NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
16 reportsClear category filter100,000 miles · Dec 30, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SPORADICALLY AND ONCE IT DID, THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY DECELERATE WITHOUT THE CONTACT HANGING THE PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
NHTSA ODI #10441815
136,000 miles · Mar 23, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
CHRONIC, AND DOCUMENTED, FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS BY SUBARU. CAUSING A LARGE LEAK OF OIL THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND/OR ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #10393252
51,854 miles · Apr 20, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
COOLANT LEAK FROM DRIVERS SIDE HEAD GASKET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10266122
120,000 miles · Dec 5, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES SEVERELY WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE MUST BE SHIFTED INTO PARK WHEN THE SHAKING OCCURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES SEVERELY WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE MUST BE SHIFTED INTO PARK WHEN THE SHAKING OCCURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10250828
99,500 miles · Aug 18, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
UNDER WARRANTY HAD THREE HEAD GASKETS ON 2000 LEGACY 2.5L (38,000, 55,000, 75,600 MILES RESPECTIVELY). AT 97,000 MILE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF #2 CYCLINDER. SUBARU BLAMED ME SINCE I REPLACED THE PLUGS AT 65,000. I PAID $1700 AT LYNNES SUBARU IN ARPIL TO REPLACE LEFT SIDE HEAD WITH NEW ONE. AT 99,500 MILE I AM SEEING THE COOLAN…
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UNDER WARRANTY HAD THREE HEAD GASKETS ON 2000 LEGACY 2.5L (38,000, 55,000, 75,600 MILES RESPECTIVELY). AT 97,000 MILE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF #2 CYCLINDER. SUBARU BLAMED ME SINCE I REPLACED THE PLUGS AT 65,000. I PAID $1700 AT LYNNES SUBARU IN ARPIL TO REPLACE LEFT SIDE HEAD WITH NEW ONE. AT 99,500 MILE I AM SEEING THE COOLANT STARTING TO DROP IN RESERVOIR. ONLY 400 MILES LEFT ON 100K HEAD WARRANTY FOR RIGHT SIDE AND 10K MILE ON WARRANTY FOR NEW HEAD. THE CAR IS SITTING UNTIL I GET IT INTO DEALER. BESIDES HEADGASKETS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, REAR WIPER MOTOR, DOOR LOCKS AND UNDER DASH WIRING HAVE ALL FAILED. THIS IS A LEMON. CAN I PROSECUTE UNDER THE NJ LEMON LAW? IS THERE ANY OTHER FORUM TO GET SUBARU TO REPAIR OR BUY BACK VEHCILE? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238636
130,000 miles · Oct 30, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD WHEN THE EXHAUST PIPE BROKE FROM IN FRONT OF THE MUFFLER. THE MUFFLER WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY HANGERS IN THE FRONT, DROPPED DOWN AND DUG INTO THE DIRT. THE REAR OF THE CAR POLE-VAULTED OVER THE MUFFLER, LEADING TO A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING SLOW AND STRAIGHT AT THE TIME, AN…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD WHEN THE EXHAUST PIPE BROKE FROM IN FRONT OF THE MUFFLER. THE MUFFLER WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY HANGERS IN THE FRONT, DROPPED DOWN AND DUG INTO THE DIRT. THE REAR OF THE CAR POLE-VAULTED OVER THE MUFFLER, LEADING TO A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING SLOW AND STRAIGHT AT THE TIME, AND THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC. THE DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS SUBSTANTIAL. THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED, AND THE DAMAGE TO THE REAR QUARTER PANELS AND TRUNK WAS REPAIRED BY A BODY SHOP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10207476
57,000 miles · Jul 29, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
MULTIPLE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS FOR WEEKS AFTER COOLANT ADDITIVE INSTALLED. SUBARU CAN NOT FIX IT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10082959
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS ON 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. *MR THE DEALER ADD A SEALANT TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM TO PREVENT LEAKS. THE CONUSMER FEELS THE GASKET SHOULD BE REPLACED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10073795
Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA YESTERDAY. IT IS ASKING THAT CERTAIN OWNERS OF SUBARU AUTOS (LIKE MY 2000 LEGACY) HAVE A STOP LEAK PUT INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM TO AVOID LEAKS IN THE HEAD GASKET. IN THE PAST THERE HAS BEEN INCIDENCES WHERE PEOPLE HAD TO HAVE THEIR HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ON THEIR SUBARU AUTOS. THIS TYP…
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I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA YESTERDAY. IT IS ASKING THAT CERTAIN OWNERS OF SUBARU AUTOS (LIKE MY 2000 LEGACY) HAVE A STOP LEAK PUT INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM TO AVOID LEAKS IN THE HEAD GASKET. IN THE PAST THERE HAS BEEN INCIDENCES WHERE PEOPLE HAD TO HAVE THEIR HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ON THEIR SUBARU AUTOS. THIS TYPE OF QUICK FIX CAN LEAD TO DAMAAGE TO THE ENGINE PARTS BY PARTIALLY CLOGGING THE COOLING SYSTEM, WEARING OUT THE WATER PUMP, ETC. IF A HEAD GASKET DOES BLOW LATER BECAUSE THE TEMPORARY SEAL DID NOT WORK, THE ENGINE COULD SIEAZE UP AND THERE IS A CHANCE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE SUBARU CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. SUBARU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER A TEMPORARY FIX FOR VEHICLES STILL UNDER WARRANTEE, THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOT JUST TREAT THE SYMPTOMS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10060305
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT BY ERASING THE CODE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE ENGINE. DEALER WOULD NOT CHECK THE ENGINE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10029649
Official recalls
3Apr 22, 2003
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, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.
Consequence & remedy
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.
Mar 24, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT-SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE ARM WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE LEFT SIDE TIE-ROD END CASTLE NUT AND INSTALL A NEW COTTER PIN.
Sep 17, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN L MODEL PASSENGER VEHICLES. ANTI-RUST COATING WAS INCORRECTLY APPLIED TO THE TRANSVERSE LINK MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE BODY. OVER TIME THE COATING SHRINKS, CAUSING A TORQUE DECREASE OF THE BOLT THAT SECURES THE TRANSVERSE LINK BRACKET TO THE VEHICLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOOSENING OF THE BRACKET AND SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION OF THE TRANSVERSE LINK FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REMOVE THE ANTI-RUST COATING UNDER THE MOUNTING LOCATION OF THE LEFT TRANSVERVE LINK MOUNTING BRACKET BOLT AND RETORQUE THE MOUNTING BOLT TO THE REQUIRED TORQUE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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