2001 Subaru Legacy Problems

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

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

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

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 ?

COMPLAINT REGARDING SAFETY RECALL PROBLEM RESULTING IN TWO ACCIDENTS. *MR *SC *JB

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. EACH TIME I HIT BRAKES, THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP & PULL FORWARD @ INCREASED SPEED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE, I ATTEMTED TO DOWNSHIFT, PUT IN PARK AND PULL UP PARKING BRAKE -- ALL TO NO AVAIL, EXCEPT ENGINE AND FRONT END MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISES. THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT STOP AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT 25' FROM THE INTERSECTION, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE INTO A "SNOW BANK" WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW OVER A PILE OF GRAVEL. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR & IT WAS TOWED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING THE CAR SO HE COULD WINCH IT ONTO HIS FLATBED TRUCK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SUBARU DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER MAINTAINS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY "BIRDSEED IN THE FILTER" IN THE AIR BOX GOING TO THE THROTTLE. (HE ALSO SAID THE SEED INDICATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A MOUSE NEST, BUT HE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A NEST AT THAT TIME.) I TOLD HIM THAT I FOUND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE MY CAR IS IN A HEATED AREA OF THE GARAGE AND ANY MICE HAVE MUCH WARMER PLACES TO STAY. MY OWN MECHANIC SAID THE BIRDSEED EXPLANATION WAS IMPLAUSIBLE AND, IF ANYTHING, THE BIRDSEED WOULD HAVE LED THE CAR TO STALL OUT - NOT INCREASE ACCELERATION. I CHECKED YOUR WEB SITE AND FOUND OTHER 2001 LEGACIES WITH "FUEL: THROTTLE LINKAGES & CONTROL PROBLEMS. I PRINTED THESE OUT AND TOOK THEM TO THE DEALER. HE SAID HE CHECKED THE THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROLS ELECTRONICALLY AND FOUND THEM TO BE FINE BUT WOULD NOT PUT THIS IN WRITING. HE STANDS FAST ON HIS BIRDSEED EXPLANATION. AM AN EXPERIENCED & SAFE DRIVER - HAVE "PLATINUM" LEVEL OF SAFE DRIVER DISCOUNT. THIS CAR IS MY 6TH NEW SUBARU IN UNDER 20 YEARS. HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THEM RELIABLE IN THE PAST. AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR.*AK

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 fail in less than 1,000 miles. Tire was a good year reliant all season 195/65/R15. That tire blowout could have killed me and my family. I stopped at the Walmart that I bought the tire from with the receipt and was told "oh that sucks. We can replace it for you if you want to buy a new one a full price." How can a company sell a tire from a brand like good year that isn't even covered for a 1,000 miles? That's absolutely mind blowing. Had anyone gotten injured from the accident I would filling charges against Walmart for selling me a faulty tire

BLOW OUT WITH COMPLETE DETACHMENT OF TIRE TREAD FROM WHEEL AT 50 MPH; CAR CRASHED INTO STONE WALL; AIR BAGS DEPLOYED; FIRE IN FORWARD PART OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT PUT OUT BY FIRE COMPANY; FIRE COMPANY COMMENT THAT LOOKED LIKE TIRE FAILURE; TIRES HAD ONLY ~2000 MILES ON THEM; NO INJURIES; ONLY ONE CAR INVOLVED; POLICE FILED A REPORT; CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS; I HAVE THE TIRE TREAD WHICH DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL AND IS A COMPLETE, SINGLE CIRCULAR PIECE; ABOUT 1 INCH OF TIRE RUBBER REMAINED ATTACHED TO EACH RIM OF THE WHEEL. *TR

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

THIS CAR WAS "INSPECTED" ON JULY 25, 2011 AT AFFORDABLE AUTO GLASS, 806 ELM STREET, WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA (MASSACHUSETTS INSPECTION STATION PB 024377). UPON PURCHASING THIS CAR IN OCTOBER, 2011, I ATTEMPTED TO GET A RI INSPECTION STICKER FOR IT WHEN REGISTERING IT IN RI. IT FAILED ON SEVERAL COUNTS (BALD TIRES, BAD REAR BRAKES, 2 BAD FRONT AXLES). I WOULD LIKE THIS STATION INVESTIGATED TO FIND OUT HOW THIS CAR COULD HAVE PASSED A MASS INSPECTION ONLY 3 MONTHS BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. IN ADDITION TO THE FAILED ITEMS, ONE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER WAS FROZEN AND THE BRACKET HOLDING THE OTHER FRONT BRAKE CALIPER WAS BROKEN.

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 corrosion. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the vehicle had been placed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V153000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and confirmed the prior recall on the vehicle; however, they could not offer any further assistance. The contact also took the vehicle to the dealer where they informed him that the entire subframe had rotted out due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in their possession. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

THIS CAR WAS "INSPECTED" ON JULY 25, 2011 AT AFFORDABLE AUTO GLASS, 806 ELM STREET, WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA (MASSACHUSETTS INSPECTION STATION PB 024377). UPON PURCHASING THIS CAR IN OCTOBER, 2011, I ATTEMPTED TO GET A RI INSPECTION STICKER FOR IT WHEN REGISTERING IT IN RI. IT FAILED ON SEVERAL COUNTS (BALD TIRES, BAD REAR BRAKES, 2 BAD FRONT AXLES). I WOULD LIKE THIS STATION INVESTIGATED TO FIND OUT HOW THIS CAR COULD HAVE PASSED A MASS INSPECTION ONLY 3 MONTHS BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. IN ADDITION TO THE FAILED ITEMS, ONE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER WAS FROZEN AND THE BRACKET HOLDING THE OTHER FRONT BRAKE CALIPER WAS BROKEN.

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

THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL SUN ROOFS WHICH LEAKED THROUGH THE MAP LIGHT ONTO THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 TIMES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC WOULD CHECK FOR WATER TIGHTNESS OR LEAKAGE AFTER REPAIRING SUN ROOF. THE PROBLEM WOULD RECUR REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF REPAIR THAT WAS DONE. THE CONSUMER HAD CHECKED INTO THE LEMON LAW. *NLM PH *JB

FAILED FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TR

2001 SUBARU LEGACY BOTH FRONT WHEELS ARE RUSTED AND THE COMPONETS BEHIND THEM. *KB *JB

CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MOBILE HOME AND TURNED OFF IGNITION. VEHICLE WENT FORWARD INTO CLUB HOUSE BUILDING, AND HIT A POOL TABLE WITH THE IGNITION OFF. POOL TABLE STOPPED VEHICLE, HOWEVER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACT DEALER AND THEY WERE INVESTIGATING.*AK *JB

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 30 MPH FRONT END COLLISION WITH A BUILDING IN WHICH FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED TO CONSUMERS BACK AND NECK. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS ESTIMATED OVER FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

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 THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,131.

THE PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF OF MY REAR BUMPER NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER THE TAIL LIGHTS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN I WAS HAVING ANOTHER ISSUE LOOKED AT (MY ROUTERS KEEP WARPING). THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THE PAINT GUY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AND LET ME KNOW. I PICKED UP THE CAR AFTER HOURS AND THERE WAS NO INFO ABOUT THE PAINT. WHEN I CALLED THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NEVER LOOKED AT. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE PAINT GUY LOOKED AT AND SAID THAT HE CAN'T MAKE A DECISION ON PAINT, IT HAS TO BE MADE BY THE SUBARU REP. IT HAS BEEN PROBABLY 2 MONTHS AND NO ONE HAS CONTACTED TO TELL ME WHEN THE REP WOULD BE AT THE DEALER TO LOOK AT MY CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO CALL AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED HIS SCHEDULE.*AK

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

FUEL SYSTEM ISSUE. I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS. I BOUGHT IT AS A USED CAR FROM SLOANE IN PHILADELPHIA. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 17000 MILES ON IT AND IS CONSIDERED STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES FOR THE VEHICLE HESITATING UPON ACCELERATION. THE SERVICE CENTER FIRST SAID THE HESITATION CAME FROM A BAD BATTERY, SECOND INCIDENT THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, THIRD INCIDENT, WHEN I ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL UP ENTERING THE FREEWAY TRAFFIC, I BROUGHT IT BACK IN FOR SERVICE. THEY DID A THOROUGH CHECK AND SAID IT WAS THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THEY REPLACED IT. APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING ONCE AGAIN! AGAIN, AT A CRUCIAL POINT IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE AGAIN FOR SERVICE, THEY STATED IT WAS THE CODES, THEY JUST NEEDED TO BE CLEARED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL HESITATING AND IS CAUSING A POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY UPON DRIVING UNDER CRUCIAL SITUATIONS. I HAVE NOW RESORTED TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AUDIO SYSTEM ISSUE: VEHICLE'S RADIO WILL DISPLAY ALL IT'S FEATURES, BUT WILL NOT PLAY ANY SOUND THROUGH SPEAKERS. THIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE SERVICE TEAM ON 3 PAST OCCASIONS, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. LAST KNOW PROBLEM WAS THE SPEAKER AMPS AND GROUNDING MECHANISM FOR SPEAKER, ALSO THE RADIO, WHEN IT DOES WORK GETS INTERFERENCE WHEN THE REAR DEFROST IS ON. *NLM

MY 7 YR OLD SON, SEATED AND SHOULDER-STRAPPED INTO HIS BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT NEXT TO THE WINDOW, PULLED THE MIDDLE REAR SHOULDER STRAP OUT TO WHERE THE LOCKING MECHANISM BECAME ENGAGED, THEN WRAPPED THE STRAP AROUND HIS NECK. AS THE STRAP WENT BACK IN IT TIGHTENED AROUND HIS NECK TO THE POINT WHERE HE COULD NOT GET IT OFF OVER HIS HEAD OR PULL IT BACK OUT AGAIN, SINCE IT WAS IN LOCKING MODE. WE WERE DRIVING IN THE DARK, AND HE DID NOT TELL US HE WAS STUCK. WE WERE ON A LONG ROAD TRIP TO RELATIVES AND HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 16 HOURS, AND THOUGHT HE WAS ASLEEP IN THE BACK SEAT. EVEN TURNING AROUND TO LOOK AT HIM WE DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS TRAPPED BECAUSE HE HAD A BLANKET OVER HIM. WHEN HE FINALLY STARTED TO WHIMPER A LITTLE WE REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED, PULLED OVER, TRIED TO REMOVE THE STRAP FROM THE LAP SECTION OF THE BELT BUT COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW, AND ENDED UP CUTTING THE STRAP TO GET HIM OUT. HE WAS SHAKEN AND HAD SOME RED MARKS ON HIS NECK, BUT OTHERWISE WAS UNHURT. AFTER OUR TRIP WE HAD THE SHOULDER STRAP REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT INCLUDING THE ARM THAT IS BOLTED TO THE FLOOR DISCONNECTED FROM THE FLOOR. THE ARM THAT CAME LOOSE CAME OFF WITH THE HEAVY MACHINE BOLT AND ALL THE WASHERS ATTACHED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

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 HOUR BACK TO OUR HOUSE THE NEXT MORNING WE GOT UP TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE FORWARD THE CLUTCH SLIPPING REALLY BAD AND ALSO IS DOING THE SAME IN REVERSE.. I HAVE OWNED BY SUBARUS AND I WAS ALSO THE SALES AND FINANCE MANAGER FOR NADER SUBARU IN EUREKA CALIFORNIA IN 2005 TO 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH IN HIGH TEMPERATURE CLIMATE. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE FAILURES, ONE OF WHICH THE CONTACT WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH. AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE, TWO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. SUBARU SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT REPLACE A THIRD PART TO AVOID ANOTHER FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 42,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.