NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 94 owner complaints for the 2000 Subaru Legacy. Most complaints involve tires (17) and engine and engine cooling (15). The EPA rates it 21 mpg combined.
Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's and Legacy's. The affected fuel pumps were sold or installed into the aftermarket applications on or after July 26, 2013, and may may leak fuel from the base of a fuel line connection when the gas tank is full.
THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT-SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE ARM WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Legacy model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 129 |
| 1997 | 143 |
| 1998 | 116 |
| 1999 | 97 |
| 2000 | 94 |
| 2001 | 80 |
| 2002 | 58 |
| 2005 | 184 |
| 2006 | 87 |
| 2007 | 33 |
| 2008 | 65 |
| 2009 | 65 |
| 2010 | 151 |
| 2011 | 167 |
| 2012 | 90 |
| 2013 | 66 |
| 2014 | 53 |
| 2015 | 160 |
| 2016 | 147 |
| 2017 | 119 |
| 2018 | 117 |
| 2019 | 123 |
| 2020 | 121 |
| 2021 | 31 |
| 2022 | 34 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 6 |
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A CONTINENTAL EXTREME CONTACT TIRE, SIZE: 205/55R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE SUSTAINED A BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED A BLISTER ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REFERENCE TO THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS 155. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,904.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SPORADICALLY AND ONCE IT DID, THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY DECELERATE WITHOUT THE CONTACT HANGING THE PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A STATE INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SHOWED SEVERE RUST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION) BY PATRIOT SUBARU OF SACO (LOCATED AT 769 PORTLAND RD, SACO, ME 04072, (207) 284-7900). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE TWO SUB SECTIONS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,159. *BF CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALLS THAT WERE PERFORMED WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH UNDERCOATING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. *DL”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy AWD Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 | 423 |
| Legacy AWD Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 | 423 |
| Legacy Wagon AWD Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 | 423 |
| Legacy Wagon AWD Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 | 423 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
4 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 94 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are tires (17), engine and engine cooling (15), suspension (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2000 Subaru Legacy at 21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).