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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Structure complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2006
Structure

CONSUMER SUBARU OUTBACK TAIL LIGHTS BURNED OUT QUITE OFTEN. AFTER REPLACING THE BULB CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SOCKET WAS CORRODED. *TS THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING UP A SMALL HILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED A BLOWN 30 AMP FUSE IN THE MOTOR SIDE FUSE BOX. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHI…

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CONSUMER SUBARU OUTBACK TAIL LIGHTS BURNED OUT QUITE OFTEN. AFTER REPLACING THE BULB CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SOCKET WAS CORRODED. *TS THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING UP A SMALL HILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED A BLOWN 30 AMP FUSE IN THE MOTOR SIDE FUSE BOX. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BLOWN FUSE AGAIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HATCH, WATER WAS POURING OUT OF THE LITTLE DOORS THAT HOUSED THE TAIL LIGHTS BULBS AND WIRES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE LEAKING HATCH WAS RESPONSIBLE NOT ONLY FOR THE BURNED OUT TAIL LIGHTS AND ROTTING WIRES, BUT ALSO FOR THE ELECTRICAL SHORTS THAT BLEW OUT THE 30 AMP FUSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAUSED THE ENGINE THE DIE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10154063

3,000 miles · May 3, 2003
Structure

WHILE CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR, INNER PANELS OR STRUCTURES PARTIALLY SEPARATED OR DELAMINATED FROM THE OUTER METAL PORTION OF THE DOOR IN TWO LAYERS. DATE IS AN ESTIMATE, IT WAS WINTER *JB

NHTSA ODI #10016962

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
StructureVehicle Speed Control

ON SIX OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S FOOT SLIPPED FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM DUE TO INSUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. *AK ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS, WHI…

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ON SIX OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S FOOT SLIPPED FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM DUE TO INSUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. *AK ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS, WHILE MOVING SLOWLY AHEAD, THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OUT OF CONTROL. SCC

NHTSA ODI #8002089

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2001
Structure

NO FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. SUBARU HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN PRINT, 'DRIVE' MAGAZINE THAT THEIR EXPENSIVE VDC SYSTEM IS A LIBILITY IN CERTAIN COMMON WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS AND HAVE INCLUDED ON ALL NEW MODELS AN 'OFF' SWITCH AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. WINTER IS COMING, AND WE HAVE A VEHICLE WHICH COULD ACTUALLY BE RENDERED IMMOBILE BY I…

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NO FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. SUBARU HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN PRINT, 'DRIVE' MAGAZINE THAT THEIR EXPENSIVE VDC SYSTEM IS A LIBILITY IN CERTAIN COMMON WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS AND HAVE INCLUDED ON ALL NEW MODELS AN 'OFF' SWITCH AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. WINTER IS COMING, AND WE HAVE A VEHICLE WHICH COULD ACTUALLY BE RENDERED IMMOBILE BY ITS TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. WE HAVE REQUESTED TWICE THAT A SWITCH BE ADDED AND HAVE BEEN REFUSED WITH SUBARU ONLY SAYING THAT THE MATTER IS BEING REFERRED TO MARKETING AND ENGINEERING. WE HAVE THE ARTICLE AND INFORMATION FROM THE NEW MODELS CONCERNING THIS AND WOULD BE PLEASED TO FORWARD THEM TO YOU. REGARDS, BETSY KUC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753458

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2001
Structure

AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM CAN BE TRIGGERED BY TWO BUTTONS INSIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, THIS LOCKS ALL DOORS IN VEHICLE. HAVEN'T CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM EASILY ENGAGES WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING, LOCKING KEYS INSIDE. THE DEALER STATES THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN ADDED SAFE GUARD AGAINST LOCKING KEYS INSIDE,PARTI…

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AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM CAN BE TRIGGERED BY TWO BUTTONS INSIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, THIS LOCKS ALL DOORS IN VEHICLE. HAVEN'T CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM EASILY ENGAGES WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING, LOCKING KEYS INSIDE. THE DEALER STATES THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN ADDED SAFE GUARD AGAINST LOCKING KEYS INSIDE,PARTICULARLY WITH MOTOR RUNNING. *YH

NHTSA ODI #891260

Official recalls

3

04V128000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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