Three problems related to clutch have been reported for the 1999 Subaru Outback. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
While shifting the gears gear shift failed, a loud banging noise was heard coming from the front. Consumer was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the hydraulic clutch master cylinder needed replacement due to worn out part.
Clutch chirps like a bird when out, is silent when fully depressed. Diagnosis: bad throw out bearing. This is the third clutch in this car for this same problem. The first at approximately 18,000 miles; the second at approximately 43,000, and now again just 1500 miles later! clutch actually disengaged permanently on the shop floor while the dealer was examining the car -- he was poking around the bearing and it "fell out" of alignment, completely preventing the clutch from working. This could've happened to me on the road, while driving.
I bought a 1999 Subaru Outback 30th anniversary limited edition in may of 1999. Within six months, the car began to exhibit clutch and transmission problems. I brought this to the immediate attention of the Subaru dealer. For three years they denied that there was anything wrong with the vehicle, always saying they were unable to duplicate the problems. Finally in June of 2002, I was able to get a regional service supervisor to admit that the car definitely had problems. His first solution was to suggest that I trade the car in on a new one. When I declined, he offered to have the car properly repaired, as it should have been three years prior. After four trips to two different Subaru dealers and after supposedly having the entire clutch assembly replaced three times, the car is in worse shape than it ever has been. Subaru has refused to repair the car, despite the fact that it's under an extended warranty that covers the entire transmission. Subaru claims that the car now "operates as designed" and that any problems I am now experiencing are a result of my driving habits. Subaru refuses to replace the car because they were able to stall any repairs until the car passed the two year lemon law exclusion.