FaultScore

2001 Subaru Outback acceleration problems

17 of the 207 complaints about the 2001 Subaru Outback are about the throttle and cruise control — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 41,500 miles.

F

17

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 10 58.8%
Accelerator Pedal 4 23.5%
Cruise Control 1 5.9%
Cables 1 5.9%
Linkages 1 5.9%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Subaru Outback year

1998 14 2.9%
2000 14 2.9%
2001 17 3.5%
2002 12 2.5%
2003 10 2.1%
2004 20 4.2%
2005 40 8.3%
2006 99 20.6%
2007 17 3.5%
2010 13 2.7%
2011 25 5.2%
2013 26 5.4%
2014 14 2.9%
2015 26 5.4%
2016 22 4.6%
2017 28 5.8%
2018 21 4.4%
2019 26 5.4%
2020 18 3.7%
2021 19 4.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 53,000 miles SAN Diego, CA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA complaint #10622302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 107,650 miles NY, NY Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT 65-70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET WHEN TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN SUDDENLY. MY FIRST REACTION IN THIS CASE IS TO PULL THE SPEED CONTROL LEVER TOWARDS ME TO DISENGAGE IT AND TAKE MANUAL CONTROL OF THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN BY BRAKING OR DOWNSHIFTING, AS PER USUAL PROCEDURE. IN THIS CASE THROTTLE FAILED TO DECELERATE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, UPON WHICH I THEN REPEATEDLY STAMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH WAS ALSO UNRESPONSIVE (DID NOT CANCEL ACCELERATION OR SLOW THE VEHICLE). OUT OF OPTIONS, I SWERVED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE TRACTOR-TRAILER DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND REAR ENDED A MOVING VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE. WITH BRAKES STILL UNRESPONSIVE, I MANAGED TO CUT ACROSS TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY DOWNSHIFTING IN ADDITION TO USING THE HANDBRAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10553133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,000 miles Salt Lake City, UT Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. SHE THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED EIGHT TIMES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE STEERING FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED FROM THE SCENE UNCONSCIOUS. SHE SUSTAINED CRACKED RIBS, BRUISES, AND SPRAINS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. SHE HAS NOT YET NOTIFIED THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

NHTSA complaint #10210985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 149,000 miles Chattanooga, TN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. HE ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE AND NO OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED SINCE. A VALID VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA complaint #10200158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Salt Point, NY Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

"THIS IS GRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE LIKE SUBARU 'FORGETS' TO FIT A $1 SPRING CLIP. THE THROTTLE PROBABLY STUCK AT AROUND 3/4 OPEN AS SHE HAD JUST BEEN TRAVELING UP A STEEP HILL LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM OUR HOUSE. THE ROAD THEN DIPS DOWN AND GOES INTO A SERIES OF S BENDS, SHE LEFT THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 80MPH AND HIT A TREE 5 FOOT UP IN AIR FROM THE ROAD'S SURFACE. IT WAS A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY, NO PRECIPITATION, SHE WAS TRAPPED IN THERE FOR 45 MINS AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE DOOR PILLARS THEY TRIED TO CUT WITH THEIR HURST CUTTERS THE CAR SURVIVED REMARKABLY. BUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN THIS WRECK SAID IT WAS NOT A SURVIVABLE ACCIDENT. I WONDER IF THE PEOPLE IN THEIR BIG CORPORATIONS EVER CONSIDER THESE TYPE OF THINGS, OR WHETHER THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT???"

NHTSA complaint #10150866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,000 miles Warwick, RI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL IT TAKES RIGHT OFF, CAN TAKE FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND IT STILL SURGES FORWARD. IT IS HARD TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE WHEN HITTING BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM GOT SO BAD THAT IT WOULDN'T LET CONSUMER MAKE A TURN. HAD TO KEEP GOING FORWARD INSIDE. RAILROADS TRACKS WERE THERE AND HIT THE MOUND. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. IT WAS 1000.00 MILES WHEN IT WAS DONE LAST JUNE.

NHTSA complaint #10126796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Hopewell Junction, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT: THE ODOMOTER WAS NOT READING CORRECTLY. ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CONTACT TESTED THE ODOMETER AND THE RESULTS WERE NOT CORRECT. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT IF THE ODOMETER WAS NOT READING CORRECTLY THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT READING CORRECTLY. *NM

NHTSA complaint #10119949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Hawesville, KY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK SUDDENLY ACCELERATES, ON ITS OWN, WHILE MY FOOT IS LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY IN PARKING LOTS/PULLING INTO PARKING SPACES.

NHTSA complaint #10116655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laguna Beach, CA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND FOOT WAS PLACED ON THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.

NHTSA complaint #10106756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,700 miles Morrow, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WITH BRAKE OR CLUTCH.

NHTSA complaint #10088209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scotts Valley, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN PARKING. *MR

NHTSA complaint #10024546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,500 miles Valley Cottage, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT HESITATION DURING PERIODS OF ACCELERATION, USUALLY AROUND 2500-3500 RPM. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN MANY DRIVING SITUATIONS. HAVE REPORTED TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. RESPONSE IS ALWAYS "CANNOT REPRODUCE - COMPUTER SHOWS OPERATING AS DESIGNED". CAR ALSO HAS SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEED, SUCH AS FIRST TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10010279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coloma, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN WHILE DESCENDING A 1.5 MILE GRADE. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #567184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Holmdel, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. ENGINE ROARS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR. PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS GOING 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP CAR.

NHTSA complaint #764455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT. Vernon, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

ON SIX OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S FOOT SLIPPED FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM DUE TO INSUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. *AK ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS, WHILE MOVING SLOWLY AHEAD, THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OUT OF CONTROL. SCC

NHTSA complaint #8002089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT. Sinai, NY Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE ON LINE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE CONSUMER PUT FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR AT SAME TIME. CONSUMER ACCELERATED INTO REAR OF SOMEONE'S CAR. CONSUMER FELT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THESE PEDALS.*AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR ARE POORLY LOCATED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA complaint #887459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Davidson, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ENGINE ACCELERATES SPONTANEOUSLY AT SLOW SPEED ENTERING GARAGE WITH FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL WHILE BRAKING TO KEEP SPEED LOW.

NHTSA complaint #742080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Subaru Outback problems

← Full 2001 Subaru Outback report