2001 Subaru Legacy: common problems and reliability

The 2001 Subaru Legacy has 81 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 8 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are fuel system and gasoline. Owners most often flag poor fuel economy: described as significantly worse than epa estimates and segment competitors, affecting all models. frequency: very frequent.

Safety record for the 2001 model year

81
Owner complaints
8
Recalls
12
Crash reports
2
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2001 Subaru Legacy vehicles (US, public record).

Is 2001 a good year for the Legacy?

Across the 17 Legacy model years we track, complaint volume runs from 31 (2022) to 182 (2005). With 81 complaints, the 2001 Legacy sits about the same asthe model's median of 81.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

fuel system
19
gasoline
17
engine and engine cooling
11
vehicle speed control
10
tires
8

Recalls affecting the 2001 Legacy

fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

Campaign 13E065000

Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's

seats

Campaign 01V034000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUALLY-ADJUSTABLE (NON-POWERED) SEATS. CERTAIN INNER FRONT SLIDE RAIL LATCH MECHANISMS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY WELDED.

fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Campaign 00V393000

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.

seat belts:rear/other

Campaign 00V392000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INCORRECT BEIGE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WEBBING WAS INSTALLED. THE BELT LENGTH IS TOO SHORT.

What owners say across generations

Mixed sentiment with a strong generational divide. Long-term owner reports for older generations (pre-2010) frequently praise the 3.0R and 3.6R flat-six engines for smoothness and potential longevity, with some examples cited as reaching…

  • Poor fuel economy: described as significantly worse than EPA estimates and segment competitors, affecting all models. Frequency: very frequent.
  • CVT transmission reliability concerns: early failures, especially in models from approximately 2014-2015; jerky behavior when cold; requires diligent fluid service. Frequency: very frequent.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Legacy. See the full Legacy owner picture and every model year.

Typical used price

Used Legacy listings typically run $11,500–$22,749 across 2003 to 2025 model years.

Other Legacy model years

Compare every Legacy year side by side to see how 2001 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Legacy against its rivals