2021 Subaru Outback: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 291 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 4 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
291
Complaints
4
Recalls
8
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
3
Injuries
21.3
Severity index
Severity index 21.3 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 90 2021 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2021 Subaru Outback ranks 87 of 90 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 3% of its model-year peers. See the full 2021 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 97 | 33.3% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 72 | 24.7% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 63 | 21.6% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 29 | 10.0% |
| ENGINE | 20 | 6.9% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 18 | 6.2% |
| AIR BAGS | 16 | 5.5% |
| POWER TRAIN | 11 | 3.8% |
The single most-reported system is VISIBILITY/WIPER, cited in 97 of 291 complaints (33.3%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 103 |
| 2022 | 61 |
| 2023 | 56 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 9 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V024000 | 26/01/2021 | POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen. |
| 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.