2001 Subaru Legacy
This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
- Complaints
- 77
- Recalls
- 8
- Investigations
- 0
- Top problem
- Fuel system, gasoline
Campaigns on file for 2001
None on file
22% of complaints
Complaints per year
2001: 77 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 81 |
| 1991 | 78 |
| 1992 | 57 |
| 1993 | 78 |
| 1994 | 61 |
| 1995 | 182 |
| 1996 | 123 |
| 1997 | 139 |
| 1998 | 114 |
| 1999 | 94 |
| 2000 | 94 |
| 2001 | 77 |
| 2002 | 54 |
| 2003 | 60 |
| 2004 | 49 |
| 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 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Fuel system, gasoline
22% · 17 reportsMost commonly citing hoses, lines/piping, and fittings and delivery.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2014-04-10
Purchased vehicle in South Carolina and drove it back to northern Kentucky. It produced approximately 380 miles on one tank of fuel. Note: it was well into the 50-60 f range outside while driving during that time.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-12-24
Engine and engine cooling
14% · 11 reportsMost commonly citing gasoline and engine.
Show complaint excerpts
My Subaru Legacy, 2001, 25,000 miles, caught on fire in the front right part under the hood suddenly on my way home 2/5/03, I was locked in the car and unable to get out till the car filled with smoke, I was panicking, as I was unable to breath.
NHTSA ODI report, 2003-05-21
Vehicle speed control
12% · 9 reportsMost commonly citing cables.
Show complaint excerpts
Driving on secondary road - well know to me - at dusk @ 45 MPH approaching an intersection with a major road. Began to tap gently on brake to ease to my "Yield" Or stop in case driver on other road did not do so.
NHTSA ODI report, 2004-01-28
Also filed under Service brakes, hydraulic
Vehicle was in park and engine was off. Consumer started vehicle and shifted into reverse, and vehicle overaccelerated and "Landed on top" Of car behind her. Dealership has vehicle and repairing defect.
NHTSA ODI report, 2001-04-10
Consumer had foot on brakes while pulling into a parking space, and vehcle took off. It went through a fence and down into a ditch. Dealer couldn't find anything wrong. Throttle must have gotten stuck, but no proof in inspection.
NHTSA ODI report, 2001-03-15
Service brakes
12% · 9 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2014-01-29
Tires
10% · 8 reportsMost commonly citing sidewall.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2025-07-13
Safety timeline
8 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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R
2001-01-26Steering00V391000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A casting flaw in the right front bearing housing could result in loss of steering if the casting flaw should exist in the tie-rod arm.
Remedy: Dealers will replace all front bearing housings with a lot number of OF15.
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R
2001-01-26Seat belts00V392000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Incorrect beige rear center seat belt webbing was installed. The belt length is too short.
Remedy: Dealers will replace all beige colored rear center lap/shoulder belts with lot number 0171.
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2001-01-26Fuel system, gasoline00V393000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Possible fuel leakage of under-hood fuel hoses at low ambient temperatures (-40 degrees c) once the fuel hoses age and become less flexible.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for under-hood fuel hoses with lot numbers 0804 and 0806 and all fuel hoses with those numbers will be replaced.
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2001-03-30Seats01V034000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manually-adjustable (Non-powered) seats. Certain inner front slide rail latch mechanisms may have been improperly welded.
Remedy: Dealers will replace one or both front seat inner slide rails. Owner notification began March 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do…
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2003-01-08Power train02V282000 Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. Owner notification January 8, 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during November 2002. Owners who take their…
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2003-07-14Suspension03V153000 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…
Remedy: Dealers will clean and rust-proof the rear suspension subframe. Owner notification began July 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and…
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2004-04-12Vehicle speed control04V128000 On certain passenger sedans, wagons, and sport utility vehicles, the cruise control cable could come out of its track on the cruise control lever and lodge on the control lever tab when the…
Remedy: Dealers will install a cruise control cable retaining clip to the cruise control lever tab on the throttle shaft in order to prevent the cruise control cable from coming out of its track. Owner…
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Date not on fileFuel system, gasoline13E065000 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.
Remedy: 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.
Buy-smart checklist
2001 Subaru Legacy — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Fuel system, gasoline: 17 reports on file for this year.
- Engine and engine cooling: 11 reports on file for this year.
- Vehicle speed control: 9 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 13E065000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 00V391000 · Steering
- Recall 00V392000 · Seat belts
- Recall 00V393000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 01V034000 · Seats
- Recall 02V282000 · Power train
- Recall 03V153000 · Suspension
- Recall 04V128000 · Vehicle speed control
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2001 Subaru Legacy reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2001 Subaru Legacy is rated "typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Subaru Legacy?
- The most-reported component is fuel system, gasoline, accounting for 22% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2001 Subaru Legacy have?
- 8 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.