RecallMyCar

2001 Subaru Legacy Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 2001 Subaru Legacy, and owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

7
safety recalls
77
owner complaints to NHTSA
11 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–21
MPG combined (EPA)

7 safety recalls for the 2001 Subaru Legacy

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Cables (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 04V128000 Reported 127,580 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    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 notification began on…

  2. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 03V153000 Reported 170,000 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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,…

    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 do not receive the free…

  3. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 02V282000 Reported 172,564 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    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 vehicles to an authorized…

  4. Seats

    NHTSA 01V034000 Reported 3,627 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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 not receive the free…

  5. Linkages (steering)

    NHTSA 00V391000 Reported 1,977 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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.

  6. Seat belts: rear/other

    NHTSA 00V392000 Reported 368 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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.

  7. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 00V393000 Reported 1,456 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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.

77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2001 Subaru Legacy have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA; 11 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 73,793 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 13 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 blow”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 13, 2025 · Tires

“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 expe”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 1, 2021 · Suspension

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2001 Subaru Legacy/Outback (Legacy AWD, Legacy Wagon AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–21 mpg
City / Highway18–19 / 25
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classCompact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.5/3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Subaru Legacy model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Legacy model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1987 Subaru Legacy01
1988 Subaru Legacy01
1989 Subaru Legacy01
1990 Subaru Legacy481
1991 Subaru Legacy378
1992 Subaru Legacy255
1993 Subaru Legacy177
1994 Subaru Legacy060
1995 Subaru Legacy2182
1996 Subaru Legacy3123
1997 Subaru Legacy5139
1998 Subaru Legacy4114
1999 Subaru Legacy394
2000 Subaru Legacy394
2001 Subaru Legacy777
2002 Subaru Legacy454
2003 Subaru Legacy1460
2004 Subaru Legacy1049
2005 Subaru Legacy9184
2006 Subaru Legacy787
2007 Subaru Legacy933
2008 Subaru Legacy965
2009 Subaru Legacy1365
2010 Subaru Legacy18150
2011 Subaru Legacy16167
2012 Subaru Legacy1690
2013 Subaru Legacy1266
2014 Subaru Legacy1053
2015 Subaru Legacy3160
2016 Subaru Legacy3147
2017 Subaru Legacy2119
2018 Subaru Legacy3117
2019 Subaru Legacy3123
2020 Subaru Legacy6121
2021 Subaru Legacy331
2022 Subaru Legacy234
2023 Subaru Legacy210
2024 Subaru Legacy017
2025 Subaru Legacy06

Checking a specific 2001 Subaru Legacy

How do I know if my 2001 Subaru Legacy has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2001 Subaru Legacy; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V391000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.