2000 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

IN COLD WEATHER (USUALLY 25 F AND BELOW) THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL. WORSE THE COLDER IT GETS. I AM WORRIED FOR MY BABY'S HEALTH AND ALSO WORRIED I WAS INHALING THIS LEAKING FUEL THROUGHOUT MY PREGNANCY. IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING AND IS UNHEALTHY. I REPORTED THIS TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY REBUILT THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF OTHER ISSUES. THEY SAID THIS REBUILDING WOULD FIX THE FUEL LEAK/SMELL ALSO. IT LESSENED IT, BUT IT IS STILL THERE EVERY TIME IT IS COLD OUT. IT DISSIPATES AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A WHILE. I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND THERE REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10678184

Incident

Nov 25, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT 81,098 MILES. DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE 8 YEARS HAD PASSED (8 YEARS OR 100,000), WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. AUGUST 2014 VEHICLE WOULD TAKE SEVERAL SECONDS TO ENGAGE INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE. EVENTUALLY, THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AND I WAS AFRAID THAT IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WAS TAKING TOO LONG TO ENGAGE INTO DRIVE. I TOOK THE CAR TO AAMCO WHO INSTALLED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT 83,695 MILES. THESE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY SUBARU OWNERS, BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE A RECALL. SO, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE SPENT $5,055 IN CAR REPAIRS. I'M RETIRED SO I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEWER VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THIS CAR HANDLES WELL IN SNOW AND RAIN, DUE TO THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS I HAVE HAD TO MAKE AND SUBARU CORPORATION'S LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THESE ISSUES, I DOUBT THAT I WILL EVER PURCHASE A SUBARU AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641450

Incident

Mar 5, 2012

Mileage

81,098 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, HE HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FLAMES SPREAD TO THE TWO FRONT TIRES, WHICH THEN EXPLODED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10510936

Incident

May 4, 2013

Mileage

200,000 mi

SMELLED COOLANT AND BURNT OIL UPON RETURNING TO GARAGE AFTER NORMAL OPERATION. DIAGNOSIS: FAILED HEAD GASKET & LEAKING REAR OIL SEAL. REPAIR INCLUDED BOTH HEAD GASKETS, COMPLETE VALVE JOB, AND NEW SEAL. ALSO REPLACED TIMING BELT AFTER ONLY 11,000 MILES OF SERVICE, AND CLUTCH AS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ITEMS. COST, $2,954.50. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN CAREFULLY MAINTAINED, INCLUDING USING SUBARU'S "COOLING SYSTEM TREATMENT" ADDITIVE TO PROTECT THE HEAD GASKETS. OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T DO THE JOB OF OVERCOMING A ROTTEN DESIGN. CLEARLY THE HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS CONFIRM A DESIGN DEFECT IN THIS 2.5L ENGINE. THIS 4-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE WITH EXTRA GROUND-CLEARANCE, IS ADVERTISED--AND MINE IS USED--FOR TRAVEL IN DESERT SAND AND HIGH MOUNTAIN SNOW. A HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN SUCH CONDITIONS CAN LEAD TO DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447436

Incident

Jan 16, 2012

Mileage

105,423 mi

I HAD RECURRENT LEAKS IN MY 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK AND TOOK IT IN TO DEALERSHIP STARTING IN 2007. 4/01/08 HAD ALL ANTIFREEZE CAME OUT OF CAR DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN 2007. HAD TO REPLACE WATER PUMP,OIL PUMP AND HEAD GASKET IN 2008. THEN BECAUSE OF COOLANT LEAK HAD TO REPLACE TIMING BELT. NOW THEY ARE SAYING I NEED NEW HEAD GASKETS, WATER PUMP AND TIME BELT AGAIN AND IT HAS BEEN ONLY 2 YEARS SINCE THIS WAS DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353857

Incident

Sep 3, 2010

Mileage

114,064 mi

MY 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON, WITH 120,000 MILES HAS AN OCCASIONAL STRONG GASOLINE SMELL THAT ENTERS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AFTER A TRIP. IT OCCURS MOST OFTEN ON COLD WINTER DAYS. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST 2 WINTERS. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LEAKING GASOLINE AT THE CLAMPS ON THE HOSES THAT LEAD TO THE FUEL INJECTORS. THESE ARE HARD TO GET TO, AND WOULD COST ME $200 IN LABOR FOR HIM TO FIX. MIGHT THIS START AN ENGINE FIRE? I HAVE READ MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON AUTO DISCUSSION BOARDS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES, SO I KNOW THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, AND SHOULD REQUIRE AT LEAST A TECHNICAL BULLETIN, IF NOT A FULL RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261937

Incident

Dec 1, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

I ALSO HAVE NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON IN THE WINTER HERE IN BOSTON, WHEN I GET OUT OF THE CAR ON A COLD DAY. SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN DEFECT TO ME IN SOME GAS LINE HOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255010

Incident

Jan 10, 2009

2000 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5L (91,235MI)- AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE 1YR AND DRIVING ONLY 11K MI, IN WHICH DURING THE YEAR MAINTENANCE INCLUDED OIL CHANGES AND BRAKES, SYMPTOMS BEGAN TO OCCUR SUCH AS: CONSTANT SMELL OF COOLANT DRIFTING INTO THE CAR, OCCASIONAL TEMPERATURE SPIKES (EVEN WITH COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR) AND RARE SIGNS OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. AFTER THE 2ND RANDOM SPIKE IN TEMP, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NORTH COUNTY SUBARU. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THERE ARE 2 LEAKING HEAD GASKETS AND CLAIMED THERE IS A "CAMPAIGN FOR RECALL" ON HEAD GASKETS BETWEEN YEARS OF 99-2002, AS WELL AS A PREVIOUS RECALL TO REMEDY THE COOLANT ODOR. SUBARU ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER BUT SUBARU HAS NOT OFFERED TO HONOR THE CAMPAIGN NOR HAS PHONE CONVERSATIONS PRODUCED ANY RESULTS THUS FAR. PLEASE HELP AS THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO FIX THE HEAD GASKETS WHEN THEY KNOW THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A DEFECT. MANY, MANY WEBSITES AND COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME SITUATION. IMPORTANT NOTE: I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH PREVIOUS OWNER WHO TOLD ME WHICH DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE THROUGHOUT ITS LIFETIME AND ADVISED SUBARU OF THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225322

Incident

Apr 2, 2008

Mileage

91,235 mi

THE HEAD GASKETS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT ON MY 2000 SUBARU IN FEBRUARY AND APRIL 2004 RESPECTIVELY. SUBARU PAID FOR THE HEAD GASKETS UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HAD IT HAPPENED 3 MONTHS LATER, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. I EVEN MENTIONED THAT I THOUGHT THAT THE TWO WERE RELATED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER "KELLY SUBARU" THAT THE INCIDENTS WERE NOT RELATED; HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT THE TWO EVENTS WERE RELATED. HERE IT IS FEBRUARY 2008 AND THE HEAD GASKETS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER ARE BOTH IN NEED OF REPLACING. WHEN I TALKED TO SUBARU AT 800-782-2783 THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA, THEY SAID WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM A CAR THAT HAS 190K MILES ON IT. I THEN TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT IN 8 YEARS AND IT'S ALWAYS INVOLVES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. I EXPLAINED TO SUBARU THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND THAT I HAVE NEVER IN MY 45 YEARS OF OWNING CARS HAVE I EVER HAD TO REPLACE A HEAD GASKET; MUCH LESS TWICE. YES, I DID REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ONCE ON ANOTHER CAR AFTER 15 YEARS OF USE. THIS IS WHY I THINK THAT SUBARU IS WILLFUL AND NEGLIGENT IN THIS MANNER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219935

Incident

Feb 12, 2002

Mileage

94,685 mi

THE HEAD GASKET OF MY 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK FAILED AND WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT 48,000 MILES, BUT AT 101,000 MILES THE REPLACEMENT HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED AGAIN. WITH SO MANY OF THE HEAD GASKETS IN THIS ENGINE MODEL FAILING, SUBARU'S FIX OF A COOLANT CONDITIONER OR HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT IS NOT SUFFICIENT. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HEAD. THE GASKET IS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT IN THE DESIGN WHERE THE HEAD GASKET FAILS PREMATURELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218999

Incident

Feb 22, 2008

Mileage

101,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10213696

Incident

Nov 7, 2004

Mileage

55,000 mi

REPEAT HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10198343

Incident

Jul 31, 2007

Mileage

125,000 mi

HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK AT 84443 MILES. THEN A FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT 97,000. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS CAUSED BY THIS, HOWEVER, LET ME APPEAL TO YOU TO REVIEW SUBARU'S 2.5L ENGINE. WE BOUGHT THIS AS A RELIABLE CAR FOR OUR CHILDREN. THE VEHICLE BECAME UNRELIABLE WHEN IT BEGAN OVERHEATING WITH OUR CHILDREN AT THE WHEEL, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS IN THE DAYLIGHT HOURS AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE IT RIGHT INTO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THE SECOND INSTANCE WAS THE CAR OVERHEATED WITH MY CHILD AT THE WHEEL ON A DARK ROAD IN RURAL SE WASHINGTON AT NIGHT. THANK GOODNESS SHE DID HAVE A CELL PHONE AND COULD CALL US FOR HELP. TWO DIFFERENT AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS, LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW AFTER REPLACING THE HEAD GASKETS AT A LOCAL VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP AND THEN THE ENGINE, YEP, THE ENGINE DUE TO OIL AND WATER LEAKAGE, BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE DEALERSHIPS THAT MISDIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM. NOW AS I SEARCH FOR WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY, I FIND WEBSITES THAT DOCUMENT HUNDREDS OF SUBARU OWNERS WITH THE IDENTICAL STORY AS MINE. OVERHEATING PROBLEMS, DEALERSHIP NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM PROPERLY AND THEN ENDING UP WITH HEAD GASKET AND FOR SOME OF US ENGINE REPLACEMENT. PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. THE WEBSITES ARE ALMOST ENDLESS ON THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT LIKE BEING ANGRY OVER THIS ISSUE. I JUST WANT SUBARU TO FIX WHAT IS WRONG, AND TO HELP ALL OF THEIR CUSTOMERS GET SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR WHAT WE HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, NOTHING ELSE. SUBARU OF AMERICA NEEDS TO FIX WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEIR 2.5L ENGINES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10182171

Incident

May 2, 2005

Mileage

84,443 mi

COOLANT LOSS, OVER HEATING, COOLANT ODOR, HEAD GASKET. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152768

Incident

Feb 1, 2006

Mileage

88,000 mi

2000 SUBARU OUTBACK 1) CAR OVERHEATED AND HAD TO BE TOWED 2) TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP - HOLE IN RADIATOR, BLOWN HEAD GASKET (BOTH REPLACED) 3) DROVE LESS THAN 20 MILES AND COOLANT STARTED LEAKING FROM RADIATOR HOSE 4) TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, RADIATOR HOSE FIXED AND REPLACED OTHER HEAD GASKET 5) DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. APPARENTLY THE OXYGEN SENSOR IS NOW BAD. THERE ARE TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2000 SUBARUS - READ THE FOLLOWING BLOG TO SEE THE 100+ OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. SUBARU SHOULD FIX THE COOLANT SYSTEMS BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS. HTTP://SCOTT.MCGERIK.COM/2004/02/18/SUBARU-OUTBACK-HEAD-GASKET-LEAK/. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150906

Incident

Feb 20, 2006

Mileage

90,000 mi

I OWN A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED. THE CAR HAS APPROX 45,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE KEPT THE CAR UP TO DATE WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I USED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT BUT THEY NEVER COMPLETED THE WORK I REQUESTED AND PAID FOR (I.E. LITTLE THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE THERE WAS ENOUGH COOLANT IN THE CAR, ETC). WAS HAVING A STRONG BURNING ODOR FROM MY CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO. GOT THE CAR INTO A MECHANIC TODAY WHO SPECIALIZES IN SUBARU AUTOMOBILES. I FOUND THAT I HAD A CRACKED HEAD GASKET THAT WAS LEAKING OIL EXTERNALLY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT SUBARU SEEMS TO HAVE, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE, A DEFECTIVE GASKET IN THEIR AUTOMOBILES WITH THE 2.5L ENGINES. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WILL HELP REIMBURSE MY COST OF REPAIR. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT!! IN MY OPINION, I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU IS CLAIMING THAT THEY CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM BY RECALLING THE CARS AND RUNNING A SEALANT THROUGH THE COOLANT SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BAD COVER-UP. COULD YOU IMAGINE IF SUBARU HAD TO RECALL THOUSANDS OF CARS TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART LIKE A GASKET? THEIR INCOMPETENT DEALERSHIPS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT! PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. I REALLY HOPE I'M NOT WASTING YOUR TIME. AS I MENTIONED, I TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND SUBARU IS NOT ADDRESSING IT. THANKS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10137912

Incident

Sep 27, 2005

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/ SENSOR FAILURES. HAD ANALYSIS DONE ON MY CAR WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED OUT TO BE KNOCK SENSOR. PREVIOUSLY CHANGED OXYGEN SENSOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, DEALER SAID THAT CATYLITIC CONVERTER WAS BAD POSSIBLY DUE TO ENGINE RUNNING RICH. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY BAD SENSORS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. IS IT RELATED TO THE HEAD GASKET LEAK?*AK

NHTSA ID

10104231

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

Mileage

89,000 mi

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS. NOW 90,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE NEW OR SHORTLY AFTER CAUSING A HOT ANTIFREEZE SMELL LIKE IT IS DRIPPNG ON THE EXHAUST. DEALER NEVER COULD FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL. THEY ADDED THE STOP LEAK SOLUTION BUT IT CONTINUES TO SMELL AND USE SOME FLUID. DEALER SAYS THAT SUBARU HAS AN OPTION TO REPLACE HEAD GASKETS, BUT DEALER IS RELUCTANT TO DO IT. I AM HAVING TO NOW GET TOUGH ABOUT IT. I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE IN MY WIFES 1998 OUTBACK DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. UPSET BECAUSE IT WAS JUST IN FOR FULL SERVICE CHECK PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRING. SUBARU HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I AM NEARLY PAST THAT NOW. I DON'T WANT THEM TO PUT IT OFF UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY. I HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED COMPLAINT ABOUT SENSORS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10104227

Incident

Dec 21, 2004

Mileage

1,000 mi

CONSUMER WASN'T PLEASED WITH UNDATED CORRESPONDENCE SERVICE PROGRAM WWP-99. (NAR) *PH THE SERVICE PROGRAM WAS ABOUT PUTTING A SPECIAL CONDITIONER IN THE VEHICLE'S COOLING SYSTEM TO PREVENT HEAD GASKET LEAKS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY SATISFACTORY SOLUTION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EH WIPERS NEED TO BE REDESIGNED TO PREVENT THE RIGHT HAND WIPER FROM DUMPING DEBRIS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE INTO THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT. THE RADIO CONTAINS AUDIBLE WINDSHIELD MOTOR NOISE WHEN THE RADIO STATION SIGNAL IS WEAK. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10071638

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

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

NHTSA ID

10062301

Incident

Nov 2, 2003

Mileage

78,000 mi

INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WHICH SUBARU SAYS MAY LEAK, IT HAS RECALLED MY VEHICLE TO INSTALL "STOP LEAK" WHICH THEY DESCRIBE AS "COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER." I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060633

Incident

Mar 4, 2004

Mileage

41,208 mi

DRIVER SIDE HEAD GASKET LEAKS, ONLY 70 000 MILES ON CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060606

Incident

Sep 6, 2003

2000 OUTBACK WAGON, 5 SPD, WITH 48,000 MILES. I'VE BEEN GETTING A "HOT" COOLANT SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD (DRIVER'S SIDE) FOR ABOUT THE LAST 1,000 MILES. WHEN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR RAN EMPTY I KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER'S SHOP. SURE ENOUGH, LEAKING HEAD GASKET ON DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THEY DID THE REPAIRS, THE WATER PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING AS WELL. THE GASKET AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STILL FALLS UNDER THE 60K MILE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. MY WIFE JUST BOUGHT A 2004 OUTBACK SPORT, WITH THE SAME 5 SPD 2.5 ENGINE. I'M HOPING SUBARU HAS FIXED THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IN THE NEW ENGINES, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN RECOMMENDING THESE VEHICLES TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND NOW I'M STARTING TO WONDER. I LIVE IN MADISON; MORE SUBURU'S WERE SOLD HERE LAST YEAR THAN ANY OTHER CITY. I WOULD THINK THAT THE LAST THING SUBURU OF AMERICA WANTS IS A CITY FULL OF DISGRUNTLED SUBURU OWNERS, BUT THAT'S WHATS BOUND TO HAPPEN IF SOA DOESN'T LOOK INTO THESE REPORTED HEAD-GASKET, CLUTCH, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10058466

Incident

Feb 15, 2004

Mileage

46,000 mi

FAILURE OF HEADGASKET ON 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON WITH 64,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10058208

Incident

Jan 27, 2004

Mileage

63,500 mi

MY LEFT HEAD GASKET BLEW IN DECEMBER 2002. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT 30,000 AND COVERED. THE SAME HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN LAST WEEK AT 43,000 MILES. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND COVERED. THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME. HAS THIS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER SUBARU VEHICLES. MY DEALER ASSURES ME IT SHOULD BE OKAY NOW. I AM NOT SO SURE...IF IT BLOWS AGAIN AFTER 60,000 IT IS NOT COVERED. THE DEALER SAID WITH THE VEHICLE'S HISTORY, THEY WOULD PROBABLY COVER IT.

NHTSA ID

10069886

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

43,000 mi