2000 Subaru Outback Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two things: an automatic transmission that hesitates or slips before engaging a gear, and coolant or head gasket leaks on the 2.5L engine that show up as a sweet smell and overheating. A rear subframe that rusts through appears repeatedly in later-life complaints, and a fuel smell in the cabin in cold weather is a frequent cold-climate report.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission slow to engage or slips out of gear

   • 20 complaints (10%)
   • median 59,250 mi at 5.6 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2014

   Owners describe a delay of several seconds to over a minute when shifting from park or reverse into drive, sometimes with the transmission dropping into neutral while driving. Some report the car jerking hard on engagement. Dealers often topped off or flushed the fluid and called the delay normal, and in many cases the eventual recommendation was a rebuilt or replacement transmission. One owner reported an internal seal failure that required a full rebuild. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 90,000 miles, though some owners traced the first symptoms to much lower mileage.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car from cold and shift from park and reverse into drive several times, noting any pause or clunk. Ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether any repair or replacement has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is a delay in the transmission when shifting from park or reverse to drive. The car has already been involved in a minor accident because of the problem. The car was taken to a Subaru service center and I was told I needed a new rebuilt transmission at $3600.”

   NHTSA complaint #10170614, filed 2006-10, 67 miles

   “Cylinder head gaskets replaced at 81,098 miles. Due to the low mileage, the vehicle was not under warranty because 8 years had passed (8 years or 100,000), whichever comes first. August 2014 vehicle would take several seconds to engage into drive from reverse. Eventually, the problem became worse and I was afraid that it could cause an accident because it was taking too long to engage into drive. I took the car to aamco who installed a rebuilt transmission at 83,695 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10641450, filed 2014-10, 81,098 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Head gasket leaks and coolant loss

   • 30 complaints (14%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2014

   Complaints describe a sweet antifreeze smell after warm-up, coolant pushed out of the overflow reservoir, temperature spikes and occasional white smoke from the exhaust. Radiators and water pumps were sometimes replaced first before a leaking head gasket was diagnosed. Owners report dealers adding a cooling system conditioner or recommending gasket replacement, and some had the work done under warranty or at their own cost. Typically reported between about 60,000 and 110,000 miles, often noticed first as a smell after the engine warms up.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue or staining around the head gasket area and radiator, and ask whether the head gaskets have been replaced and whether a cooling system additive has been used.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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!.”

   NHTSA complaint #10010667, filed 2003-03, 68,000 miles

   “Head gasket failure on a 2000 Subaru Outback at 84443 miles. Then a full engine replacement at 97,000. There were no accidents or deaths caused by this, however, let me appeal to you to review Subaru's 2.5l engine. We bought this as a reliable car for our children. The vehicle became unreliable when it began overheating with our children at the wheel, not once but twice. The first instance was in the daylight hours and we were able to take it right into a Subaru dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10182171, filed 2007-02, 84,443 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Rusted-through rear subframe

   • 14 complaints (7%)
   • median 147,138 mi at 13.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2018

   Owners describe the rear subframe or cradle rusting through, producing loud banging as it shifts, and in some cases breaking loose while driving so the rear differential moves. Several owners say the car had been inspected or treated under the 2003 rear suspension recall but the part later rotted anyway, and one reported being offered the part but having to cover labor. Generally reported on high-mileage cars, mostly around 130,000 miles and above.

   Recall 03V1530002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the car put on a lift and inspect the rear subframe and mounting points for rust, especially on cars from salt-belt states, and ask whether recall 03V153000 was performed and what it involved.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was advised by a mechanic on 4/20/15 that the rear cradle is very rusty, enough that I should avoid carrying heavy loads. I just noticed on this website that there was a recall in 2003 for inadequate rustproofing of that part; however, we never received notice of a recall. Can this be repaired or replaced now? There was no incident associated with this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10872273, filed 2016-06, 147,138 miles

   “Due to heavy corrosion, we had to replace the rear subframe on this vehicle. Obviously the 2003 recall on this part was inadequate. I would like the rear subframe to be recalled as it should have been in the first place, rather than just undercoating the part and having it rot away anyway.”

   NHTSA complaint #10785593, filed 2015-10, 154,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell in the cabin in cold weather

   • 27 complaints (13%)
   • median 89,500 mi at 8.9 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2018

   Complaints describe a strong gasoline odor entering the cabin during cold weather, often with the climate control on fresh air, and fading once the car warms up. Some owners were told the likely cause was fuel lines or fittings near the top of the engine; others report dealers being unable to locate a leak. Reported mostly in cold weather, at mileages ranging from about 30,000 to over 200,000.

   What to check: Start the car from cold with the vents on fresh air and note any fuel smell, then inspect the fuel lines and fittings at the top of the engine for weeping or loose clamps.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel leak somewhere in engine compartment; gasoline odor went into passenger compartment. Worse in very cold or very hot weather. It's been like this for 3 or 4 years. My mechanic said it would cost $200 to try to find the leaks -- maybe some hose clamps near the fuel injectors are the culprit, but are hard to get to without taking apart some of the engine? I've seen many similar complaints on various online bulletin boards. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10319868, filed 2010-03, 100,000 miles

   “Strong smell of gas in the cabin of the vehicle during cold weather - definitely smells of leaking gas - dealer advised and looked at car a number of times - could not resolve. I gave this car to my daughter and I fear an engine fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #10252028, filed 2008-12, 30,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Clutch judder, slip and premature wear (manual)

   • 8 complaints (4%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2012

   On manual cars, owners describe shuddering or juddering when engaging gear, clutch slip, and a pedal that sometimes fails to return. Several had the clutch replaced early; one described a burning smell after replacement. Service bulletins on this model year describe clutch release bearing design changes and repair procedures for noise from the transmission extension housing area. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 70,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a manual car, feel for shudder when pulling away from a stop and check that the clutch pedal returns fully. Ask when the clutch was last replaced and whether the updated release bearing was fitted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10010914, filed 2003-03, 35,500 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10144727, filed 2005-12, 1,000 miles

Buying note. If you are looking at one of these, the deciding factors are usually service history on the transmission and head gaskets and the condition of the rear subframe. A lift inspection for rust and a cold-start test drive that includes a fuel-smell check and repeated park-to-drive shifts cover most of what owners report.

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.