1999 Subaru Outback Limited Edition from North America - Comments

The oil pump has been resealed two times under warranty. 1st at 40K then again at 60K. Finally at 80K I had to buy a new oil pump because now it was out of warranty. Maybe they should have done this in the beginning...

I've had to purchase new rotors due to wear - I wish the dealership said something while it was getting a state inspection! I probably could have saved the rotors. No noise was heard and the service techs did not inform me of the brake pads where so badly warn.

The car is only 5 years old with 114K miles.

At 100K miles, I had to replace the front left wheel bearing, hub and axle! Not a cheap repair. Plus it was very dangerous to drive, so I had to pay for a rental. (no free loners here).

Now with 114K miles on the car, again it is in the shop. This time it's been in for 3 days and they can't find out what is wrong with it. When I step on the gas after starting the car it is very sluggish and almost stalls, then it kicks in and runs fine on the highway. I'm sure this is going to cost me money again!! I'm spending over $1500 a year in extra expenses.

This is my second Outback. Both have been automatic transmissions. The '95 Outback 2.2L automatic transmission ran great. It wasn't until I bought the 99' that the sales told me that Subaru changed the design of the automatic. The new automatic shifting patters drive me crazy. I live in a very hilly terrain and the automatic downshifting as you coast down a steep, but rather short hill is annoying.

I have a feeling this is my last Subaru. Good luck to the rest of you!

The best features are the All Wheel Drive. I live in NH and the car takes to the snow very well. This is the reason I bought the car.

I also like the storage with hatchback and the all weather package.

I have exactly the same problem with my 1991 Legacy 2.2 - when it is cold and I start it - and nobody can find the reason. Replacing the O2 sensor had no effect. Have they fixed it?

I've had the same problem with my 1999 Legacy Outback. Oil pump seal at 50K and the transmission has such lag when you go from reverse to drive that when it does engage, it is very abrupt. New transmission: $3500 (with core return). However, a new transmission needed at 50K just seems weird to me. I'm also from New Hampshire, but now live in upstate New York. When I was younger we all drive Subaru until the bodies fell apart. They lasted that long. Now I'm not so sure.

I am looking at an estimate of $2901 to rebuild my transmission. Not happy about that, but otherwise I love the car. I live in VT and it handles extremely well.

Recent problems with a 1998 Outback (77,000) miles:

Leaking oil pump seal - 77,000 miles

New starter - 77,000 miles

Front wheel bearing - 60,000 miles.

Compare that with my 1989 Honda Civic (122,000) miles:

Leaking oil pump seal - not yet

New starter - 110,000

Front wheel bearing - not yet.

I bought a 1987 Subaru Outback and had it for for 8 years, sold it to my son who was in college, he brought it back and was still going at 200,00 miles. He sold it and it is still out there. In 1999 I bought my 1999 Subaru Outback Limited and have loved it. I just took it in for service and was informed that I need a new transmission. I couldn't believe it. My car only has 80,000 miles. I was told that the cost would be $3800.00. I had someone else check it and sure enough, the transmission has to be replaced plus I have an oil leak. Is there a factory defect that I was not informed of or are Subaru's not making them like they used to?

We have a 2000 Outback with 4 cyl. Also own a 2005 Forester that we bought before we started having trouble with the 2000 Outback.

We really liked the Outback and found it to be very satisfactory (excellent road feel, seats are very comfortable on long highway trips, etc.) Then we reached about 70,000 miles and we started to have some problems.

Valve guides on one side of the motor were replaced to solve a very rough idle on start up problem. Diagnosing this problem took 4 trips back to the dealer with the Service Engine Light on.

Recently we had to replace the master brake cylinder (85,000 miles) and had a front and rear brake job done at the same time. The following month we had another problem. My wife remained in the car with the engine off, but with the radio running while I went into a shop. When I returned and opened the drivers side door, the radio cut out and the clock re-set to 1:00. The car refused to start - it sounded like the battery was dead. The car started immediately with a boost and I drove it directly to the dealership. At the dealership the car did start on the key, The dealer tested the electrical system, but could find no problem.

We have the car home now and will not be taking this auto too far from home until we see if we now have one of those troublesome "intermittent" electrical problems to resolve?

We purchased our first Subaru because we were not impressed with engine reliability of American autos. Now we have spent a lot of $$ over the last couple of years on the Outback to keep it on the road.

When it comes time to replace the Outback, we will also be looking at Toyota and Honda!