IllustrationVEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *MR THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE WINDSHIELD DID NOT DEFROST PROPERLY. THE FOUND THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS BAD. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE HEAD GASKET. *SC THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. *JB
2001 Subaru Legacy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Subaru Legacy do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 77.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Legacy 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
50–25K
1025–50K
850–75K
075–100K
14100–150K
2150K+
39 reports with mileage · 38 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
Visibility complaints
5 reportsTHE 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 …
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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
WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SUNROOF, THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON 5 OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB
FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW GLASS EXPLODED WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED. THERE WERE NO OTHER FACTORS INVOLVED; THE DOOR WAS SIMPLY OPENED. NOTHING STRUCK THE GLASS AND THE GLASS HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY COMPROMISED. PERSON INJURED WAS 16 YEAR OLD GIRL. INJURIES CONSISTED OF CUTS TO FACE, SCRATCHED CORNEA AND CUT UNDERNEATH EYELID FROM EM…
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FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW GLASS EXPLODED WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED. THERE WERE NO OTHER FACTORS INVOLVED; THE DOOR WAS SIMPLY OPENED. NOTHING STRUCK THE GLASS AND THE GLASS HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY COMPROMISED. PERSON INJURED WAS 16 YEAR OLD GIRL. INJURIES CONSISTED OF CUTS TO FACE, SCRATCHED CORNEA AND CUT UNDERNEATH EYELID FROM EMBEDDED GLASS FRAGMENTS. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE REJECTED ANY NOTION THAT THERE WERE DEFECTS IN EITHER THE GLASS ITSELF OR THE WINDOW MECHANISM.*AK
THE REAR WINDOW HAS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF FOG SPOTS THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED, WHICH CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY. *ET
Official recalls
704V128000 · 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.
01V034000 · Seats
Feb 7, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUALLY-ADJUSTABLE (NON-POWERED) SEATS. CERTAIN INNER FRONT SLIDE RAIL LATCH MECHANISMS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY WELDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN INNER SLIDE RAIL LATCH MECHANISM BREAKS DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FORWARD AND REARWARD SEAT ADJUSTMENT WILL NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SLIDE RAILS COULD BREAK, EXPOSING THE OCCUPANT TO A RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH FRONT SEAT INNER SLIDE RAILS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 30, 2001. 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.
00V391000 · Steering:linkages
Nov 21, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A CASTING FLAW IN THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING HOUSING COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING IF THE CASTING FLAW SHOULD EXIST IN THE TIE-ROD ARM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CASTING FLAW COULD CAUSE GREASE LEAKAGE, FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE DUE TO LOSS OF GREASE, OR LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO TIE-ROD END SEPARATION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FRONT BEARING HOUSINGS WITH A LOT NUMBER OF OF15.
00V392000 · Seat Belts:rear/other
Nov 21, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INCORRECT BEIGE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WEBBING WAS INSTALLED. THE BELT LENGTH IS TOO SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL BEIGE COLORED REAR CENTER LAP/SHOULDER BELTS WITH LOT NUMBER 0171.
00V393000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Nov 21, 2000
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR UNDER-HOOD FUEL HOSES WITH LOT NUMBERS 0804 AND 0806 AND ALL FUEL HOSES WITH THOSE NUMBERS WILL BE REPLACED.
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.