Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 1999 Subaru Outback, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Subaru Outback year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model. Naming may differ, or it predates EPA records.
NHTSA lists 1 recall for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: 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 ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Risk: 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 AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Campaign 01V216000
NHTSA has no NCAP crash-test rating for this model year, which is common for older, low-volume and heavy-duty vehicles.
The parts named most often across 112 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
1 crash
5 crashes · 7 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
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 UPON OCCURRENCE. THE CAR ITSELF IS GOOD IT RUNS PRETTY WELL YET, TO PUT IT IN DRIVE IT BURNS TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS TELLING THE CAR IT IS IN NEUTRAL.
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 RECALL FOR COIL SPRINGS, BUT SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE THE VIN RANGE - BUT WAS CLEARLY STILL AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM.
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 SHE RETURNED TO REMOVE THE KEY, WITH THE DOOR BEING OPEN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS, AND THE OPENED DOOR PUSHED HER TO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE CAREFULLY CHECKED AND MADE SURE, THE VEHICLE WAS SECURELY IN PARK, BEFORE SHE EXITED TO CHECK THE LIGHTS, AND DID NOT TOUCH ANYTHING WHEN SHE RETURNED. SHE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY, TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE SUFFERING FROM SEVERE HEAD, BACK AND NECK INJURIES AND SPENT 2 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO TWO OTHER PARKED CARS AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH. UPDATED 05/20/14 UPDATED 06/19/14
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 NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
1999 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD POWER STEERING RACK LEAK AND CAM SEAL LEAK WHICH RUINED TIMING BELT. THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK! *TT
99 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK /W AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOS NOT ENGAGE WHEN PLACED FROM P TO D, OR DISENGAGE FROM GEAR WHEN VEHICLE STOP. I WAS ON A SLIGHT HILL STOPPED. CAR DISENGAGED FROM GEAR AND I COULD NOT MOVE. IN D - WHEN I RELEASED BRAKE THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS CAUSING CONTACT WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME. *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
WE EXPERIENCED AN INCIDENT IN WHICH A FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FAILED. PARKING OUR 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK, THE VEHICLE WAS PERFECTLY FINE. IN THE MORNING THE VEHICLE HAD A FLAT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. JACKING THE CAR, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE FLAT TIRE AND WHEEL. THE REASON IT WAS HARD TO REMOVE WAS THAT A SHARP LONG PIECE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN AWAY, AND PUNCTURED THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. WHEN THE TIRE AND WHEEL WERE FINALLY REMOVED, THE BROKEN COIL SPRING COULD BE SEEN SITTING ATOP THE FRONT STRUT. THE REMAINDER OF THE COIL SPRING HAD A LONG SHARP POINT THAT HAD SHOT DOWN OVER THE SPRING SEAT ON THE STRUT AND WAS PROTRUDING INTO THE WHEEL WELL AREA WHERE IT HAD DAMAGED THE TIRE. ALSO, MANY PIECES OF BLACK PAINT WHICH HAD BEEN COATING THE COIL SPRING COULD BE SEEN NOW LYING ON THE GROUND. THE COIL SPRING ITSELF WAS RUSTED OVER THE ENTIRE SPRING SURFACE OF THE SPRING. THE BROKEN PIECE OF THE COIL SPRING WHICH WAS SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE SPRING WAS PULLED OFF OF THE STRUT AND PUT INTO THE CAR. THE REMAINDER OF THE BROKEN COIL SPRING WAS THEN ABLE TO BE LIFTED UP AND SUSPENDED ABOVE THE STRUT COIL SPRING SEAT IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A SUBARU DEALER. THE SUBARU DEALER CHECKED MY VEHICLE VIN# TELLING ME THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR ANY FAILED COIL SPRINGS. I REFERENCED A RECALL NOTICE I HAD FOUND ONLINE WHICH DETAILED THE EXACT FAILURE IN WHICH I HAD EXPERIENCED, A BROKEN COIL SPRING, CAUSED BY DEFECTING PAINT COATING THE SPRING, LEADING TO RUSTING OF THE SPRING AND BREAKAGE, ALSO OCCASIONALLY PUNCTURING TIRES IN THE PROCESS. I WAS TOLD A CALL WOULD BE PLACE TO THE SUBARU REP TO INQUIRE ABOUT SUCH A RECALL. I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT NO SUCH RECALL EXISTED AND NO WARRANTY COVERAGE EXISTED FOR THE FAILED COIL SPRING AND TIRE PUNCTURE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW SUCH A FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THE SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER MIGHT ENSUE. *TR
99 SUBARU OUTBACK HIT IN REAR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY MINOR NECK AND LOWER BACK BRUISES. ALSO, ANOTHER FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AFTER 50,000 MILES. *TR
FUEL FILLER TUBE CORROSION CAUSES LEAK OF FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES CODE P0440 (EVAP EMISSIONS MALFUNCTION). FUEL FILLER TUBE AND VALVE ASSEMBLY PARTS COST IS $200. LABOR $275. COMMON PROBLEM ON SUBARUS THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED DUE TO FUEL VAPOR LEAKAGE POSES AN ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
HEAD GASKET FAILED ON 1999 SUBARU AT 38,000. CAR WAS MAINTAINED RELIGIOUSLY. SUBARU RECALL WAS NEVER SENT TO ME. I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS THE 'WRONG PHASE ENGINE' TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CAR HAD OVERHEATED 3 MONTHS EARLIER. SUBARU FLUSHED THE SYSTEM AND ADDED 'SPECIAL COOLANT LUBRICANT'. THIS WAS WORTHLESS. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $2000+, EVEN THOUGH MY FAMILY HAS PURCHASED 4 SUBARU'S FROM THE SAME DEALER. AFTER A LOT OF SCREAMING AND YELLING, THEY REPLACED BOTH GASKETS, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP. I ENDED UP PAYING $250. DEALER, (WAKEFIELD SURBARU, WAKEFIELD MA.) HELPED CONVINCED SUBARU CORPORATE TO FOOT MOST OF THE EXPENSE. LATER WHEN SUBARU OIL FILTERS FAILED (LEAKS) AND AFTER MORE SCREAMING AND YELLING WITH THIS DEALER SHIP, (AFTER THEY SAID I WAS MAKING UP THE LEAK PROBLEM) I'VE CHANGED DEALERSHIPS WHO HAS A MORE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CENTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR REGATTA 2 TIRES, SIZE 205/70/15. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING. THE VIBRATIONS WORSENED AS THE SPEED INCREASED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND HE STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER TIRES EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE ROAD FORCE VARIATIONS. A ROAD FORCE BALANCING MEASUREMENT WAS PERFORMED ON THE DEFECTIVE TIRES; HOWEVER, THE FOUR TIRES MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED UNIFORM WEAR AND TREAD LIFE. THE TIRES WERE TEMPORARILY ROTATED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING ALL FOUR TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,355 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,305. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN UPDATED 08/13/09.*JB
Showing 12 of 112 complaints.