2000 Subaru Legacy recalls and problems

The 2000 Subaru Legacy has 3 recalls and 94 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

How the 2000 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 26 Legacy model years — 10th most.

3recalls

94complaints

8crashes

2fires

3injuries

99,500median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Suspension

Apr 22, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V153000 · 170,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: If such breakage occurs while the vehicle is being operated, control of the vehicle could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

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.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Steering

Mar 24, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V091000 · 129 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Passenger vehicles. The left-side steering knuckle arm was incorrectly assembled.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT-SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE ARM WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.

Risk: This condition could result in a loss of steering control.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the torque on the left side tie-rod end castle nut and install a new cotter pin.

No vehicles have been delivered to customers.all vehicles will be repaired before being delivered to customers.

Power Train

Sep 17, 1999 · NHTSA campaign 99V249000 · 13 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This can result in loosening of the bracket and subsequent separation of the transverse link from the vehicle frame.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CAN RESULT IN LOOSENING OF THE BRACKET AND SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION OF THE TRANSVERSE LINK FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owner notification began September 27, 1999. 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. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine17

Tires17

Power Train14

Suspension13

Vehicle Speed Control10

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2000 vs. other Subaru Legacy years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2000. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2000 Subaru Legacy have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2000 Subaru Legacy, the latest from Apr 22, 2003 (suspension). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Subaru Legacy?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (17), tires (17), power train (14). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.