The 1999 Subaru Outback has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 180,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 150 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION01V2160002001-06-25180,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE…
Consequence
DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN…
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
14
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
11
POWER TRAIN
7
2crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
1crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
5
1crashes1fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS
4
4crashes8injuries
Total complaints150
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Front coil spring broke in half while vehicle was stationary - almost puncturing tire, and rendering vehicle immobile - the broken end of the coil was wedged into the tire sidewall. If this had happened while vehicle was moving, it would have caused a blowout and possible accident. Subaru has a…”
“The vehicle is using its power to make the car think it is in neutral and does not start properly. It will start if you pull the fuse out and then put it back in to put it in drive. Also, lending way to problems with the transmission system. Effecting mileage on the counter. Car was stationery…”
“1999 subaru legacy outback. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle began to roll backward while trying to remove keys. *smd the consumer stated she parked the vehicle, placed it in park, and left the keys in the ignition, so she could check out the new halogen bulbs that had been installed. When…”
“1999 subaru legacy outback. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle began to roll backward while trying to remove keys. *smd the consumer stated she parked the vehicle, placed it in park, and left the keys in the ignition, so she could check out the new halogen bulbs that had been installed. When…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 subaru outback. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond to acceleration attempts. The contact stated that she had to constantly change the gear from reverse to drive in order for it to work. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection but they could…”
“1999 subaru outback ltd power steering rack leak and cam seal leak which ruined timing belt. This car is a piece of junk! *tt”
“My daughter was driving on the highway about 65 mph, the hood flew open smashed the windshield, she crossed a lane of traffic went into the ditch, hit her head on the steering wheel and received a mild concussion. *tr”
“My daughter was driving on the highway about 65 mph, the hood flew open smashed the windshield, she crossed a lane of traffic went into the ditch, hit her head on the steering wheel and received a mild concussion. *tr”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Subaru Outback as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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