2021 Subaru Outback Problems, Recalls & Reliability
411 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Subaru Outback, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 33/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Visibility & wipers leads the reports, typically around 3,250 miles.
Typical
Where 2021 sits among all Outback years
What owners report
“Went out to my car to go home and found a 9 in crack in the windshield. There was no crack when i got out of my car. There is no rock impact and no marks.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Outback
“I am having battery drainage issue with my vehicle. If it sets more than 4 days the car will not start. I see there is a class action law suit on Outback vehicles. This car has 9,000 miles on it and this has happened 3 times.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Outback
“Crack in windshield appeared with no puncture. Noticed crack when driving on highway. Nothing had hit the windshield, passenger noticed the crack.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Outback
“The Navigation system will randomly go blank and then restart while driving. This not only affects any navigation which is currently in progress, but also disables the Cruise Control, Eye Sight, Lane Departure and other Safety devices. This has occurred numerous times while driving on an interstate…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Outback
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 63 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 5,428 miles. Half of those reports fall between 1,500 and 17,500 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
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…
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.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, tighten the nut, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at…
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 Outback reliable?
The 2021 Subaru Outback drew 411 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 33/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2021 Subaru Outback problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 Subaru Outback are visibility & wipers (107 complaints), electrical (77), and other (64).
At what mileage do 2021 Subaru Outback problems show up?
Owners most often report 2021 Subaru Outback problems around 5,428 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 1,500 and 17,500 miles.
Does the 2021 Subaru Outback have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2021 Subaru Outback. 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.