FaultScore

2000 Subaru Legacy engine problems

18 of the 119 complaints about the 2000 Subaru Legacy are about the engine — 15% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 100,000 miles.

B

18

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 5 27.8%
Exhaust System 3 16.7%
Cooling System 3 16.7%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2 11.1%
Gasoline 2 11.1%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 2 11.1%
Engine 1 5.6%

Engine & Cooling across every Subaru Legacy year

1993 17 4.3%
1995 18 4.5%
1996 24 6.0%
1997 34 8.5%
1998 30 7.5%
1999 14 3.5%
2000 18 4.5%
2001 14 3.5%
2002 13 3.3%
2003 13 3.3%
2005 34 8.5%
2006 20 5.0%
2007 10 2.5%
2010 35 8.8%
2011 28 7.0%
2012 23 5.8%
2013 20 5.0%
2015 24 6.0%
2018 10 2.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 190,000 miles East Hampton, CT

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10553210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Greenville, SC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SPORADICALLY AND ONCE IT DID, THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY DECELERATE WITHOUT THE CONTACT HANGING THE PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA complaint #10441815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,000 miles Litchfield, NH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CHRONIC, AND DOCUMENTED, FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS BY SUBARU. CAUSING A LARGE LEAK OF OIL THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND/OR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10393252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,854 miles Yonkers, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COOLANT LEAK FROM DRIVERS SIDE HEAD GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #10266122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Pittsburgh, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES SEVERELY WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE MUST BE SHIFTED INTO PARK WHEN THE SHAKING OCCURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10250828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,500 miles Fair Lawn, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

UNDER WARRANTY HAD THREE HEAD GASKETS ON 2000 LEGACY 2.5L (38,000, 55,000, 75,600 MILES RESPECTIVELY). AT 97,000 MILE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF #2 CYCLINDER. SUBARU BLAMED ME SINCE I REPLACED THE PLUGS AT 65,000. I PAID $1700 AT LYNNES SUBARU IN ARPIL TO REPLACE LEFT SIDE HEAD WITH NEW ONE. AT 99,500 MILE I AM SEEING THE COOLANT STARTING TO DROP IN RESERVOIR. ONLY 400 MILES LEFT ON 100K HEAD WARRANTY FOR RIGHT SIDE AND 10K MILE ON WARRANTY FOR NEW HEAD. THE CAR IS SITTING UNTIL I GET IT INTO DEALER. BESIDES HEADGASKETS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, REAR WIPER MOTOR, DOOR LOCKS AND UNDER DASH WIRING HAVE ALL FAILED. THIS IS A LEMON. CAN I PROSECUTE UNDER THE NJ LEMON LAW? IS THERE ANY OTHER FORUM TO GET SUBARU TO REPAIR OR BUY BACK VEHCILE?

NHTSA complaint #10238636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,500 miles Fair Lawn, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

UNDER WARRANTY HAD THREE HEAD GASKETS ON 2000 LEGACY 2.5L (38,000, 55,000, 75,600 MILES RESPECTIVELY). AT 97,000 MILE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF #2 CYCLINDER. SUBARU BLAMED ME SINCE I REPLACED THE PLUGS AT 65,000. I PAID $1700 AT LYNNES SUBARU IN ARPIL TO REPLACE LEFT SIDE HEAD WITH NEW ONE. AT 99,500 MILE I AM SEEING THE COOLANT STARTING TO DROP IN RESERVOIR. ONLY 400 MILES LEFT ON 100K HEAD WARRANTY FOR RIGHT SIDE AND 10K MILE ON WARRANTY FOR NEW HEAD. THE CAR IS SITTING UNTIL I GET IT INTO DEALER. BESIDES HEADGASKETS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, REAR WIPER MOTOR, DOOR LOCKS AND UNDER DASH WIRING HAVE ALL FAILED. THIS IS A LEMON. CAN I PROSECUTE UNDER THE NJ LEMON LAW? IS THERE ANY OTHER FORUM TO GET SUBARU TO REPAIR OR BUY BACK VEHCILE?

NHTSA complaint #10238636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Amherst, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

I WAS DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD WHEN THE EXHAUST PIPE BROKE FROM IN FRONT OF THE MUFFLER. THE MUFFLER WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY HANGERS IN THE FRONT, DROPPED DOWN AND DUG INTO THE DIRT. THE REAR OF THE CAR POLE-VAULTED OVER THE MUFFLER, LEADING TO A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING SLOW AND STRAIGHT AT THE TIME, AND THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC. THE DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS SUBSTANTIAL. THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED, AND THE DAMAGE TO THE REAR QUARTER PANELS AND TRUNK WAS REPAIRED BY A BODY SHOP.

NHTSA complaint #10207476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Menands, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS ON 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. *MR THE DEALER ADD A SEALANT TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM TO PREVENT LEAKS. THE CONUSMER FEELS THE GASKET SHOULD BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10073795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles Patchogue, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MULTIPLE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS FOR WEEKS AFTER COOLANT ADDITIVE INSTALLED. SUBARU CAN NOT FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10082959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Trenton, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA YESTERDAY. IT IS ASKING THAT CERTAIN OWNERS OF SUBARU AUTOS (LIKE MY 2000 LEGACY) HAVE A STOP LEAK PUT INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM TO AVOID LEAKS IN THE HEAD GASKET. IN THE PAST THERE HAS BEEN INCIDENCES WHERE PEOPLE HAD TO HAVE THEIR HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ON THEIR SUBARU AUTOS. THIS TYPE OF QUICK FIX CAN LEAD TO DAMAAGE TO THE ENGINE PARTS BY PARTIALLY CLOGGING THE COOLING SYSTEM, WEARING OUT THE WATER PUMP, ETC. IF A HEAD GASKET DOES BLOW LATER BECAUSE THE TEMPORARY SEAL DID NOT WORK, THE ENGINE COULD SIEAZE UP AND THERE IS A CHANCE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE SUBARU CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. SUBARU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER A TEMPORARY FIX FOR VEHICLES STILL UNDER WARRANTEE, THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOT JUST TREAT THE SYMPTOMS.

NHTSA complaint #10060305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rochester, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT BY ERASING THE CODE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE ENGINE. DEALER WOULD NOT CHECK THE ENGINE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE.

NHTSA complaint #10029649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alpine, UT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER LOST POWER INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8003018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Truckee, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

FAILURE OF ORIGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #756419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mckinney, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #750694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Parker, CO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

RAW FUEL VAPORS ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DLR HAS TRIED TO FIX WITH NO SUCCESS. SUBARU HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. DLR FOUND AND REPLACED LEAKING FUEL RAILS. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PASSENGERS OVERCOME BY FUMES. COULD BE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS, INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS IE: DRIVER DOSES OFF DUE TO FUMES.

NHTSA complaint #742732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Duncansville, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

CONSUMER SMELLS EXCESS RUBBER SMELL, POSSIBLE EXHAUST SYSTEM PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #785131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Melville, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AT 35MPH OR LESS. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES FOR STALLING. MECHANIC HAD REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR & COIL PACKS EACH TIME. EVEN HAD IT TEST DRIVEN. PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #877198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2000 Subaru Legacy problems

← Full 2000 Subaru Legacy report