VehicleVerdict

2001 Subaru Legacy fuel system problems

The 2001 Subaru Legacy has 21 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 23% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

21

Fuel System complaints

23%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints by year

Legacy fuel system complaints by model year27 complaints1990: 4 complaints1991: 1 complaints1992: 2 complaints1993: 2 complaints1994: 4 complaints1995: 19 complaints1996: 9 complaints1997: 9 complaints1998: 8 complaints1999: 7 complaints2000: 6 complaints2001: 21 complaints2002: 15 complaints2003: 9 complaints2004: 5 complaints2005: 27 complaints2006: 16 complaints2008: 4 complaints2009: 1 complaints2010: 5 complaints2011: 7 complaints2012: 2 complaints2013: 1 complaints2014: 1 complaints2015: 15 complaints2016: 3 complaints2017: 4 complaints2018: 8 complaints2019: 5 complaints2020: 1 complaints2025: 1 complaints
Legacy fuel system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

13E065000Fuel SystemNovember 29, 2013 · 397 units

Defect

Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's and Legacy's. The affected fuel pumps were sold or installed into the aftermarket applications on or after July 26, 2013, and may may leak fuel from the base of a fuel line connection when the gas tank is full.

Consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Airtex will notify owners, and will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Recall is expected to begin on January 2, 2014. Customers may contact Airtex at 1-800-880-3056. The recall is expected to begin during January 2014. This recall is being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru.

00V393000Fuel SystemNovember 21, 2000 · 1,456 units

Defect

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

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.

What owners report

“ALWAYS, WHEN THE CIRCULATION FRESH AIR BUTTON IS PRESSED TO ALLOW OUTSIDE AIR TO ENTER THE CABIN, THERE IS THE NOXIOUS ODOR OF GASOLINE. I REPLACED THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF A TIMING BELT RELATED PROBLEM AT 160,000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM OF GAS ODOR STOPPED FOR A FEW MONTHS BUT IT IS BACK, BAD AS EVER.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · September 9, 2020

Common questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2001 Subaru Legacy have?

NHTSA has 21 complaints about the 2001 Subaru Legacy fuel system — 23% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2001 Subaru Legacy fuel system?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the fuel system: 00V393000, 13E065000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.