2000 Subaru Legacy Engine Problems

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A VERY POWERFUL FUEL SMELL EMITTING FROM THE AREAS OF THE ENGINE. WHEN I POP THE HOOD THE SMELL IS THE STRONGEST. THE SMELL IS OF RAW GASOLINE (NOT EXHAUST OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT) AND PERMEATES INTO THE CABIN AND ALL AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR EMERGES ONLY ON COLD DAYS, SPECIFICALLY TEMPERATURES THAT DROP BELOW 39 F. THE ODOR GROWS MORE POTENT AS THE CAR RUNS AND IF I ACTIVATE THE HEAT BLOWERS YOU AND SMELL IT EVEN MORE. THE ODOR EVEN LAST LONG AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF, EXISTING AROUND THE ENGINE FOR HOURS AFTER SHUT DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10553210

Incident

Nov 21, 2013

Mileage

190,000 mi

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 ID

10441815

Incident

Jun 2, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

CHRONIC, AND DOCUMENTED, FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS BY SUBARU. CAUSING A LARGE LEAK OF OIL THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND/OR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10393252

Incident

Mar 23, 2011

Mileage

136,000 mi

COOLANT LEAK FROM DRIVERS SIDE HEAD GASKET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266122

Incident

Jan 7, 2009

Mileage

51,854 mi

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 ID

10250828

Incident

Sep 5, 2005

Mileage

120,000 mi

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 ID

10238636

Incident

Aug 12, 2007

Mileage

99,500 mi

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 ID

10207476

Incident

May 11, 2007

Mileage

130,000 mi

MULTIPLE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS FOR WEEKS AFTER COOLANT ADDITIVE INSTALLED. SUBARU CAN NOT FIX IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082959

Incident

Jul 29, 2004

Mileage

57,000 mi

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 ID

10073795

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

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 ID

10060305

Incident

Mar 2, 2004

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 ID

10029649

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER LOST POWER INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003018

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

FAILURE OF ORIGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

756419

Incident

Jan 4, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

750694

Incident

Dec 20, 2000

RAW FUEL VAPORS ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DLR HAS TRIED TO FIX WITH NO SUCCESS. SUBARU HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. DLR FOUND AND REPLACED LEAKING FUEL RAILS. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PASSENGERS OVERCOME BY FUMES. COULD BE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS, INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS IE: DRIVER DOSES OFF DUE TO FUMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

742732

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AT 35MPH OR LESS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES FOR STALLING. MECHANIC HAD REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR & COIL PACKS EACH TIME. EVEN HAD IT TEST DRIVEN. PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

877198

Incident

Apr 17, 2000

TRANSMISSION FAILED, DEALER IS REPLACING IT. *SLC

NHTSA ID

785131

Incident

Dec 18, 2000