2001 Subaru Legacy problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (8) · Fuel System, Gasoline (8) · Tires (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Legacy model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
39 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2013-11-29 · campaign 13E065000 · 397 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Airtex will notify owners, and will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Recall is expected to begin on January 2, 2014. Customers may contact Airtex at 1-800-880-3056. The recall is expected to begin during January 2014. This recall is being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru.
Service bulletins (155)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-20 · Subaru Tech Tips (Article · Other
subaru service article locator.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-20 · Subaru Tech Tips (Article · Other
subaru service article locator.
Unknown Or Other 2025-10-29 · 15-130-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the load carrying capacity reduced label when a port-installed or retailer-installed accessory exeeds 1.5 percent of the gvwr or 100 pounds, which ever is lower.
Electrical System 2025-10-28 · 15-308-23R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service information bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.
Unknown Or Other 2025-10-28 · Subaru Tech Tips (Article · Other
subaru tech tips newsletter article locator.
Unknown Or Other 2025-10-28 · Subaru Tech Tips (Article · Other
subaru tech tips newsletter article locator.
Showing the 6 most recent of 155 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-07-13 · Tires“headed home from a vet appointment in mountain home. was driving on the freeway at 80mph when the tire blew at the wendell exit. checked the tire to find that the inside wall had failed and had a blowout. the tire was installed june 8th 2025 and had less than 1,000 miles on it. i have never in 26 years of being around vehicles had a brand new tire …”
2021-12-01 · Suspension · 130,000 mi“the contact owns a 2001 subaru outback. the contact stated that while his son was driving at highway speeds, the vehicle would wobble without warning. after the contact test drove the vehicle and experienced the failure himself, he took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and discovered that the rear control arm had rotted out due to severe corr…”
2020-09-14 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 120,000 mi“always, when the circulation fresh air button is pressed to allow outside air to enter the cabin, there is the noxious odor of gasoline. i replaced the engine because of a timing belt related problem at 160,000 miles and the problem of gas odor stopped for a few months but it is back, bad as ever. when did this happen? years and years…”
2020-03-17 · Power Train · 126,000 mi“i was pulling out of the parking lot onto a main street and when i started to step on the gas the car didn't want to go so well and the rpms what are getting pretty high and the clutch was slipping the fluid was a little bit low so we added the recommended fluid the dextron 111.. we were able to drive about 5 miles on the freeway about 60 miles an …”
2019-03-12 · Engine · 186,010 mi · 💥 crash“sudden acceleration causing an accident. the subaru was at rest in drive.…”
2018-11-14 · Engine“in colder weather i have fuel leaking from fuel lines under the hood which creates a strong gas smell inside the vehicle. i went online and found nhsta recall # 00v393000 . i am not sure if this is for my vehicle or not. since this is a major safety issue, could it be repaired at at subaru dealer near me ?…”
2014-11-11 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 113,000 mi“gas fuel lines in engine compartment leaking in cold weather. gas pooling on engine creating fire hazard. same issue as other subaru. strong fuel smell inside cabin and out. *tr…”
2014-10-09 · Structure:frame And Members · 108,131 mi“tl* the contact owns 2001 subaru legacy outback. the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number 03v153000 (suspension). however, the remedy failed to correct the failure. the sub frame was found corroded and fractured. the contact was advised that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the manufacturer was not made aware of…”
2014-04-10 · Fuel System, Gasoline“when starting car in cold weather there is a very strong gas odor in cabin. subsequent research has indicated that other 2001 legacy wagons have been recalled due to exact same problem. my car was not recalled, which is confusing given that the exact same risks are associated. *tr…”
2014-01-29 · Service Brakes · 120,000 mi“cold weather below 32 degrees no brake pedal on cold start- difficult to stop car moving under 5mph. after warm up for 5-10 minutes- depending on how cold the temp. pedal comes back and brakes seem to operate normally. *tr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.