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2021 Subaru Outback Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 298 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

D
49/100

High Reported Activity — 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Subaru Outback shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.

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4
NHTSA Recalls
4 recalls on record
298
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
9
Crash Reports
2 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Subaru Outback (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Power Train: Shift Linkage/Cable/Rod
A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly, increasing risk of crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #21V024000
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #22V485000
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 this recall…
NHTSA #23V755000
🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification: Front Passenger
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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's…
NHTSA #24V227000
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Most Common Problems — 2021 Subaru Outback

Based on 298 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Visibility/wiper
89
Electrical System
75
Unknown Or Other
48
Air Bags
16
Power Train
11
Visibility
10
Vehicle Speed Control
9
Forward Collision Avoidance
7
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Subaru Outback — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

2015 509 complaints 2016 642 complaints 2017 919 complaints 2018 816 complaints 2019 1,036 complaints 2020 901 complaints 2021 298 complaints 2022 465 complaints 2023 89 complaints 2024 99 complaints 2025 83 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2023, 2024, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Subaru Outback

Is the 2021 Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Subaru Outback has 4 recall campaigns and 298 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Outback have?
The 2021 Subaru Outback has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru Outback?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Subaru Outback are: Visibility/wiper, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Air Bags. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Subaru Outback safe to buy?
The 2021 Subaru Outback has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Outback should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Outback are: 2023, 2024, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.