2000 SUBARU OUTBACK Power Train Problems

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.

Mileage: 147,138

STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE FORWARD GEARS. EVIDENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A KNOWN DEFECT AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 143,000

I WAS DRIVING ALONG, AROUND 50 MPH. I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND SWERVED, AS IT WAS SNOWING... I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THE REAR SUB-FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND HAD BROKEN, ALLOWING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO BREAK FREE AND SMASH UP INTO THE FUEL TANK AND CAUSE SEVERE JERKING. I HAD DONE A LITTLE READING, SUBARU HAD A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR INFERIOR METAL ON THE REAR SUB-FRAME. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN FOR THE RECALL IN 2003. WHERE THEY DEEMED IT NOT BAD ENOUGH TO REPLACE THE SUB-FRAME, BUT CLEAN IT AND SPRAY IT WITH ANTI CORROSION SUBSTANCE. AS IT NOW STANDS, THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE, AND THE RECALL FIX WAS CLEARLY NOT A PROPER SOLUTION. I CALLED SUBARU, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT HAD BEEN IN FOR A RECALL IN 2003, THERE WAS NOTHING MORE ON THERE END THAT THEY WOULD DO. I AM A LONG TIME SUBARU FAN, AND I REALLY JUST WOULD LIKE THEM TO HONOR THEIR MISTAKE, AND FIX THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. OR PURCHASE IT BACK FROM ME, AND I WILL GLADLY PURCHASE ANOTHER SUBARU. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE SUB-FRAME WHERE IT HAS CLEARLY RUSTED AND BROKE FREE. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE METAL IS INFERIOR, CONSIDERING EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS IN FUNCTIONAL AND SERVICEABLE CONDITION. THANKS YOU. *TR

Mileage: 230,000

THE TPS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ALL LEADS FROM THE WIRING HARNESS HAVE BEEN GROUND AND LUBRICATED, BUT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SHOCK REMAINS. THE MANUFACTURER'S TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT, HAVING MADE THE FORMER GUESSES ON THE TPS REPLACEMENT AND LEADS, SUGGESTS REPLACING THE ECM AND TCM TO SEE IF THAT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. THE SEVERE SHIFT SHOCK IS THE MOST CURRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS EGREGIOUSLY DEFECTIVE VEHICLE IN WHICH ALL MAJOR PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SINCE PURCHASING IT NEW, THE REPAIR COST SO FAR EQUIVALENT TO THE PURCHASE PRICE. THERE IS 126,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ONLY ONE OWNER WHO HAS ALWAYS DRIVEN IT WITH THE UTMOST CARE. THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT STATE SINCE JULY 2010 IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE - WITHOUT FOLLOWING AN OBVIOUS PATTERN, THE AT DASHBOARD LIGHT FLASHES AND WITHIN SECONDS THERE IS SEVERE SHIFT SHOCK, ON HIGHWAYS AT 65MPH AND IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC AT 10MPH. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY SO THAT THE COMPUTER COMPONENTS CAN HOPEFULLY RESET, WHICH RESETTING DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN. IF THE ENGINE IS NOT SWITCHED OFF, THE SEVERE SHIFT SHOCK CONTINUES. HAVING THIS HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED IS SO DANGEROUS, AND TRYING TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FROM SUBARU OWNERS, BUT SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICE DENIES ALL RESPONSIBILITY, SIMPLY STATING THAT THE VEHICLES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIPS. THE DEALERSHIPS ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS THE DEFECT IS INHERENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE TAKES 15-20 SECONDS FOR THE GEARS TO SHIFT. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Mileage: 30,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTS THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE GEARS, THE VEHICLE JERKS VERY STRONGLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REBUILT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 4/23/09 *CN UPDATED 04/27/09*JB

Mileage: 83,000

2000 SUBARU OUTBACK, TRANSMISSION SLIPS UNTIL WARMED UP. STARTED AT 60,000 MILES AND GETTING WORSE. WEB RESEARCH INDICATES A COMMON FAILURE OF PISTON SEALS AND A KNOWN PROBLEM AS SUBARU HAS REDESIGNED. WHAT ABOUT US PAST CUSTOMERS? *TR

Mileage: 60,000

TRANSMISSION WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO GO INTO DRIVE FROM PARK OR REVERSE. HAPPENS AT RANDOM. ENGINE CAN BE COLD OR WARM AND IT STILL HESITATES. SOMETIMES TAKES OVER A MINUTE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE. ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE GET STRANDED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY TOPPED OFF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SAID THE DELAY WAS NORMAL. ISSUES BEGAN AT 65K MILES AND HAVE PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. CAR NOW HAS 77K MILES AND ONLY OPTION GIVEN HAS BEEN TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN IDLING. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS A DELAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JOLT FORWARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PARTS FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT 64,000 MILES, THE CONTACT SMELLED ROTTEN EGGS WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25- 60 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 55,000 AND 80,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Mileage: 55,000

TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT OF 2000 OUTBACK BEFORE 70,000 MILES. IT IS STATED ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF OUTBACK. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO LAST FORA LONG TIME WITH LOW MAINTENANCE. I DON'T FEEL THAT I OR ANYONE ELSE SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION IN A CAR THAT HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT. I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE CAR PAID FOR AND IT WILL COST ME $2700.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT ONE THAT COULD STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

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. *NM

Mileage: 67

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. *JB

Mileage: 1,000

VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE FROM PARK, OR VEHICLE WILL DISENGAGE FROM DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING, PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO ENGAGE INTO DRIVE IN SEVERAL HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES. *NM

Mileage: 67,211

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT CV JOINT BOOT TORE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, 39,744 MILES. VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR A BOOT TO TEAR FOR NO REASON, NEIGHBOR WHO IS A FORMER SUBARU MECHANIC SAID SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNLESS I RAN OVER SOMETHING AND PUNCTURED BOOT, I DID NOT. SUBARU DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THOUGH PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD DUE TO CV GREASE LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL MECHANICAL FAILURE IF PROBLEM IS NOT CAUGHT IN TIME. *JB

Mileage: 39,744

DRIVER SIDE FRONT CV JOINT BOOT TORE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, 62,289 MILES. NEIGHBOR WHO IS A FORMER SUBARU MECHANIC SAID SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNLESS I RAN OVER SOMETHING AND PUNCTURED BOOT, I DID NOT. SUBARU WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY OUT OF WARRANTY AT 36K. A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD DUE TO CV GREASE LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL MECHANICAL FAILURE IF PROBLEM IS NOT CAUGHT IN TIME. *JB

Mileage: 62,289

PASSENGER SIDE SUN ROOF DRAIN PLUGS UP, SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. BACKED UP WATER DRAINS INTO INSIDE REAR CARGO AREA. MY VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE LARGE ALL WEATHER RUBBER MAT IN THE CARGO AREA. SINCE THE AREA WHERE THE WATER POURS OUT IS NEAR THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR THE MOST OF THE WATER ENDS UP ON THE CARPET UNDER THE MAT AND IT IS NOT ALWAYS NOTICEABLE. ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR THAT FIXES LEAKS FOR DEALER SAID THE FIX SHOULD TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM, DID NOT. THIS CONTRACTOR, DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST CONTRACTOR, SAID BASICALLY THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO PREVENT DRAINS FROM PLUGGING UP. WAS NOT DRIVING THIS TIME, WASHED CAR AND SAW WATER ON RUBBER MAT WHILE CLEANING INSIDE OF CAR. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING, IN REAR VIEW MIRROR I SAW WATER COMING FROM HEADLINER AREA, VERY DISTRACTING. ALSO, WORRY ABOUT POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO HEADLINER AND FUTURE BODY STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO ROOF AREA. IF DRAINS CONTINUE TO PLUG UP HEADLINER COULD POSSIBLE BECOME WEAK AND FAIL. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. NOT SURE OF ACTUAL DATE THIS WAS ADDRESSED WITH DEALER BELIEVE IT WAS ADDRESSED WHEN I TOOK CARE IN TO HAVE CV JOINT REPAIRED. DEALER DID NOT REPORT WORKER TO SUBARU. *JB

Mileage: 39,744

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DELAY IN ENGAGING FROM A STOP INTO ANY FORWARD GEAR FROM ANY GEAR. *NM

Mileage: 92,000

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DELAYED ENGAGEMENT WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR UP TO 10 SECONDS THEN IT WILL ENGAGE ABRUPTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. SUBARU HAS DEEMED THE PROBLEM A TRANSMISSION FAILURE REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT 74,000 MILES DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT# 10074032, 10090065, 10106683, AND 10122566. SUBARU OF AMERICA DENIES THAT THERE IS A PATTERN OF COMPLAINTS/PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 74,191

VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS AGO WAS EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT DELAY IN ENGAGING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM ANY GEAR INTO DRIVE. HAD DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND DO A TRANSMISSION FLUSH OF ALL FLUID. THE PROBLEM REALLY DIDN'T GET BETTER UNTIL FINALLY ON 3/19/05 AT ONLY 51,800 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE IN DRIVE AT ALL. A TRANSMISSION SHOP LOOKED AT IT AND SAID AN 'O' RING FAILED CAUSING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO NEED TO BE REBUILT AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED. COST WAS $2,644 AND WAS ONLY 6 WEEKS PAST EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY.

Mileage: 51,800

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. VEHICLE DELAYED WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO DRIVE. ALSO, CONSUMER WOULD BE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT CHANGING GEARS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK......INITIALLY, DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. AFTER 2 MOR EVISITS TO DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Mileage: 58,000

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. WHEN DRIVER APPLIED THE GAS VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER TO WAIT UNTIL IT FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT UNTIL IT HAPPENED PERMANENTLY. *AK

Mileage: 58,500

BURNING SMELL EMINATING FROM TRANSMISSION. *AK

Mileage: 35,000

DRIVING NORMAL SHIFTED THE CAR AND THE CLUTCH FELT SOFT AND THE RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION WAS SLOW. I CALLED THE DEALER REPAIR AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RECALL. I TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. IT COST ME $216.00 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WASN'T COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

Mileage: 34,000

INTERMITTENTLY, THE GEAR POSITIONING LEVER STICKS IN GEAR. THE CONSUMER DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND PLAYS WITH THE LEVER TO UNSTICK IT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED A PART IN THE GEAR POSITIONING LEVER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. ALSO, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PARK GEAR. *LA

Mileage: 20,000

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN INTERNAL FAILURE. *AK WHEN THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE NO CODES REGISTERED, ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN NEED OF REPAIR. *NM

Mileage: 69,258

THERE CURRENTLY HAS BEEN SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING 2000-2002 MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBARU OUTBACKS. THESE BULLETINS REFER TO A DEFECT IN THE CLUTCH THAT CAUSES A PREMATURE WEAR OF THE CLUTCH AND YOKE DUE TO AN IMBALANCE IN CAUSING THE CAR TO "JUDDER" OR SHUDDER WHEN ENGAGING INTO GEARS. I HAVE HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, GLEN OWNER OF OAKLAND AUTO WORKS STATE THAT HE COULD NOT WARRANTY THE REPAIR OF CLUTCH BECAUSE THE RECOMMENDED REPAIR BY SUBARU DOES NOT RELIABLY FIX THE PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE END UP HAVING TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES IN A SHORT TIME SPAN. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHANGED THE CLUTCH KIT SEVERAL TIMES AND THE METHOD OF REPAIR TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM YET HAVE FAILED TO PERFORM A RECALL. I AM CURRENTLY UNSURE ON HOW TO PROCEED IN THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE AS THE REPAIR COST IS $1350.00 AND IF THE UNIT FAILS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY I MAY BE SUBJECT HAVING TO PAY THIS AMOUNT AGAIN. SOME OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH ERRUPT FROM THIS DEFECT INCLUDE THE CLUTCH CATCHING FIRE. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STICKING AND NOT RELEASING DUE TO THE YOKE BEING WORN FOR THE CLUTCH "JUDDER". LAST, PREMATURE OF THE CLUTCH WITH ONLY HAVING A LIFESPAN OF 30,000 MILES OR LESS. *AK

Mileage: 67,000

THERE CURRENTLY HAS BEEN SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING 2000-2002 MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBARU OUTBACKS. THESE BULLETINS REFER TO A DEFECT IN THE CLUTCH THAT CAUSES A PREMATURE WEAR OF THE CLUTCH AND YOKE DUE TO AN IMBALANCE IN CAUSING THE CAR TO "JUDDER" OR SHUDDER WHEN ENGAGING INTO GEARS. I HAVE HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, GLEN OWNER OF OAKLAND AUTO WORKS STATE THAT HE COULD NOT WARRANTY THE REPAIR OF CLUTCH BECAUSE THE RECOMMENDED REPAIR BY SUBARU DOES NOT RELIABLY FIX THE PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE END UP HAVING TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES IN A SHORT TIME SPAN. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHANGED THE CLUTCH KIT SEVERAL TIMES AND THE METHOD OF REPAIR TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM YET HAVE FAILED TO PERFORM A RECALL. I AM CURRENTLY UNSURE ON HOW TO PROCEED IN THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE AS THE REPAIR COST IS $1350.00 AND IF THE UNIT FAILS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY I MAY BE SUBJECT HAVING TO PAY THIS AMOUNT AGAIN. SOME OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH ERRUPT FROM THIS DEFECT INCLUDE THE CLUTCH CATCHING FIRE. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STICKING AND NOT RELEASING DUE TO THE YOKE BEING WORN FOR THE CLUTCH "JUDDER". LAST, PREMATURE OF THE CLUTCH WITH ONLY HAVING A LIFESPAN OF 30,000 MILES OR LESS. *AK

Mileage: 67,000

PURCHASED CAR WITH 78K ON IT. PRIOR IT DRIVING FROM COLORADO TO WISCONSIN, HAD IT LOOKED OVER. REPLACED LEAKING WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND LEAKING FWD DRIVE SHAFT SEAL. WITHIN A WEEK OF GETTING TO WISCONSIN, RADIATOR AND DRIVER SIDE HEAD GASKET FOUND TO BE LEAKING. HEAD GASKETS ARE BIG ON SUBARU WEB SIGHTS. SOA RECOMMENDS A "CONDITIONER" TO PUT IN THE RADIATOR, BUT IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE YET. PARTS GUY SAID PROBLEM WAS THAT OWNERS ARE NOT ALLOWING CAR TO WARM UP IN COLD ENVIRONMENTS. *JB

Mileage: 78,000

CLUTCH SHUDDERS & REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. HINDSIGHT BEING 20/20, I REALIZE THE CLUTCH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM DATE OF DELIVERY. MY OWN REVIEW OF AUTOMOTIVE WEBSITES INDICATES THAT OTHERS HAVE EITHER HEARD OF OR HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS BEEN OF NO ASSISTANCE. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS DISCUSSION IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WITH SOA ABOUT THIS AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLDGE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 54

AUTOMOBILE PERFORMANCE/MAINTENANCE. *NLM

Mileage: 37,484

PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE ON SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON 2000. ORIGINAL CLUTCH REPLACED AT 7500 MILES AND FOUND TO HAVE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, BENT FORKS.EW CLUTCH PLACED IN CAR. SHORTLY AFTER, SMELL OF BURNING, ESP. WHEN BACKING UP OR IN COLD WEATHER, WHICH LASTED FOR 1 MONTH. CLUTCH THEN FAILED PREMATURELY AFTER 40,000 MILES. MY HYPOTHESIS IS THAT THE CLUTCH LOST A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ITS LINING AND LIFE SPAN WHEN BURNING UP IN THE FIRST MONTH OF USE. NUMEROUS POSTING ON EDMUNDS.COM REGARDING PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE, BURNING SMELL, AND CLUTCH SHUDDER IN SUBARU OUTBACKS. MY EXPERIENCE, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER OWNERS, SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS A GENERAL DEFECT PRESENT IN SUBARU CLUTCHES FROM 2000-2002. LEASE INVESTIGATE THIS DEFECT AND CONSIDER A RECALL.*AK

Mileage: 51,000

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN CHANGING FROM ONE GEAR INTO ANOTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A STEEP SLOPE AND PUT INTO REVERSE. THE DRIVER TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ONTO THE ACCELERATOR THEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS CALLED SHIFT LAG. *AK *NLM

Mileage: 67,000

WE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2000 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK AS SIMILARLY REPORTED IN COMPLAINT # 766462 (TRANSMISSION LEAKING FLUID, SMOKING, FAILURE). SUBARU DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WORK (2 INCIDENTS BETWEEN AUG 2002 AND MAY 2003), AND ONLY A LETTER BY US IN JUNE 2003 (NOTING PREVIOUS REPORTS IN NHTSA WEBSITE & ELSEWHERE) FINALLY CONVINCED SUBARU USA HEADQUARTERS TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM FURTHER. THE FIX SUBARU PERFORMED WAS REPLACEMENT OF A SEAL BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, WHICH SEEMS TO LARGELY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM (ALTHOUGH A SLIGHT SMOKE ODOR STILL OCCURS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS). SUBARU USA ALSO REFUNDED ALL OUR PREVIOUS CHARGES BY THE DEALER FOR PRIOR UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIRS (WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREE UNDER THE WARRANTY). THERE APPEARS TO BE AN INHERENT DEFECT IN THIS TRANSMISSION (4EAT MODEL) UNDER HIGH HEAT CONDITIONS, WHICH HAS A LONG HISTORICAL TRACK RECORD IN THIS REGARD. IN ONE INCIDENCE, WE ALMOST INCURRED A SEVERE FIRE ON THE ROAD AND THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY FATAL HAZARD. NHTSA SHOULD EXAMINE THIS PROBLEM CLOSELY WITH SUBARU.*JB

Mileage: 27,164

"FUZZY LOGIC" TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER IS DANGEROUSLY SLOW, INCONSISTENT, AND UNPREDICTABLE. SCANNING 19 INPUTS IS EXCESSIVE OVER-KILL AND REMOVES MUCH OF DRIVER'S CONTROL AND PEACE OF MIND. *NLM

Mileage: 5,000

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. *JB

Mileage: 35,500

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES.*JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE

SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THE DEALER REPLACED THE FIRST GEAR OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT REPEATEDLY CAME OUT OF GEAR WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP INCLINES, SUCH AS IN A PARKING GARAGE. AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED, THE CAR EMITTED A VERY STRONG SMELL. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE DEALER SAID THE SEALS ON THE TRANSMISSION WERE LEAKING AND REPLACED. IT IS APPARENT THAT A PETROLEUM PRODUCT IS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND BURNING AND THE SMELL ENTERS THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY. DEALER SAYS I NEED TO KEEP A/C ON AND THE RECYCLE AIR BUTTON PUSHED. ISSUES UNRESOLVED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL FROM FIFTH SPEED DUE TO A LOST BOLT.*AK

THERE IS SLIPPAGE IN TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVING, IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, AND WILL HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT OIL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON TOGETHER AND THEN THE POWER GOES OUT, THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN STOPPING AND MOVING , THE PROBLEM IS STILL ON GOING. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SHOWS THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS BUT THEY CAN?T IDENTIFY THE CAUSE UNLESS IT HAPPENS IN THEIR PRESENCE. *YD

THE CLUTCH SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE UNABLE TO HANDLE SAN FRANCISCO (EXTREME) DRIVING CONDITIONS. I KNOW OF 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHOSE CLUTCHES HAVE ALL FAILED AT 13,500 MILES OR LESS. WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCED CLUTCH DRIVERS IN SAN FRANCISCO. OTHER CARS DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG OTHER THAN THAT I BURNED OUT THE CLUTCH, MY FRIEND WAS TOLD A MONTH LATER THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE READJUSTED MORE FREQUENTLY IN S.F. - EVERY 7.5 MONTHS. THIS IMPLIES TO ME THAT SOMEONE HAS LOOKED INTO THIS AND DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH SYSTEM IS PROBLEMATIC. MY CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE FIXED AN ADDITIONAL 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, I DO NOT WANT A CAR THAT WILL NEED A NEW CLUTCH EVERY 2 YEARS, OR THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT IN FOR A CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT EVERY 7.5 MONTHS. I THINK THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR DRIVERS IN S.F. OR SIMILAR EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS AND REPLACED WITH A CAR THAT CAN HANDLE NORMAL DRIVING.*AK

THE CLUTCH SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE UNABLE TO HANDLE SAN FRANCISCO (EXTREME) DRIVING CONDITIONS. I KNOW OF 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHOSE CLUTCHES HAVE ALL FAILED AT 13,500 MILES OR LESS. WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCED CLUTCH DRIVERS IN SAN FRANCISCO. OTHER CARS DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG OTHER THAN THAT I BURNED OUT THE CLUTCH, MY FRIEND WAS TOLD A MONTH LATER THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE READJUSTED MORE FREQUENTLY IN S.F. - EVERY 7.5 MONTHS. THIS IMPLIES TO ME THAT SOMEONE HAS LOOKED INTO THIS AND DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH SYSTEM IS PROBLEMATIC. MY CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE FIXED AN ADDITIONAL 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, I DO NOT WANT A CAR THAT WILL NEED A NEW CLUTCH EVERY 2 YEARS, OR THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT IN FOR A CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT EVERY 7.5 MONTHS. I THINK THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR DRIVERS IN S.F. OR SIMILAR EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS AND REPLACED WITH A CAR THAT CAN HANDLE NORMAL DRIVING.*AK

THIS IS THE 2ND CLUTCH ON THE VEHICLE. CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER WILL NOT ADMIT PROBLEM!!*AK

TRANSMISSION COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL AND JOLT ONTO THE ONCOMING LANE, LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND NO ACCIDENT. *SLC