The 2000 Subaru Outback has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 170,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 247 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the tires. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION03V1530002003-04-22170,000 affected
Defect
THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT,…
Consequence
IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL CLEAN AND RUST-PROOF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Complaints by component
TIRES
22
3crashes4fires1deaths
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
18
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
12
1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12
3crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
9
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
8
1fires
SUSPENSION
7
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
7
POWER TRAIN
6
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
6
Total complaints247
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“The rear sub-frame is rotted and about to break. While driving the sub-frame is shifting causing loud banging. When starting, stopping and driving the loud banging is heard from the shifting of the rotted sub-frame.”
“While driving at low speed on a town street the check engine light came on, followed by the odor of gas fumes. Subsequent inspection by experienced subaru mechanics revealed a simultaneous failure of the a/c compressor, catalytic converter, a headlight bulb and finally, a damaged fuel line that…”
“While driving at low speed on a town street the check engine light came on, followed by the odor of gas fumes. Subsequent inspection by experienced subaru mechanics revealed a simultaneous failure of the a/c compressor, catalytic converter, a headlight bulb and finally, a damaged fuel line that…”
“While driving at low speed on a town street the check engine light came on, followed by the odor of gas fumes. Subsequent inspection by experienced subaru mechanics revealed a simultaneous failure of the a/c compressor, catalytic converter, a headlight bulb and finally, a damaged fuel line that…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 Subaru Outback as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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