2021 Subaru Legacy problems and recalls

Owners have filed 31 complaints on the 2021 Subaru Legacy, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Unknown Or Other (7 complaints).

31
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
52.6
Severity index

Severity index 52.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 52.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 7 complaints (22.6%)7 23%Air BagsAir Bags: 6 complaints (19.4%)6 19%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 5 complaints (16.1%)5 16%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 5 complaints (16.1%)5 16%EngineEngine: 2 complaints (6.5%)2 6%Power TrainPower Train: 2 complaints (6.5%)2 6%Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 2 complaints (6.5%)2 6%Service BrakesService Brakes: 2 complaints (6.5%)2 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER722.6%
AIR BAGS619.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM516.1%
VISIBILITY/WIPER516.1%
ENGINE26.5%
POWER TRAIN26.5%
BACK OVER PREVENTION26.5%
SERVICE BRAKES26.5%

Complaints filed per year

0482021: 72022: 72023: 22024: 82025: 62026: 1 (partial year)2122232482526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20217
20227
20232
20248
20256
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2021 to 2022 (16 against 14).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
22V48500008/07/2022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
23V75500009/11/2023POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCHSubaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
24V22700022/03/2024AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.

Other Subaru Legacy model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 12 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.