THE UNIT FAILS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY I MAY BE SUBJECT HAVING TO PAY THIS AMOUNT AGAIN. SOME OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH ERRUPT FROM THIS DEFECT INCLUDE THE CLUTCH CATCHING FIRE. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STICKING AND NOT RELEASING DUE TO THE YOKE BEING WORN FOR THE CLUTCH "JUDDER". LAST, PREMATURE OF THE CLUTCH WITH ONLY HAVING A LIFESPAN OF 30,000 MILES OR LESS. *AK

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 PROGRESSING TO A GREATER FREQUENCY. NOW AFTER A MONTH, IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS TO RUN. IT ACTUALLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET A FEW TIMES. A TRIP BACK TO THE DEALER DIDN'T HELP. AFTER KEEPING THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS FOR TEST DRIVE THEY SAID THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE REPLICATED AND SO THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTEABLE MECHANIC THAT SPECIALIZES IN SUBARU. HE RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BUT AFTER MANY DAYS OF DIAGNOSTICS AND CHANGEING THE FUEL REGULATOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTOR, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. YET THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE CAR IS NOW IS ALMOST UNDRIVABLE. SO FAR I HAVE SPENT OVER 3000 DOLLARS BUT STILL NO SOLUTION. THIS CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND 70K MILES WITH A WELL MAINTENANCE RECORD. THIS PROBLEM MUST BE KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER SINCE I FOUND SO MANY DESCRIPTION OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE NET, STARTED WITH AN EARLY MODEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS FLAW THAT NEEDS MANUFACTURERS ATTENTION OR EVEN A RECALL. *AK

MY THREE YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WRAPPED THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT AROUND HER NECK WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT. THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS WAY TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT WHICH CONNECTED FROM THE SEAT TO THE CEILING. AFTER NEARLY STRANGLING MY DAUGHTER I FOUND A POLICE OFFICER WHO USED A KNIFE TO CUT THE SEAT BELT AS IT CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN. I LATER READ IN THE MANUAL THAT A CAR KEY COULD BE USED TO RELEASE THE BELT FROM ITS ANCHOR. *AK

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 HIS CAR SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO CORRECTION.*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

CONSUMER WASN'T PLEASED WITH UNDATED CORRESPONDENCE SERVICE PROGRAM WWP-99. (NAR) *PH THE SERVICE PROGRAM WAS ABOUT PUTTING A SPECIAL CONDITIONER IN THE VEHICLE'S COOLING SYSTEM TO PREVENT HEAD GASKET LEAKS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY SATISFACTORY SOLUTION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EH WIPERS NEED TO BE REDESIGNED TO PREVENT THE RIGHT HAND WIPER FROM DUMPING DEBRIS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE INTO THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT. THE RADIO CONTAINS AUDIBLE WINDSHIELD MOTOR NOISE WHEN THE RADIO STATION SIGNAL IS WEAK. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *NM

PAINT & TRIM PROBLEMS: THE TITANIUM COLORED PAINT ON THE FRONT BUMPER IS DEFECTIVE AND IS COMING OFF; SOME CAME OFF AT A LOCAL CAR WASH. DEFECTS IN PAINT ARE EVIDENT TO PAINT EXPERTS; ALSO, THE CHROME TRIM PAINT ON THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE FRONT GRILL IS "BUBBLED UP" IN 3 PLACES AND WILL SOON FALL OFF; CAR PURCHASED NEW AND NOT EXPOSED TO SALT; VEHICLE AGE IS A MERE 4 YRS, 49K MILES - THIS IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PAINT; ANOTHER CUSTOMER IN OUR AREA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

PURCHASED CAR WITH 78K ON IT. PRIOR IT DRIVING FROM COLORADO TO WISCONSIN, HAD IT LOOKED OVER. REPLACED LEAKING WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND LEAKING FWD DRIVE SHAFT SEAL. WITHIN A WEEK OF GETTING TO WISCONSIN, RADIATOR AND DRIVER SIDE HEAD GASKET FOUND TO BE LEAKING. HEAD GASKETS ARE BIG ON SUBARU WEB SIGHTS. SOA RECOMMENDS A "CONDITIONER" TO PUT IN THE RADIATOR, BUT IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE YET. PARTS GUY SAID PROBLEM WAS THAT OWNERS ARE NOT ALLOWING CAR TO WARM UP IN COLD ENVIRONMENTS. *JB

DRIVER SIDE HEAD GASKET LEAKS, ONLY 70 000 MILES ON CAR. *JB

INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WHICH SUBARU SAYS MAY LEAK, IT HAS RECALLED MY VEHICLE TO INSTALL "STOP LEAK" WHICH THEY DESCRIBE AS "COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER." I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. *JB

2000 OUTBACK WAGON, 5 SPD, WITH 48,000 MILES. I'VE BEEN GETTING A "HOT" COOLANT SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD (DRIVER'S SIDE) FOR ABOUT THE LAST 1,000 MILES. WHEN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR RAN EMPTY I KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER'S SHOP. SURE ENOUGH, LEAKING HEAD GASKET ON DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THEY DID THE REPAIRS, THE WATER PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING AS WELL. THE GASKET AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STILL FALLS UNDER THE 60K MILE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. MY WIFE JUST BOUGHT A 2004 OUTBACK SPORT, WITH THE SAME 5 SPD 2.5 ENGINE. I'M HOPING SUBARU HAS FIXED THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IN THE NEW ENGINES, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN RECOMMENDING THESE VEHICLES TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND NOW I'M STARTING TO WONDER. I LIVE IN MADISON; MORE SUBURU'S WERE SOLD HERE LAST YEAR THAN ANY OTHER CITY. I WOULD THINK THAT THE LAST THING SUBURU OF AMERICA WANTS IS A CITY FULL OF DISGRUNTLED SUBURU OWNERS, BUT THAT'S WHATS BOUND TO HAPPEN IF SOA DOESN'T LOOK INTO THESE REPORTED HEAD-GASKET, CLUTCH, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED PREMATURELY, ONE AT 38000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 75000 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 79000 MILES. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT IN THIS YEAR SUBARU, AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF NOT IMMEDIATELY TAKEN CARE OF. *AK

FAILURE OF HEADGASKET ON 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON WITH 64,000 MILES. *AK

I OWN A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A ROUTINE STOP IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, SO I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES SEEMED TO ENGAGE (I COULD FEEL THE STUTTERING) BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW QUICKLY ENOUGH AT ALL. NOTABLY THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 8DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITHOUT WINDCHILL. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT SUBARU HAS RECALLED OLDER (1999) AND LATER (2002) MODELS FOR THIS EXACT SITUATION (HYDROLIC MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW TEMPERATURES). I PLAN TO CONTACT SUBARU TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR POSITION IS ON THIS. I DO NOT FEEL THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW.*AK

MY LEFT HEAD GASKET BLEW IN DECEMBER 2002. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT 30,000 AND COVERED. THE SAME HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN LAST WEEK AT 43,000 MILES. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND COVERED. THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME. HAS THIS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER SUBARU VEHICLES. MY DEALER ASSURES ME IT SHOULD BE OKAY NOW. I AM NOT SO SURE...IF IT BLOWS AGAIN AFTER 60,000 IT IS NOT COVERED. THE DEALER SAID WITH THE VEHICLE'S HISTORY, THEY WOULD PROBABLY COVER IT.

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED THE VEHICLE'S OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECALLED. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR PART QUALITY FOR REAR SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PERFORM RECALL BECAUSETHE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE STATES LISTED FOR THE RECALL.*MR

2000 SUBARU OUTBACK, 50,000 MILES, HEAD GASKET LEAKING, HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT HERE AND ON THE WEB. OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW, DEALERSHIP NOT HELPFUL, OF COURSE IT'S JUST OUT OF WARANTY,HAD RECCOMENDED THESE TO MANY PEOPLE AND FRIENDS BOUGHT THEM, NOW NOT SO SURE. *AK

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE CONSUMER WAS WALKING AWAY AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS. VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, BUT FOR SOME REASON THE MECHANISM WAS NOT ENGAGED. VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK EXPERIENCED ROLL BACK WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. VEHICLE TRAVELED BACKWARDS ABOUT 3 FEET UNTIL CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO OPEN DOOR AND ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG AS TO WHY ROLL BACKS OCCURRED.*MR

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. *AK

AUTOMOBILE PERFORMANCE/MAINTENANCE. *NLM