2021 Subaru Legacy: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 3 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
31
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
25.8
Severity index
Severity index 25.8 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 7 | 22.6% |
| AIR BAGS | 6 | 19.4% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 | 16.1% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 5 | 16.1% |
| ENGINE | 2 | 6.5% |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 | 6.5% |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 2 | 6.5% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 | 6.5% |
The single most-reported system is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, cited in 7 of 31 complaints (22.6%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 1 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22V485000 | 08/07/2022 | POWER 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. |
| 23V755000 | 09/11/2023 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH | Subaru 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. |
| 24V227000 | 22/03/2024 | AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER | Subaru 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. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.