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.

- Del Mar, CA, USA

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.

- Oronoco, MN, USA

Repeat head gasket failure.

- Davis, CA, USA

Coolant loss, over heating, coolant odor, head gasket.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

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 Subaru - read the following blog to see the 100+ other people with similar problems. Subaru should fix the coolant systems before an accident happens. scott.mcgerik.com/2004/02/18/Subaru-Outback-head-gasket-leak/.

- White River Junction, VT, USA

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.

- Bangor, ME, USA

Failure of headgasket on 2000 Subaru Outback wagon with 64,000 miles.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

2000 Subaru Outback, 50,000 miles, head gasket leaking, have numerous complaint here and on the web. Obviously a design flaw, dealership not helpful, of course it's just out of waranty, had reccomended these to many people and friends bought them, now not so sure.

- Chester, CT, USA

I own a 2000 Subaru Outback ltd, white VIN [xxx]. it has approx. 63,000 miles and has had for the last several weeks, an anti-freeze smell after the car has initially warmed up. As it turns out, I brought the vehicle into the nearest Subaru dealership for it's 60,000 mile service and was dismayed to receive a call from the service advisor informing me that the head gasket was gone and needed replacing. In this day an age of modern vehicles, a head gasket rarely becomes defective at 63,000 miles; check statistics!!! I believe that this failure is due to a design flaw when Subaru went to the 2.5L engine size as many other Subaru owners are now experiencing this unwarranted repair at such an early time frame. As these irritated Subaru owners approach the 60,000 to 80,000 mile mark and start experiencing these head gasket replacements, you should become inundated with complaints. Before this occurred, I recommended Subaru's to may people, but with this expensive repair, which should be partly or wholly covered by Subaru, I will never recommend a Subaru to anyone ever. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Brookline, NH, USA