IllustrationCAR ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. ENGINE ROARS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR. PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS GOING 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP CAR.*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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
25 reportsI PURCHASED MY 2001 OUTBACK SEDAN IN SEPT OF 2000 AND HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR 7 TIMES NOW FOR FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE, THEY HAVE TURNED THE ROTORS TILL THEY COULDNT BE TURNED ANYMORE, THEN SUBARU OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED A NEW SET OF ROTORS AND THEY TOO HAVE WARPED AND CAUSE SEVERE SIDE TO SIDE SHAKING OF THE STEEE…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED MY 2001 OUTBACK SEDAN IN SEPT OF 2000 AND HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR 7 TIMES NOW FOR FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE, THEY HAVE TURNED THE ROTORS TILL THEY COULDNT BE TURNED ANYMORE, THEN SUBARU OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED A NEW SET OF ROTORS AND THEY TOO HAVE WARPED AND CAUSE SEVERE SIDE TO SIDE SHAKING OF THE STEEERING WHEEL IN ALL BRAKING.AFTER SPEAKING WITH ALL SUBARU OF AMERICA REPS THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL DO NO MORE TO THE CAR, AND AGREED THAT THEY ARE SEEING IT OTHER IDENTICAL OUTBACKS AND IT IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE ROTORS ARE NOT ADEQUET FOR THE STOPPING POWER OF THE CAR. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO NOT DRIVE IN THE CITY WITH IT, AND WHEN I DO TO RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL WHEN AT STOP LIGHTS, TRAFFIC ETC SO AS NOT TO HEAT THE ROTORS UP. NUMEROUSE OUTBACKS HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE SINCE THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED PARITICULARY FOR THE WINTER ELEMENTS, SNOW DRIVING ETC. WHEN YOU GO TO BRAKE IN ANY ELEMENT THE CAR SHAKES EXTREMLY BAD AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR AND SEEN WHAT IT DOES, BUT CONTINUE TO BLAME THE PROBLEM ON THE DRIVERS.THE BRAKE ROTORS I AM TOLD ARE BEING MANUFACTURED SMALLER AND THINNER THEREFORE DO NOT DISAPATE HEAT AND THEN WARP. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN AT 4000 MILES AND IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE AS I DO EXTREME MOUNTAIN PASS DRIVING IN ALL CONDITIONS. I AM ASKING FOR HELP NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR THE OTHER OWNERS OF SUBARUS WITH THE SAME DEFECT.THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY WORK AND SAY THAT THE ROTORS ARE NOT DEFECTIVE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REPLACED THEM UNDER WARRANTY ONCE, AND HAVE TURNED THEM UNDER WARRANTY TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND NOW THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. THERE ARE REPORTS OF OWNERS MODIFYING THE FRONT ENDS TO ALLOW MORE AIR TO COOL THE ROTORS. THIS I FIND UNACCEPTABLE. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE IF SO PLEASE HELP US.*AK
BRAKES ARE UNEVEN AND UNDEPENDABLE. CAR BUCKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN DOWNHILL BRAKING APPLICATION
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, SLOWLY THE VEHICLE CAME TO A FULL STOP, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP AND MECHANIC DISCOVERED THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER. *JB
WHILE TRAVELING AT 20MPH AND WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, NOTICED PEDAL TRAVELING TO FLOORBOARD, AND LOST BRAKE POWER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*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.