1999 Subaru Outback Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1999 Outback most often write about automatic transmission engagement problems and about head gasket failures that show up as overheating, often around 80,000 to 130,000 miles. Other frequent themes are a speedometer that quits intermittently, front coil springs that break, and clutch release bearing noise on manual cars, with many repairs handled out of pocket after warranty.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Head gasket failure and overheating

   • 12 complaints (11%)
   • median 95,100 mi at 6.0 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2009

   Complaints describe the temperature gauge climbing, coolant loss and eventual head gasket failure, sometimes followed by engine damage or replacement. Owners say repairs were quoted in the thousands of dollars and that dealers attributed the problem to maintenance or described their engine as not covered, with some reportedly having both gaskets, the radiator, thermostat and water pump replaced. Commonly reported between about 38,000 and 130,000 miles, often after a period of unexplained coolant loss or overheating.

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for oily residue or bubbles in the overflow tank, and ask whether the head gaskets have been replaced and at what mileage. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a cooling-system pressure test is worth the cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Random overheating in my 1999 Subaru legacy Outback wagon, 85000 , lead to being stranded on a rural road. After replacing thermostat, problem was not fixed. Eventually, my mechanic said it was due to a failed head gasket. At 85000, this problem should not occur. Subaru has issued a recall on phase ii, 2.5l engine head gaskets because of failure, however have chosen to ignore the owners of the phase I engines. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10086492, filed 2004-08, 85,000 miles

   “Head gasket failed at 125k miles. I spent $1725 getting the head gasket & cylinder bolts replaced. The head gasket is now failing again 9 mos & 12k miles later. I have always meticulously maintained this car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10210975, filed 2007-12, 125,654 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission slips or bangs into gear

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 68,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2011

   Complaints describe the automatic transmission hesitating, then engaging harshly when shifted from park or reverse into drive, and sometimes failing to engage at all or rolling backward on a slight hill. Some owners say the dealer could not reproduce the problem at first, then quoted a transmission replacement or said the main pump seals require removing the transmission. Others report the condition worsened over time until the car would not move. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 120,000 miles, with several owners noticing it within the first years of ownership.

   What to check: Drive the car from a cold start and shift between park, reverse and drive several times, watching for a delay or a hard engagement. Ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether any transmission work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “99 Subaru legacy Outback /w automatic transmission. The automatic transmission dos not engage when placed from p to d, or disengage from gear when vehicle stop. I was on a slight hill stopped. Car disengaged from gear and I could not move. In d - when I released brake the car rolled backwards causing contact with the car behind me.”

   NHTSA complaint #10402856, filed 2011-05, 100,000 miles

   “Approximately 6 months ago automatic transmission started having trouble shifting from reverse to drive. Car would hesitate and finally lurch forward. Took it to the dealer and was at first told they couldn't find anything, then was told I needed a new $3400 transmission. I was told to baby the car for as long as I could. 4 months later car became stuck in reverse and would not shift to drive. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10108188, filed 2005-01, 70,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Speedometer and odometer cut out

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 99,475 mi at 8.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2009

   Owners report the speedometer and odometer dropping to zero or stopping intermittently, sometimes returning after seconds or minutes. Several say a dealer identified a circuit board fault inside the instrument cluster and replaced the speedometer unit, and others note the problem returns or is not covered. Reported from roughly 39,000 miles upward, with many complaints above 100,000 miles and no consistent driving condition.

   What to check: During a test drive, watch whether the speedometer needle and odometer behave steadily, and ask whether the instrument cluster or speedometer head has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Speedometer periodically does not work. I have found this is common problem in these models and it is not easy to get it replaced. Knowing the speed when driving is very important. I am petrified most of the time that chp is going to pull me over on highway. It typically goes out in highway driving. I just bought this, but it is obvious prior owner had issues with it as many other people online with same year model. It should be recalled. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10244387, filed 2008-10, 65,000 miles

   “Dt: caller speedometer head is broken or there is something broke inside. Called dealer said Subaru said they new there is problem with that model and speedometer head. Subaru was not going to recall due to not being a safety concern. Speedometer and odometer operates sporadically at times recording speed and mileage, other times not at all.”

   NHTSA complaint #10120133, filed 2005-06, 39,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Clutch release bearing chirp on manual cars

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2004

   Owners of manual-transmission cars describe a chirping noise with the clutch pedal released that stops when it is fully depressed, traced to the release (throw-out) bearing and a broken retaining clip. Several report repeat replacements within tens of thousands of miles, and shops describe seeing the same broken clip on multiple cars. Reported from about 18,000 miles, with some cars needing the bearing replaced more than once by 45,000 miles.

   What to check: With the engine idling in neutral, listen for a chirp that disappears when the clutch pedal is pressed, and ask for clutch service records including any release bearing replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have an auto repair garage, and we have seen a recurring problem on 1999 Subaru legacy Outback cars with manual transmissions. These cars develop a tweety clutch release bearing. When we go in to replace the bearing, we have found that one of the two clips for the bearing is always missing. This is what causes the bearing to go bad prematurely. Each time we find the same thing. One of the clips on the clutch release bearing had broken, causing the bearing to sit crooked. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10007850, filed 2003-02, 100,000 miles

   “Jan 6, 2003 (your web site won't let me select the current year, so I selected 2002, the last available date that can be selected, below) I own a 1999 Subaru Outback. It currently has approximately 43,000 miles on it. The clutch mechanism has failed twice, once at 18,651 and once at 42,500. Both times the throw-out bearing failed. I've owned 8 cars and driven them in 10 states and three provinces. I've driven in the desert, the mountains and by the ocean with most of these cars. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10000758, filed 2003-01, 43,000 miles
5. 5
   Suspension

   Front coil spring breaks and punctures tire

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 112,125 mi at 11.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2016

   Complaints describe a front coil spring breaking, sometimes while the car is parked, with the broken end wedging into or puncturing the tire sidewall. Owners report the vehicle became undriveable and needed a tow, and several say their vehicle was outside the covered VIN range for an existing coil spring recall. Mostly reported above 70,000 miles, including several cases past 120,000 miles.

   Recall 01V216000

   What to check: Ask whether the front coil springs have been replaced and check the springs for rust or cracks during an inspection; confirm with a dealer whether this vehicle falls within campaign 01V216000.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Front right coil spring broke which and caused the front tire to become shredded. The car was undriveable and needed to be towed to our mechanic. We discovered that a recall had been issued for this exact problem (NHTSA campaign id number : 01v216000). However, Subaru refussed to pay for the repair because the car was not included in the batch of cars involved in the recall. We therefore had our mechanic repair the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10086550, filed 2004-08, 75,000 miles

   “We experienced an incident in which a front suspension coil spring failed. Parking our 1999 Subaru legacy Outback, the vehicle was perfectly fine. In the morning the vehicle had a flat driver's side tire. Jacking the car, it was difficult to remove the flat tire and wheel. The reason it was hard to remove was that a sharp long piece of the front coil spring has broken away, and punctured the sidewall of the tire. When the tire and wheel were finally removed, the broken coil spring could be seen sitting atop the front strut. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10331541, filed 2010-05, 115,250 miles

Buying note. On this model year, the transmission behavior and cooling-system history matter more than mileage alone, so have both checked by a shop familiar with the car and ask for service records. A documented head gasket replacement and steady speedometer operation are worth confirming before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.