IllustrationOVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DRIVER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
2001 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Subaru Outback do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
210–25K
1525–50K
1650–75K
1475–100K
24100–150K
10150K+
100 reports with mileage · 71 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports5 fire reports6 injury reports
Power Train complaints
23 reportsSINCE NEW, THE CLUTCH IN THIS CAR HAS HAD A BAD SHUDDER WHEN COLD OUTSIDE -- BAD ENOUGH TO SHAKE THE ENTIRE CAR AS THE CLUTCH ENGAGES. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S COLD, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME WHEN IT'S COLD, MAKING IT NIGH IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DEALER TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. 20K MILES LATER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS FOR ME AND APPAR…
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SINCE NEW, THE CLUTCH IN THIS CAR HAS HAD A BAD SHUDDER WHEN COLD OUTSIDE -- BAD ENOUGH TO SHAKE THE ENTIRE CAR AS THE CLUTCH ENGAGES. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S COLD, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME WHEN IT'S COLD, MAKING IT NIGH IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DEALER TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. 20K MILES LATER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS FOR ME AND APPARENTLY MANY, MANY OTHER OUTBACK DRIVERS. INTERNET POSTS CONFIRM THAT THIS IS A "COMMON" SUBARU PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH A FIX IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH SOME LEGACY/OUTBACK CLUTCHES, BUT UNTIL THE CLUTCH WILL RELIABLY FAIL WHILE THEY HAVE IT, THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MOST PEOPLE, LIKE ME, JUST DEAL WITH THE HORRIBLE SHAKING, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY SEE HOW THIS COULD LEAD TO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC AND BECOMES STARTLED BY THE SHUDDERING CAR, BACKING OFF THE GAS AND POSSIBLY GETTING HIT.
THE CLUTCH OR FLYWHEEL APPEARS DEFECTIVE. THE CLUTCH SHUDDERS OR CHATTERS WHEN ENGAGED WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 9,000 MILES AND HAS CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY TILL NOW AT 18,000 MILES. SUBARU HAS AGREED TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL, BUT I AM CONCERNED REGARDING THIS PROBL…
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THE CLUTCH OR FLYWHEEL APPEARS DEFECTIVE. THE CLUTCH SHUDDERS OR CHATTERS WHEN ENGAGED WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 9,000 MILES AND HAS CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY TILL NOW AT 18,000 MILES. SUBARU HAS AGREED TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL, BUT I AM CONCERNED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG OTHER SUBARU DRIVERS AND THE SERVICE TECHS REPORT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMEN AND NORMAL FOR SUABRUS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTORING OF THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEAK TO ANYONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WHEN YOU ENGAGE THE CLUTCH UPON ACCELERATION THE CAR JERKS AND TREMBLES, CHATTERS, SHUDDERS BEFORE ENGAGING. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED AS NORMAL OPERATION. THANK YOU.*AK
Official recalls
304V128000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables
Mar 16, 2004
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 & remedy
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.
03V153000 · Suspension:rear
Apr 22, 2003
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 SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
02V282000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Oct 30, 2002
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.