Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Subaru Outback submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
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.
THERE WAS A BURNED RUBBER SMELL AND NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AREA OF THE CAR. THE SUSPENSION SUBFRAME SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE LEFT REAR TIRE TO BE SHAVED FROM CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL WELL. WE WERE TOLD BY OUR MECHANIC THAT WE HAD NO RECOURSE ON THIS RECALL AND HE OFFERED US $500 FOR THE VEHICLE STATING THAT WE COULD NOT GET IT FIXED BY SUBARU. WE ALSO CALLED SUBARU AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR OUR VIN #. WE ARE CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THIS IS TRUE OR NOT. *TR
AFTER LOOKING AT SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUB FRAME RECALL.MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE SUB FRAME ON A LIFT AND EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS RUSTED THRU AND UNFIXABLE.IF THIS CAR WAS PROPERLY UNDERCOATED UNDER THE RECALL IT WOULD NOT BE IN THIS CONDITION.I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY SAID THE WORK WAS DONE ON THE CAR PER THE RECALL.IT IS FUNNY HOW THERE IS NO OTHER RUST THAN IN THE SPOT WHERE THE WORK WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.I PAID $4200 FOR THIS CAR AND WANT MY MONEY BACK SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR UNSATISFACTORY REPAIRS.IF THIS BREAKS IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY SELF AND OTHERS.THEN THE CAR IS JUNK. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) AND WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED ISSUES WHEN THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CROSS BAR WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPANSE AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE OFFERED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
FRONT STABILIZER/ROLL BAR BROKE ON LEFT SIDE. *JB
FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON. *NM
FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE IN HALF WHILE PULL OUT OF A GAS STATION. DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH. THIS CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS/ BY WAYS NO OFF ROADING. HAS 93K ON CAR. SUBARU DEALER WILL NO GIVE A BREAK ON PRICE, PART OR LABOR BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARRANTY. I HAVE ALREADY FOUND 6 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THIS SITE. *JB
FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE NEAR THE RIGHT WHEEL FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I DISCOVERED THE BROKEN PART HANGING DOWN NEARLY TO THE GROUND ON JANUARY 1, 2005. THIS HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO HANDLE ERRATICALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AND I PLAN TO GET IT REPAIRED. I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REMEDY THIS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY (72,400 MILES). *AK
MY 2000 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK FRONT STABILIZER/SWAY BAR BROKE AT BOTH ENDS SIMULTANEOUSLY, AT THE SAME LOCATION, GOING DOWNHILL ON A BLACK TOP ROAD. AN AUDIBLE "PING" SOUND OCCURRED WHEN IT HAPPENED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE STABILIZER/SWAY BAR ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2004 AT MY EXPENSE. SUBARU REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE PART OR LABOR. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 38K MILES ON IT.
FRONT SWAY BAR SNAPPED. *AK
BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED PREMATURELY, ONE AT 38000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 75000 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 79000 MILES. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT IN THIS YEAR SUBARU, AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF NOT IMMEDIATELY TAKEN CARE OF. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER JULY OF 2002. DEALER CLAIMED COULD NOT DO REPAIRS BECAUSE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE. KELLY SUBARU, 3122 W. TENNESSEE ST., TALLAHASSEE FL., 32304 850-575-6166.*AK
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL ON THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. RECALL NUMBER UNKNOWN. *AK (RECALL # 03V153000) *SCC *JB
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 03V153000 CONCERNING THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME CORROSION IN JULY 2003. DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE RECALL DEFECT. *AK *PH *JB
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V153000, BUT A WELD ON RIGHT REAR OF REAR SUSPENSION THAT SHOULD BE RUST PROOFED ALREADY CRACKED.*AK
POSSIBLE DEFECT OF REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL WHICH STATED IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FOR AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN A "SALT BELT" AREA, CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO SALT COULD CAUSE THE REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY TO RUST-OUT AND EVENTUALLY BREAK. *PH *JB
FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE IN TWO PLACES. TWO DEALERS HAVE SAID THIS HAPPENS OFTEN. ISN'T THAT A SAFETY PROBLEM AS IT AFFECTS HANDLING? IT BROKE RIGHT AFTER THEY WORKED ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION! DT
WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH DIRT ROAD, HEARD A CLUNK UNDER THE CAR. STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER IT ONLY TO FIND THE SWAY BAR BROKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAR. END LINKS AND OTHER PARTS FINE. THE THICK SWAY BAR DESIGNED TO BE STRONG BROKE. MUST INVESTIGATE. DT
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE KEPT PULLING TO THE RIGHT, AND FRONT END WAS WOBBLING, CAUSED BY THE CARRIAGE BOLT THAT FELL OFF. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE BIKE RACK DROPPED DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON DUE TO EVAPORATION LEAK FROM SYSTEM AND LOOSE GAS CAP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SEAL WAS DAMAGED. *YH
SWAY BAR BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
LOUD CLUNKING AND VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT IS MOST PRONOUNCED DURING LEFT TURNS BUT ALSO DOES IT WHEN TURNING RIGHT. DEALER REP SAYS HE COULD NOT HEAR IT. WE WILL SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND WILL MAKE SURE DEALER REP IS NOT DEAF. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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