Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2001 Subaru Legacy
NHTSA data on file today
The 2001 Subaru Legacy has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 77 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #13E065000 Fuel Pump may Leak Fuel NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V128000 SUBARU/CRUISE CONTROL CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V153000 SUBARU/REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V282000 SUBARU/TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V034000 SUBARU/SEAT RAILS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V393000 SUBARU/FUEL LEAKAGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V392000 SUBARU/SEAT BELT WEBBING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V391000 SUBARU/STEERING NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 17 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 11 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 9 complaints
- Tires 8 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 6 complaints
- Suspension 6 complaints
Of the 77 complaints on file, 11 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 77 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2001 Subaru Legacy faces multiple issues with fuel system leaks, faulty cruise control cables, suspension vulnerabilities in rust-prone areas, and transmission malfunctions. These problems contribute to its below-average reliability rating and higher maintenance costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| fuel pump | 80,000–120,000 miles | $150–$350 | very common |
| cruise control cable | 70,000–100,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| rear suspension | 60,000–90,000 miles | $400–$900 | common |
| automatic transmission | 90,000–130,000 miles | $900–$2,500 | occasional |
| front slide rail latch | 80,000–110,000 miles | $100–$300 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 60,000 miles
- Timing belt replacement at 100,000 miles
- Transmission service every 50,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Fuel smell near rear of vehicle
- Unusual noise from rear suspension
- Transmission slipping or hard shifting
- Cruise control not disengaging
- Steering feel or alignment changes
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2001 Subaru Legacy at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.