Most common 2001 Subaru Impreza problems
Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Impreza complaints by model year
Best Impreza years: 2023, 2021, 2022. Years to avoid: 2012, 2013, 2019, 2018, 2017. Compare all years →
What 2001 Subaru Impreza owners say
Wheels & tires
First off the roads were wet from a previous rain and there was no standing water. I was turning a left hand corner from 3040 onto service road of I-35e south. While in the turn I hydro planed into the curb. I called for a wrecker and while loading the car I've found that 2 of the 4 tires were put on backwards. The right front tire and the left rear. There is a rotation arrow on them. I called b.f goodrich and they said that the tire being put on backwards could hinder the rain shedding of the tire. Have pictures of the tires on backwards and a estimate of the damage. (tiresize: 235/50zr16)( dot number: tire size: 235/50zr16 )
Driving along the freeway at 60 MPH, the left rear tire had a blowout. Upon inspection it was the interior sidewall where the failure occurred. I noticed that in the specific location of the failure, the sidewall was extremely soft; unlike the rest of the sidewall. The tire was taken back to costco; but they refused to accept that it was a defective tire. The tire had 25,000 miles on it; driven conservatively. I do still have the failed tire, and two other tires just like it are still on the car. The tire is a Bridgestone potenza 205/55r16 91w, ultra high performance.
Brakes
Anti-lock braking system over reacts. Had to avoid accidents many times when cruising to stop and hitting either a dip,small or large pothole,slight imperfection in road service will cause ABS to engage (brake petal dops and ABS starts) especially on downhill breaking. I will include 1 incident date because that is all you will allow me to do on the form. Problem is repeatable and happens often (2-3 times a week) I know this is not just my car or a problem related to only my car it is already known, Subaru knows of problem. Yet does not offer a safe solution. I actually found this out the hard way 2 months after getting my new car the rs model.no injuries luckily. From what I hear from Subaru clubs this happens with other model years as well. Subaru of America has been very stubborn to correct this issue.
After reading about investigations into the Subaru wrx ABS problems, I now feel like the issue is broader than the NHTSA recall suggests. I did not know there was a site to file this type of complaint. I drive a 2001 Subaru Impreza 2.5rs. The ABS system seems to be incredibly sensitive to small bumps and undulations in the road. If the car hits a bump while the brake pedal is pressed, the ABS system begins pumping the brake which causes, in my opinion, lengthened stopping distances and a feeling of lack of control over the car. This problem is easily duplicated.
2001 Subaru Impreza engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Subaru Impreza a good car?
Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Impreza rates better than average: 75% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Impreza at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Subaru Impreza?
The wheels & tires — 3 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about sidewall. Next are the brakes (3) and air bags (2).
How many recalls does the 2001 Subaru Impreza have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Subaru Impreza. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Impreza?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2021 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2013, 2019, 2018 and 2017. See the full Subaru Impreza years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Subaru Impreza problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 42,000 miles; 57% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.