NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Subaru Legacy. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD, AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. WHEN IN REVERSE VEHICLE WILL JUST TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN GOING BACKWARD. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *AK DEALER NOTIFIED. *TT
WHILE DRIVING, THROTTLE STUCK AT 53 MPH, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP BY BRAKING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE IDLED AT 4500 RPM, CONSUMER SHIFTED TO PARK AND BACK TO DRIVE AND THE RPM DROPPED TO 3000 RPMS, CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND PARKED VEHICLE FOR 25 MINUTES, AFTER RESTARTING, EVERYTHING WAS WORKING OKAY, CONSUMER IS TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *SLC
TRAVELLING ON A CLEAR DAY ON A WELL-MAINTAINED SECONDARY ROAD. HIT A SOFTBALL-SIZED ROCK WITH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. IMMEDIATELY UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE; STOPPING DIFFICULT AS CAR PULLED STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT. TIRE INTACT. RIM CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SHEARED. OUTER THIRD OF THE RIM REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE AXLE; INNER TWO THIRDS PLUS TIRE DISCONNECTED AND FREELY FLOATING ON THE AXLE. NO INFORMATION HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY THE COMPANY REGARDING WHETHER THE RIM FUNCTIONED AS EXPECTED OR WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT INCLUDING THE ARM THAT IS BOLTED TO THE FLOOR DISCONNECTED FROM THE FLOOR. THE ARM THAT CAME LOOSE CAME OFF WITH THE HEAVY MACHINE BOLT AND ALL THE WASHERS ATTACHED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT
BRIDGESTONE POTENZA 205/60R15----THE TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE TURNING A CORNER WITH NO PRIOR WARNING--THIS TIRE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE & WAS REPLACED----SECOND INCIDENT OCCURED WITH 17944 MILES ON THE CAR HOWEVER IT WAS THE NEW TIRE ON THE SAME WHEEL-RIGHT REAR--IT BLEWOUT WITH ONLY 2058 MILES ON THE TIRE--THERE WAS NO WARNING--IT BLEWOUT, SHREDDED & MADE BLACK SMOKE WHILE DRIVING 70MPH
WE ARE GOING DOWN A STEEP DIRT ROAD USING 1ST GEAR. TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SPEEDS UP, AND WE HAVE TO JAM ON THE BRAKES HARD TO SLOW DOWN. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. RPMS CHANGE FROM NORMAL 2200-3200 TO 4500-5000.*AK
P225/60R16, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 6000 MILES, MOUNTED ON A 2001, SUBARU, LEGACY OUTBACK. AFTER TRAVELING AT 30MPH TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT ON OUTERWALL OF TIRE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *SLC
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 30 MPH FRONT END COLLISION WITH A BUILDING IN WHICH FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED TO CONSUMERS BACK AND NECK. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS ESTIMATED OVER FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
CONSUMER WAS ATTEMTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE WHILE LIGHTLY TOUCHING BRAKE PEDAL WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RUNNING OVER AN ENBANKMENT AND HITTING THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. BRAKE PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK AND BACK AREAS OF THE BODY, AND DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS ESTIMATED OVER THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE TO TRY TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *YH
CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MOBILE HOME AND TURNED OFF IGNITION. VEHICLE WENT FORWARD INTO CLUB HOUSE BUILDING, AND HIT A POOL TABLE WITH THE IGNITION OFF. POOL TABLE STOPPED VEHICLE, HOWEVER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACT DEALER AND THEY WERE INVESTIGATING.*AK *JB
RAW GAS LEAK IN COLD WEATHER HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT PROBLEM, OVERWHELMING ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND AFTER PARKING IN BASEMENT GARAGE. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO DEALERS ATTENTION AT FIRST SERVICE WHEN CAR WAS NEW AND DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS STILL A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR WHICH THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL.
VEHICLE WAS GOING 65MPH, AND ENGINE CEASED. NO WARNING BEFORE ALL POWER WAS LOST, TIMING BELT WAS NOT ORIGINALLY DIAGNOSED. DEALER STATED INTERIOR PART OF THE ENGINE CREATED THE PROBLEM. DEALER SPOKE TO REGIONAL OFFICE, AND ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT MANUFACTURERS COST. SUBARU WAS AWARE OF A PROBLEM*AK CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING BELT BECAUSE IT HAD BROKEN.*SLC
REPEATED COLD ENGINE HESITATION TO THE POINT OF STALLING WHEN GAINING SPEED FROM A STOP. MANUFACTURER REPEATEDLY STATED THAT THERE IS NO FIX AND THE PROBLEM WAS A "CONDITION OF OPERATION"CHARACTERISTIC OF ALL 2001 AND 2002 ENGINES, THAT OWNER WOULD HAVE TO WARM THE ENGINE PRIOR TO USE AND BURN A HIGHER GRADE OF GASOLINE. ENGINE LIGHT ON AT TIME OF FIRST SERVICE WITH CODE P0133. REPLACED A/F SENSOR DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. CONDITION WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. DEALER WARMS ENGINE PRIOR TO CUSTOMER TEST DRIVE. AFTER BEING REFUSED A REFUND, I TRADED IN THE CAR 11/14/01 AT OCONNER VW, AUGUSTA ME. INFORMING OWNER OF DEALERSHIP ABOUT PROBLEM.
ALL FOUR FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS TIRES, SIZE: P225/60R15, DOT: BM19359-1 HAVE RUBBER ON SIDEWALL THAT WAS PEELING OFF. THESE TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 17,000 MILES ON THEM, AND WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 2001, SUBARU, LEGACY. *AK CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. *SLC
WHEN ENGINE IS COLD,VEHICLE HESITATES AND NEARLY STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM IDLE SPEED OR TAKING OFF.*AK
CONSUMERWAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO FISHTAIL. VEHICLE SLID AND HIT THE MERIDIAN STAND. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND FRONT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM WHEEL. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND ENGINE WAS OFF. CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, AND VEHICLE OVERACCELERATED AND "LANDED ON TOP" OF CAR BEHIND HER. DEALERSHIP HAS VEHICLE AND REPAIRING DEFECT. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT INFORMED CONSUMER AS TO WHY DEFECT OCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON BRAKES WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, AND VEHCLE TOOK OFF. IT WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND DOWN INTO A DITCH. DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THROTTLE MUST HAVE GOTTEN STUCK, BUT NO PROOF IN INSPECTION. CONSUMER HAS ONLY HAD VEHICLE 3 WEEKS LEASED.*AK
WHEN SNOWING SNOW GET INSIDE OF WHEEL WELL, CAUSING PROBLEM TO TURN VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE SHAKES AND TREMBLES WHEN PASS 50MPH. VEHICLE IS OFF BALANCE BECAUSE OF TIRES INFLATED WITH THE SNOW INSIDE OF WHEEL WELLS. *AK
VEHICLE PULLS SEVERALLY TO RIGHT UPON ACCELERATION, AND HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE DELIVERY. I HAVE HAD CAR BACK TO DEALER FOUR SEPARATE TIMES AND STILL NOT FIXED. UNEXPLAINED BY SUBARU CORPORATION. *AK
THE REAR WINDOW HAS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF FOG SPOTS THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED, WHICH CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY. *ET
2001 SUBARU LEGACY BOTH FRONT WHEELS ARE RUSTED AND THE COMPONETS BEHIND THEM. *KB *JB
DEFECTIVE ENGINE LOSING FLUIDS. SMOKE AND FUMES COMING INTO CAR. DRIVER FELT NAUSEA AT TIMES WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPLACE WITH REFURBISHED ENGINE BLOCK WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE IS NO CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY IN THIS CAR FOR LONG TERM PURCHASE. WHAT DANGER COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED FROM ENGINE FAILURE AND FROM THE FUMES INSIDE THE CAR? DID DEALERSHIP KNOW ABOUT PROBLEM AFTER THEIR INSPECTION WHEN THE CAR ARRIVED ON THEIR LOT?*AK
I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOW. IT HESITATES, THEN LUNGES FORWARD VERY QUICKLY. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM, WHICH HE SAYS IS A PROBLEM IN ALOT OF LEGACY SEDANS, BUT SUBARU CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. I AM ASKING THEM TO FIX IT OR REPLACE THE CAR WITH A SAFE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED AND UPON USING BRAKES HAAD TO PRESS COMPLETELY TO FLOOR BEFORE VEHICLE WILL COME TO COMPLETE STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
I NOTICED THAT THE OUTER LAYER OF RUBBER HAS BEGUN TO COME OFF ON THE SIDEWALL, SHOWING A WHITE UNDERLAYER, NEAR THE LETTERING BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY AT THE LETTERING. I LOOKED AT A SIMILAR MODEL OF SUBARU AND SAW THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED TO ITS TIRE. SINCE I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, I AM ASSUMING THAT THIS IS A TIRE FAILURE. PLEASE ADVISE.*AK
THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL SUN ROOFS WHICH LEAKED THROUGH THE MAP LIGHT ONTO THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 TIMES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC WOULD CHECK FOR WATER TIGHTNESS OR LEAKAGE AFTER REPAIRING SUN ROOF. THE PROBLEM WOULD RECUR REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF REPAIR THAT WAS DONE. THE CONSUMER HAD CHECKED INTO THE LEMON LAW. *NLM PH *JB