2000 Subaru Outback Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 4%of 207 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 79,049miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the seat belts of the 2000 Subaru Outback, 4% of the 207 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 79,049 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“During a front-end, low-speed collision, I hit my head on the steering wheel. My seatbelt did not properly restrain me in my seat, and the airbags did not deploy. Prior to the accident, I brought a problem to my dealers service center, in which the driver's seat belt would not properly retract. The problem was not corrected, and I believe contributed to the seatbelt failure during my accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10013692, filed 2003-03, 79,049 miles“During a front-end, low-speed collision, I hit my head on the steering wheel. My seatbelt did not properly restrain me in my seat, and the airbags did not deploy. Prior to the accident, I brought a problem to my dealers service center, in which the driver's seat belt would not properly retract. The problem was not corrected, and I believe contributed to the seatbelt failure during my accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10013690, filed 2003-03, 79,049 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10068366, filed 2004-05“Rear seat seldom used .in aug. 2000 my passenger tried to use the seat belt but was unable to extend it around her body. I discovered that the belt was stuck on the roof guide and was frayed for about one inch. I removed it from the guide but it still would not extend around her body. No matter what I did the belt would not extend enough to go around a woman of 125 pounds.two issues 1: how did the belt fray ? 2: why wouldn't it extend ?”
NHTSA complaint #751472, filed 2001-08“When disengaging the seat belt, or when moving forward then back, the seat belt retractor is supposed to take up the slack. As the belt retracts it has a tendency to curl up and get jammed in the guide loop above my shoulder. So my driving is distracted because I am trying to unjam the belt. I have reported this problem to Subaru and the dealer and their response is that there is no fix for the problem. Several of them say they have the same problem. This problem occurs 80% of the time. I have also seen belts jammed in other subarus.”
NHTSA complaint #741726, filed 2001-03Related service bulletins
- 10011874Nov 12, 2004Slow retraction of seatbelts.
Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5% |
| 2025 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 3 | 1% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0% |
| 2019 | 2 | 0% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0% |
| 2017 | 5 | 1% |
| 2016 | 5 | 1% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0% |
| 2014 | 6 | 3% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 3 | 1% |
| 2011 | 4 | 1% |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% |
| 2008 | 3 | 1% |
| 2007 | 2 | 2% |
| 2006 | 1 | 0% |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% |
| 2002 | 5 | 4% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
| 2000 | 8 | 4% |
| 1999 | 3 | 3% |
| 1998 | 4 | 3% |
| 1996 | 2 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2000 Subaru Outback
42 complaintsEngine cooling
35 complaintsTires
30 complaintsSuspension
24 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsBody and structure
13 complaintsBrakes
12 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsAir bags
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2000 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology