Faults:

Car was trouble free for first 100k miles. Only complaint was that the front brake rotors need turning about every 20-30k miles or steering wheel would vibrate. At 105k the center differential (viscous coupling) began binding in sharp turns after driving for more than 1/2 hour. Cost over $1200 to replace. This is my 4th Subaru with high miles, but first to have a major drive-train problem.

General Comments:

Great car if you drive in snow a lot. Gets decent fuel economy (about 25 mpg highway) with adequate performance and comfort. Put a storage box on the roof rack and it beats an SUV any day.

Faults:

Catalytic converter "fell apart" over a period of 3 years. Replaced it in 2005 for $1300.

Transmission has multiple problems. Repair costs estimated to be $2000.

General Comments:

This car is very comfortable for all passengers. I enjoy the sunroof and CD player.

The car handles well.

I am disappointed in the gas mileage; I've been told it is due to the 4-wheel drive.

Great for driving in the North Carolina mountains.

Faults:

I bought my 2000 Outback Ltd. used in 2004 and drove it 4200 miles to its new home in Alaska. It currently has 138K miles. When I took the car in about a year ago for a winter check, I was informed that the head gaskets were starting to leak. The check engine light came for awhile shortly after, then went off. It came on again and has stayed on for several months. My brother (a tech at the local Subaru dealer) ran the diagnostics and it indicated a problem with the catalytic converter. He reset the code and it stayed off JUST long enough to pass emissions! *whew*

A couple weeks ago, I noticed a delay when shifting into drive. This seemed to get worse, as I would sometimes sit for 10 seconds before the engine would kick in. Yesterday, I could not get the engine to engage after shifting into any of the forward gears. After trying for 5 minutes, it finally engaged and moved forward after I'd held the gas pedal down for a few seconds. I noticed some others have mentioned tranny problems. I checked the trans. fluid, and it is slightly low, but I can't imagine that would cause such a problem. I need to have a timing belt replaced soon also.

After being very reliable for 50K miles, I'm considering trading the thing in to the Subaru dealer to let them deal with it and getting a new vehicle under warranty. I love my Outback and it performs fabulously in winter conditions and on long drives, but because of all these common problems, I'm hesitant to even consider another one. Subaru's are by far the most popular car to drive in Interior Alaska, but if these are common problems, I can't imagine why.

There are a few things I'm hoping to find out:

1) Has anyone had these things fixed and enjoyed lots of relatively trouble-free miles afterward?

2) Is it worth putting a few thousand dollars into it? Or do these problems repeat themselves?

3) Are leaky head gaskets also an issue on models prior to 2000?

Kari in Fairbanks, AK.

Faults:

CD Player broke the first week I bought it 60k.

Brakes have always seemed very unreliable, dealer claims that I need Subaru made brake pads. I had brake job done with another vendor at 90k. could need alignment, might help brakes.

90k replaced timing belt.

100k oil pump leaks.

106k transmission went out.

General Comments:

Have always thought that two sunroofs was a dumb idea by Subaru, I wish it just had one large one.

Does anyone have idea what is reasonable to pay to rebuild transmission?