Model year record

2001 Subaru Outback

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 207 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V128000

Vehicle speed control: cables

Component: Vehicle speed control: cables
Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 127,580
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-03-16
Owners notified: 2004-04-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V153000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 170,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-04-22
Owners notified: 2003-07-14

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V282000

Power train: automatic transmission

Component: Power train: automatic transmission
Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 172,564
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-10-30
Owners notified: 2003-01-08

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Fuel system, gasoline	19	82,800 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	14	22,000 mi
Suspension	13	180,980 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	12	20,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	10	43,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	9	60,300 mi
Engine and engine cooling	8	74,000 mi
Tires	7	29,489 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	6	61,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	5	53,378 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	5	18,500 mi
Structure: body	5	184,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	4	102,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	4	—
Suspension: rear	4	106,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	4	15,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	3	93,010 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	3	90,200 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	3	85,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar	3	—
Structure: frame and members	3	125,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	3	130,000 mi
Suspension: front	3	—
Tires: sidewall	3	29,010 mi
Unknown or other	3	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	2	75,242 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	2	75,242 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump	2	53,378 mi
Fuel system, other	2	41,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion	2	—
Structure	2	—
Structure: body: door	2	3,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	2	15,000 mi
Air bags	1	—
Air bags: frontal	1	30,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	1	—
Electrical system	1	142,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	1	—
Electrical system: wiring	1	3,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings	1	75,242 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly	1	75,242 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	—
Equipment	1	74,000 mi
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery	1	50,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail	1	51,000 mi
Interior lighting	1	100 mi
Parking brake	1	40,970 mi
Parking brake: conventional	1	—
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable	1	50,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift	1	—
Power train: driveline: differential unit	1	—
Seat belts	1	165,000 mi
Seats: mid/rear assembly	1	18,000 mi
Service brakes	1	230,000 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: caliper	1	500 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor	1	47,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist	1	31,111 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	—
Unknown	1	—
Vehicle speed control: cables	1	149,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	1	29,700 mi
Vehicle speed control: linkages	1	—
Visibility: windshield	1	134,000 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs	1	87,000 mi
Wheels: rim	1	—

The 2000 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2002 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.