Is 2001 a lemon year for the Legacy Outback?

IMHO, JD Power is, at best, a suspect source for this type of information. Try Consumers Reports or Phil Edmunstons "Lemon Aid Guide". Note how JD Power has so many qualifying phrases in their ratings. I.E: "best in initial quiality" etc. They make it so virtually any vehicle can score well in some obscure category and claim so in their advertisments. how about "best new color".

Look around at private ads etc. Notice how few used Subarus are available, even compared to Toyotas, Nissans, Hondas, Fords etc. That says something too.

Mine has not been totally trouble free by any stretch, but it's far from being a lemon. In fact, I just posted that I didn't have enough problems from 36000 to 100,000 miles to make back $1100 on the gold plus extended warranty I'd purchased.

In a word, nothing. The "Outback" is the Legacy/Outback. The Outback Sport, however, is an Impreza-based wagon Impreza/Outback if you will.

Subaru at the time made only 2 vehicle platforms: The impreza and the legacy.

Both were offered in sedan and wagon variations with a variety of trimlines. All models were based off these two platforms.

To make sense of it, consider the Outback a trimline of the Legacy Wagon with a higher ground clearance, and fairly loaded with options. Now within the Outback there were further sub-trimlines (Base wagon, EX? or whatever with the leather, and LL Bean with the 6cyl engine option).

What confused matters is that they also marketed an "Outback Sport" which was and Outbackified trimline of the Impreza wagon.

Best Regards,

-- Todd H.

2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4 Chicago, Illinois USA

The only thing I'll add to the other 2 posts is, there certainly is a slightly higher chance of external coolant leakage, particularly in cooler climates, with that year model 4 cyl. It seems to be 'fixed' though with either preventive use of a Subaru additive or newer designed headgaskets. Subaru is not the only manufacturer to ship new cars with a coolant additive by the way. Keep in mind also, that AWD vehicles in general require a little more attention to avoid abuse of the driveline.

model info can be found at

Carl

OH, also keep in mind that you are effectively speaking about a 6 year old vehicle. With used cars, its past care and present condition are MUCH more important to its future reliability than the average ratings for that model. If it had been problematic, maybe they were all addressed and it now will be a fine car. Or, it may have been skimped on maintenance, abused, and problems jerry-rigged or covered up in some way. It would be well worth your effort to pay a Soob knowledgable mechanic $75 - $100/whatever to thoroughly inspect ANY used Subaru.

Carl

Thanks for the info all. I'm sure I'll get an even clearer handle on all this when I drive a bunch of these models. If anyone in the Boston area knows a good Sub mechanic who they'd trust with an inspection, I'd love to know. cheers, d

There's no way of "understanding" a JD Power rating. How many cars were "sampled"? who "sampled"? ad infinauseum.

My 2000(should be similar) has had some issues in 97K but nothing I'd say were "wretched"

The reason people started using the "Legacy/Outback" label was because of the smaller "Imprezza/Outback Sport(OBS) . Others use "full-size Outback" for the Legacy based OB. Now you'll know the shortform as well. Some people add W for Wagon because of the almost- unseen Outback Sedan

We use Soobie 1 and Soobie 2 in our house rather than Outback.

1 is a 97 Outback Sport (the smaller Imprezza), wifies. 2 is an 00 Outback Limited (Legacy with plushies), mine We can't use color either, they are both dark green

A full-size OB is a Legacy optioned with slightly taller suspension/tires and a different trim package. Reliability? Same car! Price? OB tends to be somewhat more pricey the closer (in years) you get to new.

JD Power measures consumer satisfaction in categories like initial quality. Last year or so, Cadillac won that category. It will be a long time before I buy a Cadillac.

My 2001 Outback, which I bought in Sept. 2004 with 36,000 miles, runs like a champ. I now have 58,000 on it. When in for routine maintenance a year ago, the dealer noticed a leaking head gasket, common for that model year, which was replaced under warranty. The alternator died about 3,000 miles ago, apparently an uncommon failure. No other problems.

Alternator sudden death is not that uncommon in my experience. My 95 Legacy's alternator died at 120K and the replacement Beck Arnley (from the dealer) died catastrophically at 140K. When that one went, it took out both computers, the fusible link and most light bulbs and fuses. Thank God for junk yard parts.

Two days ago, my 2001 Legacy GT Ltd's alternator keeled over at 70K.

Suby's are very practical vehicles, especially in certain areas of the country but they do have their weak spots.

JB

Sure, e.g. head gaskets, but aren't alternators pretty standardized across brands/models?

If not, what's a good brand of alternator?