2000 Subaru Impreza: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 41 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (21% of complaints); the 1999 and 2001 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 subaru impreza. While driving various speeds, fuel fumes emitted into the vehicle. The contact discovered that fuel was leaking onto the engine. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Nov 2014
“Very strong fuel smell coming from the vehicle. Found serious fuel leaking from the fuel lines and intake manifold. Dealer/other owners reported same problems for this model. *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jan 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 subaru imperza. The rear continental tires made a loud noise while driving at high speeds. The tires were taken to a dealer for inspection. The technician noticed abnormal tread wear inside of the side-wall. The tires are cupped at this point. The technicians inspected the suspension and the alignment, but could not locate a failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.”Owner report · Tires · Dec 2009
Show 7 more owner reports
“Turn signal dimmer switch. Head lights go out if turn signal is touched. Failure of lights operating while driving at night for seconds until lights turn back on. No correction made yet. Water pump making high pitch sound. Failure of pump could cause severe engine damage. No correction made yet. *nm”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2007
“Right rear wheel bearing replaced 63948, 67346, 84427 miles. Had to go on the internet to find out that it is a common problem. Shortly after buying the car (new) the engine started making a noise like something rattling inside of it. I took it to the dealer and they said it was a common problem and they would do nothing about it. They would have to take the engine apart, and since the problem wasn't dangerous, they wouldn't fix it. Very, very disappointed in subaru customer service. *tr”Owner report · Suspension · Sep 2006
“Premature failure of rear wheel bearings. The rear wheel bearing was replaced at 36,408 miles. It probably started failing several thousand miles earlier. I wasn't aware of the change until a friend pointed out the noise that he thought sounded like the wheel bearing. Subaru is aware of this problem and has issued a service bulletin altering the repair process to avoid "repeat premature failures"(quote from the service bulletin.”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2003
“2000 subaru impreza has defective wheel bearings.*mr (nar) the vehicle's wheel bearing have been replaced four times, 16481 miles, 21401 miles, 34770 miles and 56171 miles. *nm”Owner report · Suspension · Oct 2003
“Consumer was driving a long distance, and it begun to throw oil, oil was coming from the back of the vehicle. Dealer told consumer that this was not unusal because the auto has to be blown out.*ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2003
“On october 2002, my mother was involved in a fatal car accident, when we went to view her vehicle, I noticed her drivers side door panel, on the inside was burned completely. This door was hit from the impact of the car that ran into her. I have been told that the motor that allows the window to roll up caught on fire and thats why the door got burnt. When the door caught on fire, my mother was burned very badly, as this was not the total cause of her death, I am concerned about a defect in the vehicle.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Dec 2002
“This is the second time the rear bearings have gone out on this car (previous owner had replaced. So far, the dealer has been great. However, the front bearings are starting to go out (at 38,900k) and I am not sure if the dealer is still going to be as good- they claim that they need to talk to the manufacturer. I will be contacting subaru in the meantime. I have done research on this car, and this is not an isolated problem- but seems to have happened with a handful of people. See http://www.ranma.com/%eharlock/subaru/wheelbearing.html- also there is a yahoo group devoted to subaru outback sports with many posting about bad bearings. Thanks for you prompt attention to this matter.*ak”Owner report · Suspension · Jun 2002
When filing, owners marked a crash in 6 of these complaints and injuries in 1 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2000 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Impreza by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Subaru Impreza reliable?
NHTSA has 41 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2000 Subaru Impreza. The most complained-about area is power train (21% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2000 Subaru Impreza problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 64,000 miles or less.
Does the 2000 Subaru Impreza have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.