RecallRepo

2001 Subaru Outback Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2001 Subaru Outback has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 470,144 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 207 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 04V128000 2004-03-16 127,580 affected
Defect

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…

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.

SUSPENSION 03V153000 2003-04-22 170,000 affected
Defect

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,…

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.

POWER TRAIN 02V282000 2002-10-30 172,564 affected
Defect

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

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…

Complaints by component

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
19
3injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
14
SUSPENSION
13
1crashes
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10
4crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
8
1crashes1fires
TIRES
7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
6
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5
Total complaints207

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“I contacted subaru's customer service number and told them that the subframe was broken and that they needed to fix the problem and they said I would have to pay out of pocket and that the recall was completed in august 2005 but the subframe is completely rusted out and broken please contact…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2018-10-29

“I contacted subaru's customer service number and told them that the subframe was broken and that they needed to fix the problem and they said I would have to pay out of pocket and that the recall was completed in august 2005 but the subframe is completely rusted out and broken please contact…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2018-10-29

“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 subaru outback. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic because the check engine light was illuminated. While the vehicle was being lifted, the mechanic noticed that the rear subframe was extremely corroded. The contact was informed by…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2015-09-04

“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 subaru outback. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for service and it was diagnosed that the rear sub-frame was severely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not included in the nhtsa campaign number: 03v153000…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2015-07-27

“My son was driving this car on may 23, 2015 when he was involved in a single car accident. The car was immediately engulfed in fire and he died as a result of the fire.”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2015-05-23

“On sunday 29 2015 at 12.30 am .. My son was driving and a loud noise was coming from under the car . He had some trouble to turn and stop on the side. He did it ,we had to tow the car. The s arm broke subframe broke off. Was all rusted .. *tr”

SUSPENSION · reported 2015-03-29

“On sunday 29 2015 at 12.30 am .. My son was driving and a loud noise was coming from under the car . He had some trouble to turn and stop on the side. He did it ,we had to tow the car. The s arm broke subframe broke off. Was all rusted .. *tr”

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS · reported 2015-03-29

“Outside temperature was 25 degrees f. I was leaving from the parking lot at work. As I approached the intersection the brakes became so hard that I couldn't press them any farther. I sis some research and apparently lots of other subaru owners have experienced this problem. It appears that the…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2015-01-31
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Subaru Outback as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.