2021 SUBARU Outback

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

Expert Verdict
⚠️Elevated Concerns

The 2021 Subaru Outback presents significant reliability concerns due to multiple recalls affecting critical powertrain components. The prevalence of issues surfacing around the average failure mileage of 32,133 miles indicates that prospective buyers must proceed cautiously.

Key Factor:Multiple significant recalls

📋Why This Matters

Defects related to powertrain systems in the 2021 Subaru Outback raise valid concerns for both current owners and potential buyers. Issues such as improperly tightened shift linkage and a programming error in the Transmission Control Unit can lead to serious operational risks like unexpected gear shifts or stalling. Not only can these affect performance, but they could also result in safety hazards on the road, making a thorough inspection of service records essential for informed purchasing decisions. The presence of Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) related to engine diagnostics indicates ongoing manufacturer awareness of potential problems, which suggests that Subaru is actively working to rectify these issues. However, high complaint volumes signal that customers have experienced frustration with their vehicles, emphasizing the importance of examining maintenance history closely for any corrective actions taken by previous owners.

Focus Area:Safety Profile
📊

Expert Analysis

  • 📈
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • ⚠️
    Primary Risk Area:Crack
  • ⚖️
    Vs Brand: Worse than avg (1.3)
    📝
    Summary: Over the years, Subaru has been generally praised for its engineering quality; however, this model year shows a marked increase in safety risks due to its various recalls. Compared to earlier generations, this specific model's reliability appears compromised primarily due to powertrain-related defects.

Safety & Reliability Score

58/100

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-32
Complaint Impact-5
Investigation Impact-5

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2021 SUBARU Outback

Model Year2021
MakeSUBARU
ModelOutback
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Scroll for more →
Jan21
NEWProduction
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Aug22
RECALLRecall Issued
Apr23
ISSUEFirst Report
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
Sep23
RECALLRecall Issued

Consumer Complaint Analysis

⚠️

Most Reported Issue

30 complaints (30% of total)
➡️

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 100 consumer complaints by severity level.

🟠High
4(4%)
🟡Medium
18(18%)
🟢Low
78(78%)

Mileage Failure Analysis

⚙️Engineering Insight

The peak failure range of 20k-40k miles is particularly telling; it suggests that many problems are emerging early in the vehicle's life cycle. Owners should be vigilant during this period and prioritize preventive maintenance checks to mitigate any escalating issues tied to these recalls.

📊 Mileage data extracted from 22 of 100 complaints (22% coverage)
0-20k
5 reports (23%)
20k-40k
11 reports (50%)
40k-60k
3 reports (14%)
60k-80k
3 reports (14%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

🛠️ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

POWER TRAINAIR BAGS

🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Power Train

Issue: Recalls indicate issues with shift linkage and control module programming errors.

Schedule immediate inspection and possible repairs if experiencing unusual transmission behavior.

🔍

Request complete service history focusing on recall repairs and any TSB actions taken.

Campaign:
💡Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your SUBARU dealer to verify recall completion status.

Official Safety Recalls (4)

Campaign: 21V024000

POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.

Campaign: 22V485000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.

Campaign: 23V755000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.

Campaign: 24V227000

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.

NHTSA Investigations

1 investigation

Official NHTSA safety investigations for 2021 Outback.

INV-2021-1000🟢 Closed

NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding Outback performance issues.

Opened: Affected Units: 26,532

Consumer Complaints

100 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 Outback.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Crack30%
Warning18%
Battery12%
Acceleration Issues10%
Stall7%
Check Engine Light7%
Blank5%
Safety Systems🔶 Medium
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

On 10/29/25 the car lost power once it got to 3500rpm. Multiple warning lights came on. On 11/06/2025, the Thermo Control Valve, high pressure fuel line, and gaskets for intake manifold and EGR were replaced. On 11/24/25, when backing up slowly in a small parking lot, the rear camera detection picked up a raised cement walkway with metal railing. The brake was applied by the driver, however the car accelerated quickly and slammed into the railing and cement. The vehicle was placed into drive after the collision and continued normally. The brake was on once the warning light beeped and prior to the collision. The foot was not removed from the brake pedal until it was in drive. It could not have been placed into drive without the brake pedal being pressed. I asked the dealership if they could pull data from the car at the time of the incident, and was told they weren't sure they would get any information. It has not been inspected by a dealership or insurance. There was no damage done to the cement and railing was already bent. Only the car sustained damage.

Other🔵 Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I was stopped at a stop sign and the car shut off as the auto on/off function. When I went to drive the car did not re-start as the battery needed replaced. I was left stranded in an intersection. The battery did need to be replaced. The auto start/stop feature is a saftey hazzard on any vehicle

Body/Interior⚠️ High
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Sunroof exploded driving home in 90 degree sunny and clear weather. It sounded like a gun went off right over my head. It scared me so bad I jerked my steering wheel into the other lane. Thank God no one was in that lane. I had to get it replaced at Mid State Glass company. according to what I found on the internet this happens rather frequently. No notification by Subaru that this was even a possibility. I have the receipt the replaced sunroof and photos of the sunroof after it exploded.

Engine/Powertrain🔶 Medium
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SUDDEN AACCELERATION: Cold started the car in garage, all OK. Then backed out and into turn around where I placed foot on the brake. At that moment suddenly accelerated and engine revved to 2000rpm (sounded like). I had to push down very hard on the brake pedal (where my foot already was) to stop the car before crashing into a tree. Foot was clearly on brake pedal at incident (that was the only way I could stop the car). It was not on or close to accelerator pedal and no floor mat or other objects was on or near the accelerator pedal. Very concerned about safe vehicle with this sudden acceleration. Appointment with Subaru dealer made for full diagnostic check. Dealer is White Bear Subaru, [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine/Powertrain🔶 Medium
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while idling at a red traffic light, the vehicle lurched forward twice and struck the rear end of another vehicle twice. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated upon impact. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained. A Police report was not filed. Both the contact and her husband were able to drive away from the scene. The contact's vehicle sustained damage. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that a field technician would be sent to retrieve information from the EDR. The failure mileage was approximately 30,800.

Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
POWER TRAIN

Wheel bearings failed at 55k miles , 5.25 years

Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Engine/Powertrain🔶 Medium
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

While slowly backing out of a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on it's own - I do not recall pressing on the accelerator but the engine surged and the vehicle rapidly reversed and struck 4 other parked cars. It felt as if the accelerator became stuck and would not respond to braking. No warning light or dashboard alerts appeared. Subaru eyesight and adaptive cruise control were not engaged at the time. There was no known obstruction under the petals. This felt like a serious malfunction and could have caused serious injury. I am reporting this in case it is part of a wider issue affecting this model and because i see that there are multiple complaints to you about sudden unintended acceleration, especially during low speed maneuvers like backing out a parking space.

Engine/Powertrain🔶 Medium
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,LANE DEPARTURE

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled. During the failure the "Eyesight" message was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the thermal control valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The thermal control valve was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure informed of the extended warranty coverage related to the failure. The failure mileage was 18,640.

Safety Systems🔵 Low
AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I know about the reliability of the 2021 Subaru Outback before buying?

Understanding the reliability landscape of the 2021 Subaru Outback is critical due to its four recalls affecting important powertrain components. Buyers should focus on obtaining detailed service records that illustrate whether necessary repairs have been performed successfully following these recalls.

Are there common issues reported by owners of the 2021 Subaru Outback?

Yes, many owners have reported concerns surrounding transmission functionality and airbag systems. With complaints numbering around 100, it highlights prevalent dissatisfaction that prospective buyers should consider when evaluating potential purchases.

📊Year-over-Year Context

📈Improving Trend

Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows improving reliability trends, largely due to manufacturing refinements addressing 2020 issues. Recall frequency decreased 33%.

🧭What This Means for You

Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

🔑

If You Own This Vehicle

  • Immediate Action: If any recalls are listed as 'incomplete', contact a certified SUBARU service center—repairs are performed at no cost to you.
  • Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
  • Proactive tip: Enroll in SUBARU's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
🛒

If You're Buying Used

  • Obtain proof of recall completion for all 4 campaigns before purchase.
  • Account for potential service downtime when calculating your initial ownership budget.

This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.

Compare with Similar Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: February 23, 2026.