2000 Subaru Outback: fire, smoke or burning smell

5 of the 207 complaints about the 2000 Subaru Outback describe fire, smoke or burning smell.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 2%
typical mileage: 51,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 21 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year

2025
2
2024
2
2022
5
2021
2
2020
6
2019
3
2018
4
2017
2
2016
4
2015
5
2014
4
2013
3
2012
6
2011
5
2010
2
2009
1
2008
2
2007
2
2006
2
2005
2
2004
5
2003
3
2001
4
2000
5
1999
1
1998
3
1997
2
1996
1

What owners say

Filed May 7, 2013 · Engine · 200,000 miles · MD · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 subaru outback. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, he heard an abnormally loud noise from the engine as the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was moved to the shoulder and upon further inspection, the contact discovered a fire under the hood. The flames spread to the two front tires, which then exploded. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was awaiting diagnosis. The failure and current mileage was 200,000.

Filed Jan 4, 2008 · Engine, Transmission · 55,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 subaru outback. The vehicle would jerk when idling. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, there was a delay and the vehicle would jolt forward. The dealer stated that internal transmission parts failed and the transmission needed to be replaced. At 64,000 miles, the contact smelled rotten eggs when driving 35 MPH. The dealer replaced the catalytic converter. While driving between 25- 60 MPH with the air conditioner activated, she smelled something burning inside the passenger compartment. The dealer stated that the head gasket failed and needed to be replaced. The head gasket failed at 55,000 and 80,000 miles. The failure mileage was 55,000 and current mileage was 95,000.

Filed Aug 6, 2004 · Transmission · 35,000 miles · PA

Burning smell eminating from transmission.

Filed Oct 27, 2003 · Transmission · 51,000 miles · MN

Premature clutch failure on subaru outback wagon 2000. Original clutch replaced at 7500 miles and found to have a manufacturers defect, bent forks.ew clutch placed in car. Shortly after, smell of burning, esp. When backing up or in cold weather, which lasted for 1 month. Clutch then failed prematurely after 40,000 miles. My hypothesis is that the clutch lost a substantial amount of its lining and life span when burning up in the first month of use. Numerous posting on edmunds.com regarding premature clutch failure, burning smell, and clutch shudder in subaru outbacks. My experience, and the experience of other owners, suggests that there is a general defect present in subaru clutches from 2000-2002. Lease investigate this defect and consider a recall.

Filed Mar 23, 2003 · Transmission · 35,500 miles · WA · fire

Clutch and flywheel caught fire while driving on the freeway. Car has 36000 miles on it and is serviced by the dealer regularly. Dealer charged me $1200 to replace the clutch and said that it was my fault, that I must "rife the clutch" or habitually overload the vehicle, neither of which is true. I suspect the clutch was flawed to begin with.