Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Subaru Outback. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Air Bag May Not Deploy
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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 number for this recall is WRA-24.
Switch Failure May Cause Loss of Rearview Image
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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 is WRQ-23.
Drive Chain May Break Causing Loss of Drive Power
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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 replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-22. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-955.
CVT Select Lever Cable Nut Not Tightened Properly
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-21.
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Owner complaints (296)
296 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The visibility/wiper is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 296 |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 97 | 32.8% |
| Electrical system | 75 | 25.3% |
| Unknown or other | 65 | 22% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 29 | 9.8% |
| Engine | 21 | 7.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 19 | 6.4% |
| Air bags | 16 | 5.4% |
| Power train | 12 | 4.1% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 3.4% |
| Visibility | 10 | 3.4% |
How 2021 compares with other Outback years
Best and worst Outback years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 917 | 4 |
| 2018 | 813 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1,035 | 3 |
| 2020 | 899 | 6 |
| 2021 | 296 | 4 |
| 2022 | 464 | 4 |
| 2023 | 89 | 2 |
| 2024 | 102 | 0 |
| 2025 | 81 | 0 |
| 2026 | 16 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Subaru Outback suv awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 29 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,300
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 308 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 29 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 29 | $2,300 | 308 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 343 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Outback for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Subaru Outback FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Outback have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 24V227000 (air bag), 23V755000 (power train), 22V485000 (power train), 21V024000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Subaru Outback problems?
Owners filed 296 complaints with NHTSA. Visibility/wiper (97), Electrical system (75), Unknown or other (65) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Subaru Outback get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT version at 26 city, 33 highway and 29 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Subaru Outback get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Subaru Outback suv awd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (18.5% rollover risk).
How does the 2021 Outback compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 Subaru Outback model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (296) and the 2019 the most (1,035). The 2021 drew 296. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.