2000 Subaru Legacy: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 94 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is tires (18% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Nov 2013
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 94 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 subaru legacy. While driving various speeds in below freezing temperature, the contact detected an odor of fuel coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 156,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Dec 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 subaru legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v323000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The contact had not experienced a failure.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a continental extreme contact tire, size: 205/55r16. The contact stated that the driver of the vehicle was traveling approximately 50 mph when the front passenger's side tire sustained a blow out. The contact also discovered a blister on the sidewall of the rear passenger's side tire. The manufacturer was not contacted in reference to the defect. The failure mileage of the tire was 155. The vehicle failure mileage was 135,904.”Owner report · Tires · Mar 2014
Show 7 more owner reports
“Car slid on black ice off the road, down a very steep embankment, into the side of a building, and totaled the front end of the car. The air bags did not deploy. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2013
“I have been experiencing a very powerful fuel smell emitting from the areas of the engine. When I pop the hood the smell is the strongest. The smell is of raw gasoline (not exhaust or anything of that sort) and permeates into the cabin and all around the vehicle. The odor emerges only on cold days, specifically temperatures that drop below 39 f. The odor grows more potent as the car runs and if I activate the heat blowers you and smell it even more. The odor even last long after the car is shut off, existing around the engine for hours after shut down. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Nov 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 subaru legacy. The contact stated that the rear suspension was completely rusted. The dealer stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA recall campaign id number: 03v153000 (suspension), but the manufacturer stated that they would not repair the vehicle under the recall because of the mileage. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 181,000. *tr”Owner report · Suspension · Jun 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 subaru legacy. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, he was informed that the sub frame was completely rusted and needed to be replaced. He was also informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign id number 03v153000 (suspension:rear) however, the repair did not prevent the rust. The vehicle was repaired for the sub frame due to the severity of the corrosion. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 72,204.”Owner report · Suspension · Jan 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 subaru legacy gt awd. The contact stated that he noticed that the vehicle was on fire. The contact believed that the fire started from the rear passenger side door. There was a police report filed for the incident. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure and current mileage was 154,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2012
“Tl* the contact owns 2000 subaru legacy outback. The contact stated that while driving, the radio stopped functioning on its own and the gauges on the instrument panel were changing uncontrollably. The anti lock braking system warning light and check engine warning light were illuminated. The gauges then stopped working. The contact stopped the vehicle and shifted into park. The contact was then unable to shift out of park. The contact was also unable to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle was not taken to a repair shop or dealer for inspection. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were 111,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2012
“I had a blowout on the freeway. Purchased replacement tire and drove 313 miles on this brand new tire and it developed a bubble and had to be replaced again. *tr”Owner report · Tires · Jun 2012
When filing, owners marked a crash in 8 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN L MODEL PASSENGER VEHICLES. ANTI-RUST COATING WAS INCORRECTLY APPLIED TO THE TRANSVERSE LINK MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE BODY. OVER TIME THE COATING SHRINKS, CAUSING A TORQUE DECREASE OF THE BOLT THAT SECURES THE TRANSVERSE LINK BRACKET TO THE VEHICLE BODY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REMOVE THE ANTI-RUST COATING UNDER THE MOUNTING LOCATION OF THE LEFT TRANSVERVE LINK MOUNTING BRACKET BOLT AND RETORQUE THE MOUNTING BOLT TO THE REQUIRED TORQUE.
Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's and Legacy's. The affected fuel pumps were sold or installed into the aftermarket applications on or after July 26, 2013, and may may leak fuel from the base of a fuel line connection when the gas tank is full.
Remedy: Airtex will notify owners, and will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Recall is expected to begin on January 2, 2014. Customers may contact Airtex at 1-800-880-3056. The recall is expected to begin during January 2014. This recall is being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT-SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE ARM WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE LEFT SIDE TIE-ROD END CASTLE NUT AND INSTALL A NEW COTTER PIN.
THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN AND RUST-PROOF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
How other years compare
Check your exact Legacy 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 Legacy reliable?
NHTSA has 94 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2000 Subaru Legacy. The most complained-about area is tires (18% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2000 Subaru Legacy problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 94,815 miles or less.
Does the 2000 Subaru Legacy have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train:driveline:center support bearing. 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.