The Used Car Index

2001 Subaru Outback problems

NHTSA lists 171 complaints for the 2001 Subaru Outback, 16 of them mention a crash and 5 mention a fire. 6 complaints mention an injury, with 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as SUBARU OUTBACK.

At a glance

Complaints
171
With crash
16
With fire
5
With injury (complaints)
6
Injuries
7
Deaths
0
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
172,564
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
120

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The required sales year is missing.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2615.2%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2514.6%
POWER TRAIN2313.5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2212.9%
SUSPENSION1911.1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL179.9%
STRUCTURE158.8%
TIRES95.3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM42.3%
STEERING42.3%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFOUNDATION COMPONENTS16
POWER TRAINCLUTCH ASSEMBLY12
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE8
STRUCTUREBODY7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEDELIVERY6
STRUCTUREFRAME AND MEMBERS6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCOOLING SYSTEM4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

3 recalls.

04V128000

Date: 2004-03-16. Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Defect: 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.

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

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 APRIL 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

03V153000

Date: 2003-04-22. Systems: SUSPENSION.

Defect: 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 SUSPENSI (excerpt)

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

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 REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

02V282000

Date: 2002-10-30. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Defect: 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.

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

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 DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

120 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44
EQUIPMENT24
UNKNOWN OR OTHER15
POWER TRAIN11
ENGINE9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7
STEERING5
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY3

11025789

Date: 2025-11-20. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Subaru service article locator.

11025796

Date: 2025-11-20. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Subaru service article locator.

11024867

Date: 2025-10-29. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This bulletin provides information on the load carrying capacity reduced label when a port-installed or retailer-installed accessory exeeds 1.5 percent of the GVWR or 100 pounds, which ever is lower.

11024859

Date: 2025-10-28. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Subaru tech tips newsletter article locator.

11024863

Date: 2025-10-28. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Subaru tech tips newsletter article locator.

11024869

Date: 2025-10-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.

11024857

Date: 2025-10-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This Bulletin provides details on a new formal testing, charging, and tracking procedure for all 12-volt batteries in new vehicle inventory.

11024858

Date: 2025-10-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This Bulletin outlines a comprehensive update to the dark current/parasitic draw diagnosis & testing procedures.

11023524

Date: 2025-09-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This bulletin addresses cases when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully.

11023505

Date: 2025-09-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
OUTBACK171

Same model, other years

All model years | All Subaru models

Other Subaru models, 2001

Sources

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