What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2001 Subaru Outback

Typical pattern

11.5% of complaints about the 2001 Subaru Outback came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (30 complaints), typically at 3.8 yr or about 30,000 miles.

Complaints
191
Median age at failure
4.3 yr
Median mileage
75,000 n=123
Crash / fire / tow
12% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Service brakes, hydraulic
30 reports · 30,000 mi
3.8 yr
3.3%
Engine cooling
26 reports · 75,242 mi
4.4 yr
3.8%
Fuel system
26 reports · 82,800 mi
8.3 yr
11.5%
Power train
22 reports · 30,000 mi
3.0 yr
4.5%
Suspension
17 reports · 157,000 mi
11.6 yr
5.9%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

13E065000 2013-11-29
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

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.

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

04V128000 2004-03-16
Vehicle speed control:cables

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 ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION AND WILL REMAIN IN AN OPEN POSITION.

IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

03V153000 2003-04-22
Suspension:rear

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, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIB

IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

02V282000 2002-10-30
Power train:automatic transmission

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 PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.

THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Suspension mileage not reported 5 mo in service
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225/60/16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/60/16 )
Suspension mileage not reported 6 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE GOES TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, BUT NO NOTATION HAS BEEN MADE CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE DEALERSHIPS EMPLOYEE'S TEST DROVE VEHICLE WITH CONSUMER, AND DID NOT NOTICE WHEEL TURNING. DEALER HAS SHOWEN NO CONCERN TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ADD THE VIN# AND MILEAGE TO FORM.*AK
Suspension mileage not reported 11 mo in service
THERE IS VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. IF VEHICLE HITS A BUMP STEERING WHEEL ALMOST JERKED OUT OF DRIVER'S HAND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 8 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, SLOWLY THE VEHICLE CAME TO A FULL STOP, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP AND MECHANIC DISCOVERED THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER. *JB

Other Outback model years

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