This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Missoula, MT, USA
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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.
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.
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.
Car was overheating. Took to dealer to change the timing belt and to investigate the overheating. Changed timing belt and blew sand out of radiator fins. Investigated on the web and found that the symptoms were very similar to a head gasket being blown out in very many cases. The next week the radiator fluid was being pushed out of the overflow reservoir as described in problems found on the web. Took the car back to the dealer who said that the head gasket was bad.
I purchased new a 2000 Subaru Outback station wagon. The engine head gaskets are leaking already. Two separate Subaru dealers and two private garages tell me the head gaskets are going in these cars left and right. There are lots of angry owners on the web. The head gaskets, very expensive to repair because the engine must be removed from the car, are going way too soon!.
Problem started when driving to Minnesota from California. Lower thermostat went out and car over heated, replaced. Lower thermostat went out again. Car still heating up funny, dealer says nothing wrong. Turns out head gasket gone. Next the engine was found to have a crack, they put in new block and gave us an extended warranty. Now less then a year later car overheats again. Subaru seems to be doing nothing to help.
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- Newton, MA, USA