Major Problems with 2001 Subaru Outback Derived from Complaints & Recalls

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Worst 3 complaints of 2001 Subaru Outback

2001 Subaru Outback FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Victims: 2 Mileage: 55000 miles

2001 Subaru Outback AIR BAGS Victims: 1

2001 Subaru Outback FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER Victims: 1 Mileage: 41000 miles

Browse 2001 Subaru Outback complaints by category

Problems with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ROTOR and SUSPENSION are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Subaru Outback owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE strong smell of fuel in passenger compartment during extremely cold weather. *nm...	19 ~ 74268 miles
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS i purchased my 2001 outback sedan in sept of 2000 and have had it into the dealer for repair 7...	14 ~ 18577 miles
SUSPENSION steering wheel vibration at highway speed (50-70 mph) (tiresize: 225/60/r16)...	13 ~ 125160 miles
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN the clutch or flywheel appears defective. the clutch shudders or chatters when engaged which causes the car to hesitate upon...	12 ~ 12750 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL the vehicle began accelerating on its own while descending a 1.5 mile grade. the problem reoccurred several times but the	10 ~ 28015 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN overdrive light illuminated. driver had vehicle towed to mechanic. mechanic stated that transmission needed to be replaced. *ak...	9 ~ 23200 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING odor most likely described as heated antifreeze also rotten egg odor - at least ten different attempts to identify odor	8 ~ 53680 miles
TIRES when you put car in r and start to go all 4 tires dont engage at the same time. *ak...	7 ~ 4213 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while driving the vehicle at any speed and applied the brakes the vehicle can experience extended stopping distance vehicle suffered	6 ~ 45558 miles
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS during cold weather (today was 15 f) brakes do not work on first application from a cold start. brakes have	5 ~ 16722 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING while in motion and descending a steep grade the vehicle will intermittently accelerate on its own up to 4500 and	5 ~ 62616 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE no failure has occurred. subaru has acknowledged in print 'drive' magazine that their expensive vdc system is a libility in...	5 ~ 156420 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM when the weather gets very cold (below freezing) the car begins to get a fuel smell. it is extremely strong...	4 ~ 110805 miles
REAR > SUSPENSION recall 03v153000 concerning rear suspension sub frame assembly: vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall repairs. the consumer was...	4 ~ 84000 miles
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL while on line behind another vehicle consumer put foot on brake pedal and accelerator at same time. consumer accelerated into...	4 ~ 13750 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC car attempts to accelerate when applying brakes to come to a stop. engine roars and it is difficult to stop...	4
UNDERBODY SHIELDS > FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE this vehicle was purchased at approximately 150k miles two years ago and has just over 167k miles now. while being...	3 ~ 103660 miles
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2001 subaru outback. the contact was driving 35 mph when the sub frame of the...	3 ~ 165000 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the car overheated. this is the 2nd time. i did not get any notice from subaru regarding head gasket failures....	3 ~ 65887 miles
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE the flexible fuel hose connecting the #1 cylinder fuel line leaks. this is located approximately four inches from the #1...	3 ~ 58667 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING there is severe hesitation when pressing on gas pedal. consumer is afraid of being rear ended. *ak consumer stated that	3 ~ 63734 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER engine check light illuminated and stayed on. took vehicle to dealer and stated that oxygen sensor was bad. *ak...	3
SIDEWALL > TIRES tire sidewall separated and the tire deflated rapidly. the car handled well but the tire was defective.*ak...	3
STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR > STEERING no summary listed for above vehicle. *ak...	3
FRONT > SUSPENSION no summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak (tiresize: 225/60/16)( dot number: tire size: 225/60/16 )...	3
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER my wife had an accident in our 2001 subaru outback that was caused by the car accelerating at slow speed...	2 ~ 59500 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE i have gone through one head gasket on jan 2003. the head gasket went out in dec of 2003 and...	2 ~ 64310 miles
MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING told by dealer that left head gasket is leaking coolant. $1 600 to have head removed planed and regasketed and...	2 ~ 37621 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY vehicle is leaking from the sunroof assembly (hinges). dealer repair an consumer states the problem is reocurring. please provide further	2 ~ 7500 miles
EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING engine check light illuminated and stayed on. took vehicle to dealer and stated that oxygen sensor was bad. *ak...	2 ~ 37621 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE automatic locking system can be triggered by two buttons inside of vehicle. also this locks all doors in vehicle. haven't...	2 ~ 1500 miles
RACK AND PINION > STEERING no summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak (tiresize: 225/60/16)( dot number: tire size: 225/60/16 )...	2
STRUCTURE on six occasions while driving the driver's foot slipped from the brake pedal to accelerator pedal unexpectedly. the consumer believed...	2
SERVICE BRAKES outside temperature was 25 degrees f. i was leaving from the parking lot at work. as i approached the intersection...	1 ~ 230000 miles
SEAT BELTS tl* the contact owns a 2001 subaru outback. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked and he noticed that...	1 ~ 165000 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2001 subaru outback. while driving approximately 65 mph the contact noticed a burning smell in...	1 ~ 142000 miles
FUEL RAIL > FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE my 2001 subaru outback 4 cylinder engine developed a fuel leak approximately 1 month ago. the vehicle has approx. 51...	1 ~ 51000 miles
CABLES > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl*the contact owns a 2001 subaru outback. while driving 65 mph the contact applied the brakes but the vehicle continued...	1 ~ 149000 miles
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY it's been rather cold here the past couple days (single digits -20 wind chill). i was sitting in my 2001...	1 ~ 134000 miles
EQUIPMENT in 2003 at 74 000 miles the left gasket was replaced on 2001 subaru outback ltd. wagon. in 2003 at...	1 ~ 74000 miles
PARKING BRAKE while parked in neutral with the emergency brake on and no occupants our standard transmission vehicle rolled backwards out of...	1 ~ 40970 miles
LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS > WHEELS while driving 50 mph front passenger side wheel studs sheared off. as a result the wheel separated from the vehicle.	1 ~ 87000 miles
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS while the vehicle was parked the srs light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. vehicle was taken to the	1
COLUMN SHIFT > LEVER AND LINKAGE > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION consumers child accidentally bumped the shift mechanism causing vehicle to roll backwards. the keys were not in the ignition when...	1
LINKAGE AND CABLE > MECHANICAL > CONVENTIONAL my 4 yr old son went into this car which was in park in our driveway. the keys were not...	1 ~ 50000 miles
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL cruise control failed to disengage with brake or clutch. *ak...	1 ~ 29700 miles
ROTOR > DISC > SERVICE BRAKES, AIR i have a 2001 subaru outback vdc. since purchase i have had repeated problems with warping of the front brake...	1 ~ 47000 miles
DIFFERENTIAL UNIT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN while driving 50 mph there was vibration in the center of the vehicle. consumer took vehicle to the dealership and	1
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the vehicle emitted white smoke through the air vents. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but the problem still	1
RADIATOR ASSEMBLY > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i have gone through one head gasket on jan 2003. the head gasket went out in dec of 2003 and...	1 ~ 75242 miles
HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i have gone through one head gasket on jan 2003. the head gasket went out in dec of 2003 and...	1 ~ 75242 miles
DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl*the contact owns a 2001 subaru outback. while driving approximately 30 mph on normal road conditions the contact smelled a...	1 ~ 50000 miles
AIR BAGS when hit on their front left side of the vehicle the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to	1
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS while driving the vehicle was involved in a collision but the air bag did not deploy. the dealer was notified.	1 ~ 30000 miles
POWER ASSIST > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC during cold weather (today was 15 f) brakes do not work on first application from a cold start. brakes have	1 ~ 31111 miles
MID/REAR ASSEMBLY > SEATS rear headrests do not lock into upright and down positions because the metal sleeve inside seat slips over time. happened	1 ~ 18000 miles
CONVENTIONAL > PARKING BRAKE parking brake loses hold overnight and car rolls down hill if not in gear. (5 spd). *ak...	1
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM there is severe hesitation when pressing on gas pedal. consumer is afraid of being rear ended. *ak consumer stated that	1
DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC brakes are uneven and undependable. car bucks from side to side in downhill braking application...	1
CALIPER > DISC > SERVICE BRAKES, AIR shortly after i purchases a new 201 subaru outback (first 500 miles the brake rotors were warped. i was told...	1 ~ 500 miles
RIM > WHEELS consumer states while driving and no warning the front and rear wheels would get stuck. do to driving in the	1
ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT > MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT original jack collapsed while jacking up front end driver side. the jack was replaced and again collapsed while jacking up	1
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM two catastrophic wiring failures in main computer wiring led to vehicle suddenly going dead. first at 3000 miles traced to...	1 ~ 3000 miles
MASTER CYLINDER > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while driving on highway consumer experienced total brake failure consumer was able to stop vehicle by depressing brake pedal all...	1
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING no summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak (tiresize: 225/60/16)( dot number: tire size: 225/60/16 )...	1
INTERIOR LIGHTING interior lights typically do not go off when shutting doors or lift gate. to get lights to turn off doors...	1 ~ 100 miles
LINKAGES > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL on six occasions while driving the driver's foot slipped from the brake pedal to accelerator pedal unexpectedly. the consumer believed...	1

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