2021 Subaru Legacy Problems, Recalls & Reliability
43 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Subaru Legacy, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 11/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2021 Subaru Legacy has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2021 sits among all Legacy years
What owners report
Recalls (3)
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…
Fix: Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.…
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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for…
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.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs…
Technical service bulletins
440 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2021 Subaru Legacy. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2021 Legacy TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2021 Subaru Legacy reliable?
The 2021 Subaru Legacy drew 43 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 11/100, scored against the model's worst year (1995).
What are the most common 2021 Subaru Legacy problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 Subaru Legacy are other (8 complaints), visibility & wipers (6), and driver assistance (6).
Does the 2021 Subaru Legacy have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2021 Subaru Legacy. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.