Subaru Legacy 2000 — Reported problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A STATE INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SHOWED SEVERE RUST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION) BY PATRIOT SUBARU OF SACO (LOCATED AT 769 PORTLAND RD, SACO, ME 04072, (207) 284-7900). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE TWO SUB SECTIONS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,159. *BF CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALLS THAT WERE PERFORMED WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH UNDERCOATING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. *DL

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.

STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING IN COLD WEATHER.

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.

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.

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

DRIVING TO WORK CAR RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MIN. THE WINDOW CONTROL SWITCH INSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR SMOKED AND QUICKLY CAUGHT FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE CARD. I OPENED THE DOOR AND STEPPED OUT. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE PANEL ON THE CAR DOOR ALSO CAUGHT FIRE AND STARTING MELTING. I HAD BEACH TOWEL IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, AND TRIED TO SMOTHER THE FIRE WITH THE TOWEL, BUT QUICKLY DECIDED THE FIRE WAS TOO LARGE, GROWING TOO QUICKLY AND WAS ACTUALLY INSIDE THE DOOR. I GAVE UP ON THE TOWEL, AND IN LAST DITCH EFFORT TO THE SAVE THE CAR I GRABBED, AND TORE OFF THE PLASTIC DOOR PANEL AND THREW IT TO GROUND. SOME OF THE MELTED PLASTIC FROM THE DOOR PANEL DID GET ON MY HANDS, AND I RECEIVED SEVERAL BURNS TO MY FINGERS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. I WAS THEN ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE REMAINING FIRE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR APPEARS TO BE LIMITED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. *TR

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

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

REAR SUBFRAME RUSTED AND BROKEN A PART - DEALER DEEMED CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

I BOUGHT A USED CAR THIS PAST SUMMER. NOW THAT IT IS COLD WHENEVER WE GET IN THE CAR WHEN IT'S REALLY COLD AND THERE IS A STRONG GAS ODOR IN THE CAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT ALLOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS MODEL VARIOUS YEARS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD THINK THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU L WAGON. WHILE DRIVING THE ATF WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWN-SHIFT. THE COMPUTER, TRANSMISSION COMPUTER, SPARK PLUG, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND COIL PACK HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 11/12/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON MOST OF THE TIME. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT WORKS ONLY ON SUBARU'S HAD NOT IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS NEEDED. UPDATED 11/16/09

COOLANT LEAK FROM DRIVERS SIDE HEAD GASKET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN SWERVING ACROSS THE LANES. SHE EXITED THE FREEWAY AND DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE UNIBAR FRAME ABOVE THE FRONT TIRES WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND ONLY THE TRANSMISSION BRACKETS WERE HOLDING THE VEHICLE TOGETHER. THE MECHANIC WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD PAY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DECLARE THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

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.

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? *TR

FRONT LEFT STRUT BROKE AND CAME CLOSE TO PUNCTURING THE TIRE. COULD HANDLE THE CAR EFFICIENTLY-WENT TO LOCAL GARAGE 1 MILE AWAY , WITH CAUTION , WHERE PEOBLEM WAS DETERMINED

2000 SUBARU LEGACY L TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE WHILE STOPPED FOR A LIGHT. CAR UNABLE TO BE MOVED AND STUCK IN TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSED A VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM AS TRAFFIC BACKED UP BEHIND THE CAR. TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY REFUSES TO SHIFT. DEALER SAYS NEW TRNS. SUBARU AWARE OF DEFECT IN TRANS. *TR

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. *TR

SUMMARY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH 45,926 MILES. IT WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY RACK AND PINION. THE GEARS HAVE MICROSCOPIC CRACKS AND THE TEETH BROKE OFF AT 30-35 MPH. THE CRACKS ARE VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, SAID IT WAS THE SECOND SUBARU THAT HAD A SIMILAR FAILURE. I HAVE ASKED SUBARU TO REVIEW THE CASE. SUBARU INDICATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ISSUES NOT A PRODUCT DEFECT AND REFUSED TO ABSORB ANY OF THE REPAIR COSTS OF $1695. I HAVE THE PARTS THAT FAILED AND I WILL RE-CONTACT SUBARU, REQUEST THAT A ZONE REP LOOK AT THE FAILED COMPONENTS, AND REVIEW THE CASE AGAIN. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A GAS STATION AT 2MPH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION STABILIZER BAR BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE AS A RESULT OF A ROAD HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR INVOLVED IN ANY PRIOR ACCIDENT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION STABILIZER BAR.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS CALIBRATED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. OTHER VEHICLES ON THE LOT WERE DRIVEN AND THEY HAD THE SAME HESITATION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB

THE FACTORY INSTALLED MOON ROOF GLASS DETACHED FROM GLUE. THE GLUE IN FRAME DID NOT ADEQUATELY HOLD THE GLASS IN PLACE. MOON ROOF WAS CLOSED WHEN THE GLASS CAME OFF. THE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE ROOF FELT THAT THE GLUE WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK *BF *NM

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL "PERCOLATE", OR SKIP, AND STALL COMPLETELY UPON APPLYING BRAKE AT STOP LIGHT. STARTING UP AGAIN, IT WILL SKIP AND / OR COME TO A DEAD STOP AFTER ACCELLERATING. VERY DANGEROUS... HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO, SENT TO SUBARU REPAIR, WHERE THEY CHANGED THE PLUGS AND WIRES. IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY, APRIL 1, 2005. I WILL CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN AT CHASE PARKWAY SUBARU IN WATERTOWN, CT.*AK

NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN AT AROUND 40K MILES. NOW THE CAR IS AT 85K MILES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND GAVE MY CAR A LITTLE GAS. THE CAR REVED AND ACCELERATED FOR NO REASON, BUT I LOOKED AT MY GAUGES AND NOTHING LOOKED OUT OF THE ORDINARY, SO I KEPT DRIVING. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER, I WAS PULLING INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY GOING ABOUT 2 MILES PER HOUR (HER CAR WAS ABOUT 7 FEET AWAY) WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED (LIKE I HAD FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL), AND I CRASHED INTO HER PARKED CAR. AFTER CAR IS FIXED (THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR), I WILL TAKE TO MY SUBARU DEALER. IT IS STILL UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

AT ABOUT 76,000 MILES, VERY OCCASIONALLY, THE CAR HESITATED BEFORE ENGAGING IN DRIVE. THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING MORE OFTEN RECENTLY, AND NOW AT 82,000, ACCORDING TO A SUBARU DEALER, THE TRANSMISSION APPARENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM TRYING A "FLUSH" BEFORE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE SUBARU SHOULD WARRANTY THEIR TRANSMISSIONS FOR MORE THAN 60,000 MILES OR RECALL THE PART IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT FAILS.*JB

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT THE GEAR SEEMED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO A LOWER GEAR, AND PLACED THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, DROVE TO THE MECHANIC, WHO CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. . THE ENGINE RUNS. BUT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE.*AK

AFTER EXPERIENCING A FLAT TIRE CONSUMER CHANGED THE TIRE, AFTER PLACING THE JACK UNDER THE VEHICLE BODY IT BROKE IN HALF. *AK *SC

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. THE RADIO, FOLLOWED BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND THE EXTERIOR AUTO. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE DEALERSHIP HAS PULLED THE STEERING COLUMN APART AND CHECKED THE FUSE AND WIRING FOR MOISTURE, BUT NO MOISTURE WAS FOUND. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS ALSO PERFORMED. NO FAILURE WERE CODES FOUND. *JB

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

WHILE SUBARU DOES NOT REGARD THEIR DEFECTIVE CLUTCH MECHANISM AS A SAFETY PROBLEM, I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS IN WHICH IN FACT MY SAFETY HAS BEEN ON THE LINE. I AM ANNOYED AT THE CASUAL ATTITUDE SUBARU HAS DEMONSTRATED ON THIS ISSUE, AND I HAVE GOTTEN EXCUSES OR SHRUGS OVER THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE STUTTERING CLUTCH PROBLEM THAT IS APPARENTLY WELL KNOW TO SUBARU AND CLUTCH OPERATORS OF THEIR CARS SINCE THE LATE 90'S. I AM A VETERAN CLUTCH USER, THIS IS NOT OPERATOR ERROR. IN MY CONVERSATION WITH SUBARU, THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN INCIDENCE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT IT WAS COVERED BY A SERVICE BULLETIN. RELEVANT INTERNET FORUMS CONTAIN MANY COMPLAINTS AND QUESTIONS ON THIS PROBLEM. THE TWO INCIDENTS I HAVE HAD THAT QUALIFY THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVE THE CAR BEING UNEXPECTEDLY UNABLE TO MOVE THROUGH TRAFFIC AS CARS APPROACHED ME. IF ANOTHER CAR HAD PROCEEDED NORMALLY FROM MY STOPPING PLACE, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEM WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, BUT MY CAR WILL, WITH INCREASING REGULARITY, NOT MOVE PROPERLY WHEN IT IS ASKED TO DO SO. IN THE CASES I AM REPORTING, AS I MOVED AWAY FROM A STOP, THE CLUTCH HAD BEGUN TO ENGAGE, MOVED ME INTO THE INTERSECTION, BUT THEN IT HAS GONE INTO ITS LURCHING ROUTINE THAT STOPS ME IN FRONT OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC. ONLY WHEN I STOP AND RE-ENGAGE THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES IN SUCCESSION CAN I GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. SUBARU WILL NOT ROUTINELY REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TALKED TO DEALERS THREE TIMES, AND HAVE RECEIVED DISMISSIVE EXPLANATIONS. ONE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE MY PROBLEM TO THEIR SATISFACTION. I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, NOT A MERE TECHNICAL ISSUE. THE CLUTCH PROBLEMS ARE APPARENTLY WIDESPREAD, AND IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME IF ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB

VEHICLE STOPPED DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND THERE WAS A LOST OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. *MR THE VEHICLE STOPPED DURING THE DEALERS TEST DRIVE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM POINTED TOWARDS A KNOCK SENSOR AIR FLOW SENSOR, OR POSSIBLY AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. *SC *JB

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. *NM

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.*AK