2000 Subaru Outback problems & reliability
207 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Subaru Outback, alongside 1 safety recall campaign. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
7 complaints report injuries (7 injured, 3 deaths reported).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 42 | 20% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 35 | 17% |
| Tires | 30 | 14% |
| Suspension | 24 | 12% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 7% |
| Structure | 13 | 6% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 5% |
| Electrical System | 8 | 4% |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 4% |
| Visibility | 6 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 68,947 miles (middle 50% between 50,250 and 104,750 miles), based on 102 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Rear sub frame rotted out in multiple places and broke loose while I was driving. There was a recall in 2003. The car was never repaired before I purchased it a few years ago. I had the car towed to doyle subaru in webster ny. They offered to cover the expense of the part but I would have to pay them $800.00 to cover…”
Unknown OR Other · filed Jan 10, 2018
“The 2000 subaru outback has a noxious smell from fuel in the cabin only in cold weather,that you must ride with the windows open until this dissipates. I called my local dealer to ask if they would have an idea of what is the problem and what would be an estimate for repair? I, just about got the question out of my…”
Fuel/propulsion System · filed Jan 6, 2018
“Unknown component part/system. Drivers side headlight went out. Checked fuse and bulb which was still good; replaced bulb anyway and it still didn't work. Next day the other headlight also went out. Checked the same things. High beams, fog and parking lights still worked. My son jiggled the bulb socket and wires and…”
Exterior Lighting · filed Aug 3, 2016
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
76 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2000 Subaru Outback. The 10 most recent:
This annocement is to inform dealers to the Gen 3.1 Head Unit OTA will be available via Wi-Fi. The update will take place in multiple batches with the first beginneing November 15th and the last being Decemeber 3rd…
SubaruNet Announcement · Other · issued Nov 14, 2024
This bulletin details an important regulation issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which impacts the way some vehicles with accessories are sold. This regulation applies to any automobile…
15-130-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 31, 2024
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
01-167-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 1, 2024
This Service Information Bulletin announces the preferred practices to be used when handling vehicles equipped with Gen2 Telematics which are enrolled in the Subaru STARLINK® Security Plus Service featuring Stolen…
15-298-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 27, 2024
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
01-167-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 27, 2024
This Service Information Bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines.
02-192-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 26, 2024
This Service Information bulletin is being released as guidance for proper testing and charging of vehicle batteries.
07-178-21R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 26, 2024
This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.
15-320-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 26, 2024
The CP1.5 RCs OTA is available for all mid and high grade CP1.5 head units.
SubaruNet Announcement · Other · issued Sep 26, 2024
This bulletin announces availability of the NEW genuine Subaru engine oil filter.
02-191-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 17, 2024
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2000 Subaru Outback has 1 NHTSA recall campaign — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2000 Subaru Outback?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 68,947 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.