Faults:

At 91000 miles the head gasket blew, taking with it the radiator and one piston, along with warping one of the heads. I also have had heat shields come loose on two previous Subarus, causing a loud rattling sound that makes the car sound like a piece of junk.

General Comments:

My problem with this car is that Subaru knows they have had problem with the head gaskets of Outbacks, but when mine blew its head gasket, they told me that mine isn't one of the Outbacks under recall. They sold me a two-year extended warranty when I bought the car with 81000 miles on it, but when I blew the head gasket and tried to get it covered under warranty, they told me, "There's some coverage here." When I questioned what that meant, they said, "That's how those people are." Hey Subaru, you sold me the warranty from, "Those people." They shouldn't peddle their warranties if they don't honor them.

Faults:

The front heated seats needed to be replaced 3 times when the car was just purchased. Since then they have continued to work wonderfully.

The front brake rotors performed poorly. They needed to be machined within the first 6 months and frequently, needed to be re-machined every few months until they were replaced with after market rotors.

The clutch also seems to be of poor quality, needing frequent adjusting until they now need to be replaced at 71k miles.

An overheating problem also at 71k miles, has been costly to diagnose. The head gasket was the cause and needs to be replaced. However, my VIN number is not on the Subaru recall list. If I did not have a extended warranty, it would be a $2400+ repair.

General Comments:

This is an expensive car to have so many problems and lacking quality in the specific problem areas.

It is great in the snow and changing winter conditions.

Faults:

Transmission jumps from 5th gear, and hard to get in and out of reverse.

Two burnt valves at 128k, over $1200 to repair. I pulled engine, did the tear down and put the engine back in.

Tires made thumping noise.

Multiple suspension noises, from front and rear.

Drive train vibration has developed as of recently, fear transmission may need rebuilding/ replace drive shaft.

General Comments:

The car is great looking!!! Silver and dark gray, very sharp.

No rust.

Like the power from the 2.5.

Absolutely drives me wild the mechanical trouble I am having with this car!! I just want to pull my hair out kind of trouble.

But it looks good.

Faults:

Had wet weather problems with a sensor 2 years ago. Once it dried out the problem went away.

General Comments:

Without either Yokohama Ice Guard or Bridgestone Blizzak Winterbiter, my 1999 Subaru Outback did poorly in snow and ice here in the Colorado Rockies. But once I installed the Blizzak or Yokohama clones of Blizzak tires, the car did fantastic in snow and ice. In fact unless the snow is 8 inches or more deep my Blizzak equipped Outback is better in snow than my 4WD Jeep Cherokee.