Used 2001 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
Used Outback for sale
No Lemonade from this Lemon
Angry Owner, 09/28/2018
updated 10/13/2021
2001 Subaru Outback AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
We bought a brand new 2001 Subaru Outback for reliability. It is anything but reliable. At around 75,000 miles it required a $2000 Catalytic Converter, at 120,000 it required a head gasket and head rebuild, at 125,00 the transmission took a dump, and now, it has had a wire short out in the dash which melted all of the wires. It's done at 135,000 miles. I will never buy another Subaru product again. We were told by many that this would be a reliable vehicle when we bought it brand new. But, within the first two years we received a recall notice that the head gasket was badly designed. They didn't replace it, they simply poured in "Subaru fluid" (basically Stopleak) to "enhance the head gasket's reliability. This is the crap we used to use when we were teenagers, drove beaters, and didn't want to pay to fix a leaky radiator. Of course, even with their amazingly lame solution to their f-up, the head gasket went out. Then the transmission. After we had already bought a $2000 catalytic converter at only 75K miles, we put another $4000 into this car for the head rebuild and a used transmission, and got another a measly 10,000 more miles out of it before the electrical caught on fire. When my wife insisted on a Subaru Outback back in 2000, I gave in. I bought a Honda Civic a year or two before for myself. It is still going strong after nearly 20 tears with no repairs except for an a/c compressor at 120,000 miles. The 1987 Honda Accord I owned before I bought my 2000 Honda Civic ran trouble free for 310,000 miles but got totaled by a hit and run driver. If it hadn't been hit, I speculate it would still be running strong today. I was asked to update this review. So here is the update. It is and always will be the worst car I have ever owned.
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These cars are getting old, but if you're handy...
Vince, 08/30/2017
2001 Subaru Outback VDC AWD 4dr Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
These cars are starting to be classics and are somewhat complex for their day. I bought my 2001 VDC with the H6 engine to replace a gas guzzling GMC pickup that I use for adventure travel and getting to my camper, which requires offroad capability to get to. I saw videos on Youtube of these Outbacks doing some incredible things offroad so I decided to take a chance. My impressions: It has great road driving dynamics and the interior is much nicer than you would expect. The sound system is more than powerful for a stock system. Storage space is great and the seats roll forward and fold flat. You can sleep in the back for camping if needed. There's nice bins below the floor and above the spare tire- a nice touch. The engine's power is adequate under normal driving with the transmission keeping the revs down to heep fuel economy up. When pushed, it will make good power in the upper rev range. Being a flat six engine, it's near vibration free. So when I purchased mine earlier this gear with 65000 miles it still needed some mechanical love. Since it was used in the north some underbody corrosion has made the job harder as well. Having said that, I'm able to do the work myself and had to address the CV axles in the front (torn boots), front bearings, knuckles (were rusted), new calipers (rusted), rotors, and steering tie rods. These repairs would have been very expensive in a shop, but I was able to do it myself for just the cost of the parts and my time. The shocks were blown as well and abrupt bumps would cause a bottom out. So after 17 years with the OEM struts this is to be expected. Taking it offroad showed loss of paint on the front bumper from minor stream crossings so when I did the struts, I added a 1" lift suspension lift using strut spacers. So at this point I have it sorted out with maintenance and new parts. My benefit is a more comfortable and efficient ride than my old truck with better passenger comfort and interior storage. The roof rack helps too with a cargo carrier. I lost my heavy towing capacity, but that's OK. As a side bonus the Outback fits in my garage as well. At this point I have a slight oil leak from a valve cover gasket, but otherwise works like a new car after some love was shown to it. And comparing the Outback to any of my other trucks past and present, the offroad ability through deep sand is the most effortless of any of them. Subaru's are just that good and makes the work totally worth it for this level of capability combined with efficiency.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2001 Subaru Outback for sale near you
Showing 3 of 12 listings
- Base WagonMSRP: $3,995104 mi away
- Limited WagonMSRP: $3,450632 mi away
- VDC WagonMSRP: $2,499670 mi away
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Expensive Major Repairs
jeff, 09/01/2008
2001 Subaru Outback AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Hidden recalls of clutch and head gaskets. (Done on warranty.) Second clutch and flywheel replacement after only another 30,000 miles. Independent mechanic thinks the clutch flywheel fittings and housing are not meant for this engine. Catalytic converter needed replacement. Oxygen sensor and idle needed replacement. Brake rotors needed work early on. Front bushing replacements. Maybe I just got a lemon.
Best Sport Utility Ever!
Christina, 05/01/2006
2001 Subaru Outback AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I researched for about a year before I made my purchase. I am now and always will be a Subaru owner. I try and sell people I know and don't know on these cars. I've never had any major problems. This car has the best fuel economy, it's comfy, it's luxurious. I drove it in Washington in the snow every winter without getting stuck once ... I'm a snowboarder! Now I'm in Atlanta and it drives so wonderfully in the pouring rain. I feel very confident that my car and I will make it through just about anything.
Was a great deer hunter
Kirk, 10/14/2008
2001 Subaru Outback Limited AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
We got the outback limited with 115000 miles on it. The only items I replaced were the wires and an alternator which was very simple to replace. The one thing that drove me nuts was the seat heater buttons. I was always turning them on, bad placement. I lost the car when a deer ran in front of me. I was going 75 mph and the car stayed straight as an arrow. The car was totaled by the insurance co. My wife and I did not get even a scratch. So we bought another 2001 outback with 68k on it. I hope to get 250000 k on this one. I still have to put up with that seat heater button.