RoadVitals

2001 Subaru Legacy Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Mar 12, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 77 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2019
Crash reported

SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE SUBARU WAS AT REST IN DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
11186188
Incident
Mar 10, 2019
Mileage
186,010 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 14, 2018

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 ?

NHTSA ID
11151484
Incident
Nov 12, 2018
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 11, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10654159
Incident
Nov 11, 2014
Mileage
113,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 19, 2011

WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR THE ENGINE STALLS OUT.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10402139
Incident
Mar 1, 2011
Engine
Filed Feb 22, 2011

TOOK MY 2001 BH5 GTB E-TUNE FOR SERVICE AT SUBARU KENYA. DEALER BLED THE OIL WITHOUT REPLACING IT(AS I FOUND OUT LATER). CRUISING AT 80KPH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CAR LOST ALL POWER, WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALER. DEALER SAID ENGINE HAD CEASED, SO THEY OVERHAULED IT. SAME THING HAPPENED AFTER 234KM. DEALER SAYS THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT PROBLEM WAS AND ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT, SO I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE. FHI JAPAN SAYS MY INITIAL ENGINE WAS NOT BUILT FOR AFRICAN MARKET. SURELY, THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER. I AM SO MAD AT SUBARU KENYA( THE MOST INEXPERIENCED SUBARU DEALERS IN THE WORLD) AND FHI JAPAN!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10384028
Incident
Jun 7, 2009
Mileage
54,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 2, 2005

MY 2001 LEGACY LEAKED ANTIFREEZE...WAS RECALLED...THE "ADDITIVE" THEY REQUIRED TO BE ADDED WAS DONE...THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED...NOW, ABOUT 1 YR AND 10,000 MILES LATER, I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SAYING I HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME HEAD GASKET REPLACED!!! THIS DOES NOT SOUND RIGHT TO ME...DO I POSSIBLY HAVE A WARPED BLOCK OR HEAD??? I THINK ALL THE DEALER IS DOING IS JUST PUTTING A "BAND-AID" ON MY PROBLEM *NM

NHTSA ID
10141555
Incident
Oct 28, 2005
Mileage
26,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 1, 2005

TSB NUMBERS 115899 & 115398 I HAVE A 2001 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. IT STARTED GIVING ME TROUBLE AND, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE FACING THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE DRIVING. IT DOESN'T PICK-UP SPEED EVEN IF YOU GIVE IT GAS. DOESN'T CROSS 35 MPH FOR SOMETIME IRRESPECTIVE OF IF YOU GIVE MORE GAS. BUT SUDDENLY PICKS UP THE SPEED. I ONCE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HE CHANGED THE OXYGEN SENSOR OR KNOCK SENSOR. IT WORKED ALRIGHT FOR A MONTH AFTER THAT. AGAIN IT STARTED DOING IT. I NEED HELP WITH THIS. I AM TOLD THAT THIS SITE HELPS ME IN FILING THIS COMPLAINT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10141425
Incident
Nov 1, 2005
Engine
Filed Dec 20, 2004

WHNE THE CAR IS COLD, IT HESITATES AND STALLS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN OR OTHER STOP. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX. FAILS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS OPERATED COLD. *AK

NHTSA ID
10104113
Incident
Nov 2, 2004
Mileage
51,062 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Aug 4, 2004

VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *MR THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE WINDSHIELD DID NOT DEFROST PROPERLY. THE FOUND THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS BAD. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE HEAD GASKET. *SC THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10087547
Incident
Feb 4, 2004
Mileage
102,790 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 16, 2004

CAR AT ISSUE IS A 2001 SUBARU LEGACY GT LIMITED. ON TWO OCCASIONS IN THE PAST MONTH, A STRONG RAW GAS SMELL FILLED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS BELOW 10 DEGREES. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, CAR WAS LEFT AT DEALER WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE CAR WAS FINE FOR NEXT 5 DAYS (WEATHER WAS 10 TO 30 DEGREES). ON DAY 6, WEATHER DROPPED TO ABOUT 8 DEGREES AND GAS SMELL RETURNED. CAR WAS LEFT IN GARAGE AFTER DRIVING AND GARAGE FILLED WITH VERY STRONG GAS SMELL. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS CORRELATION BETWEEN EXTREME COLD (10 DEGREES OR LESS) AND THIS PROBLEM. WILL RETURN CAR TO DEALER FOR SECOND ATTEMPT AT REPAIR BUT SINCE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO BE OVER 10 DEGREES FOR NEXT 2 WEEKS AM NOT SURE WILL BE ABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM. SEEMS LIKELY THAT THE PROBLEM IS A GAS LEAK AT COLD TEMPERATURES, WHICH MAY WELL BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND FIRE/EXPLOSION DANGER. *CB

NHTSA ID
10054321
Incident
Jan 10, 2004
Mileage
34,800 mi
Engine
Filed May 21, 2003
Fire reported1 injury reported

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. AT THAT POINT I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS OUT, OR DIE SOON, THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE COULD NOT GET ME OUT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SUBARU HAS NOT RESPONDED, I AM WITHOUT A CAR. THIS HAS BEEN VERY STRESSFUL FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. WE TRUSTED THE NAME OF SUBARU AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR TILL NOW. AFTER OUR INSURANCE COMPANY SENT A FORENSIC MECHANIC TO INVESTIGATE, IT WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE ARSON, AND TO BE THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. WE ALWAYS TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR SO THIS HAPPENING WAS QUITE A SHOCK TO US AND OUR OTHER FRIENDS THAT OWN SUBARU'S. WE ALL ARE NOT SO PATIENTLY WAITING TO HEAR FROM SUBARU. I WOULD LIKE A NEW CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10019083
Incident
Feb 5, 2003
Mileage
2,500 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 4, 2002

REPEATED COLD ENGINE HESITATION TO THE POINT OF STALLING WHEN GAINING SPEED FROM A STOP. MANUFACTURER REPEATEDLY STATED THAT THERE IS NO FIX AND THE PROBLEM WAS A "CONDITION OF OPERATION"CHARACTERISTIC OF ALL 2001 AND 2002 ENGINES, THAT OWNER WOULD HAVE TO WARM THE ENGINE PRIOR TO USE AND BURN A HIGHER GRADE OF GASOLINE. ENGINE LIGHT ON AT TIME OF FIRST SERVICE WITH CODE P0133. REPLACED A/F SENSOR DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. CONDITION WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. DEALER WARMS ENGINE PRIOR TO CUSTOMER TEST DRIVE. AFTER BEING REFUSED A REFUND, I TRADED IN THE CAR 11/14/01 AT OCONNER VW, AUGUSTA ME. INFORMING OWNER OF DEALERSHIP ABOUT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
756389
Incident
Oct 18, 2001
Engine
Filed Nov 30, 2001

VEHICLE WAS GOING 65MPH, AND ENGINE CEASED. NO WARNING BEFORE ALL POWER WAS LOST, TIMING BELT WAS NOT ORIGINALLY DIAGNOSED. DEALER STATED INTERIOR PART OF THE ENGINE CREATED THE PROBLEM. DEALER SPOKE TO REGIONAL OFFICE, AND ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT MANUFACTURERS COST. SUBARU WAS AWARE OF A PROBLEM*AK CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING BELT BECAUSE IT HAD BROKEN.*SLC

NHTSA ID
899719
Incident
Oct 28, 2001
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2001

DEFECTIVE ENGINE LOSING FLUIDS. SMOKE AND FUMES COMING INTO CAR. DRIVER FELT NAUSEA AT TIMES WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPLACE WITH REFURBISHED ENGINE BLOCK WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE IS NO CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY IN THIS CAR FOR LONG TERM PURCHASE. WHAT DANGER COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED FROM ENGINE FAILURE AND FROM THE FUMES INSIDE THE CAR? DID DEALERSHIP KNOW ABOUT PROBLEM AFTER THEIR INSPECTION WHEN THE CAR ARRIVED ON THEIR LOT?*AK

NHTSA ID
744453

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .