Most common 2000 Subaru Impreza problems
Share of the 41 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Impreza complaints by model year
Best Impreza years: 2023, 2021, 2022. Years to avoid: 2012, 2013, 2019, 2018, 2017. Compare all years →
What 2000 Subaru Impreza owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
I have a 2000 Subaru Impreza wagon....I bought it nov 2004 to use in my business. I bought it mainly because subarus are reliable, economical cars...it had 55,000 miles on it...now it has 75,000 miles on it and the clutch is really slipping badly; not good when you need to accelerate quickly into traffic. I know people with subarus that didn't have to replace the clutch until almost 200,000 miles. I really feel there is something defective with my particular car for it to be slipping so badly at such low mileage...im the sole driver of the car and I do not ride the clutch....it is now dec 14, 05 and it has been slipping for a couple months now. Is there anything the manufacturer can do to help me with this problem? I love the car but am very dissatisfied with this problem.
Premature failure of rear wheel bearings. The rear wheel bearing was replaced at 36,408 miles. It probably started failing several thousand miles earlier. I wasn't aware of the change until a friend pointed out the noise that he thought sounded like the wheel bearing. Subaru is aware of this problem and has issued a service bulletin altering the repair process to avoid "repeat premature failures"(quote from the service bulletin.
Suspension
Right rear wheel bearing replaced 63948, 67346, 84427 miles. Had to go on the internet to find out that it is a common problem. Shortly after buying the car (new) the engine started making a noise like something rattling inside of it. I took it to the dealer and they said it was a common problem and they would do nothing about it. They would have to take the engine apart, and since the problem wasn't dangerous, they wouldn't fix it. Very, very disappointed in Subaru customer service.
This is the second time the rear bearings have gone out on this car (previous owner had replaced. So far, the dealer has been great. However, the front bearings are starting to go out (at 38,900K) and I am not sure if the dealer is still going to be as good- they claim that they need to talk to the manufacturer. I will be contacting Subaru in the meantime. I have done research on this car, and this is not an isolated problem- but seems to have happened with a handful of people. See http://www.ranma.com/%eharlock/Subaru/wheelbearing.html- also there is a yahoo group devoted to Subaru outback sports with many posting about bad bearings. Thanks for you prompt attention to this matter.
Brakes
Very concerned about my brakes: this only happens after backing up and moving forward. At this point when I apply the brake to stop, I'll either hear a clank or clank, clank sound from under the car. I can't tell if it's from the front left or right front. It almost sounds like a rock coming loose from the tire and hitting the wheel well at 55 MPH but I'm only moving at 5 MPH. I took the car to mark thomas motors to have it checked out and their report says they couldn't find anything wrong and that this is typical and not a problem. I believe this is a potential problem and this sound could be causing damage to part(s) that could lead my brakes to fail when I need them. I need assistance in this matter. Thanks - rich.
Brakes: the pedal feel is too soft or the engagement is late, the pedal has to go almost all the way to the floor before the brakes engage engine/tranmission: car will hesitate going from first to second gear usually around the 1K to 2.5K RPM. The car bucks, and bounces.
2000 Subaru Impreza engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Subaru Impreza a good car?
Based on 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 Impreza rates average: 20% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Impreza at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Subaru Impreza?
The transmission & drivetrain — 10 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about clutch assembly. Next are the suspension (8) and brakes (5).
How many recalls does the 2000 Subaru Impreza have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2000 Subaru Impreza. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Impreza?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2021 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2013, 2019, 2018 and 2017. See the full Subaru Impreza years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 Subaru Impreza problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 18% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.