Most common 2001 Subaru Legacy problems
Share of the 77 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Legacy complaints by model year
Best Legacy years: 2023, 2025, 2021. Years to avoid: 2015, 2016, 2011, 2020, 2019. Compare all years →
2001 Subaru Legacy recalls (7)
Vehicle speed control › Cables
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.
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.
Suspension › Rear
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…
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…
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
Seats
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…
Seat belts › Rear/other
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
Show 1 more recall
Steering › Linkages
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.
What 2001 Subaru Legacy owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
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
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. …
Engine & cooling
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. …
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. …
Wheels & tires
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. …
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.
2001 Subaru Legacy engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Subaru Legacy a good car?
Based on 77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Legacy rates average: 26% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Legacy 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 Legacy?
The fuel & propulsion system — 19 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about delivery › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Next are the engine & cooling (14) and wheels & tires (11).
How many recalls does the 2001 Subaru Legacy have?
There are 7 recalls for the 2001 Subaru Legacy, the most recent from March 16, 2004 (cables). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Legacy?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2025 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2016, 2011, 2020 and 2019. See the full Subaru Legacy years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Subaru Legacy problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 63,000 miles; 38% 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.