IllustrationWINDSHIELD FAILED TWICE IN FIRST SIX WEEKS, DEALER REPLACED IT ONCE, IT LASTED 9 DAYS, BOTH TIMES WINDSHIELD BROKE IN SNOW STORM WITH DEFROSTER ON HIGH
2021 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2021 Subaru Outback do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 61 of 296 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
65 reportsI WAS JUST DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE WINDSHIELD STARTED CRACKING ON IT'S OWN. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AT ALL PRIOR TO THE EVENT. NO DEBRIS HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT JUST STARTED CRACKING AND THE CRACK RAPIDLY GREW OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MINUTES TO A SIZE OF 10 INCHES.
THIS IS AN ISSUE WE EXPERIENCED WITH AN EXPLODING SUNROOF OF OUR NEW SUBARU OUTBACK. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON DECEMBER 22, 2020. WITHIN DAYS OF THE PURCHASE, ON DECEMBER 27, 2020, THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. BOTH THE SUNROOF AND INTERIOR SUNROOF COVERING WERE CLOSED AT THE TIME. THE FRA…
Read full complaint
THIS IS AN ISSUE WE EXPERIENCED WITH AN EXPLODING SUNROOF OF OUR NEW SUBARU OUTBACK. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON DECEMBER 22, 2020. WITHIN DAYS OF THE PURCHASE, ON DECEMBER 27, 2020, THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. BOTH THE SUNROOF AND INTERIOR SUNROOF COVERING WERE CLOSED AT THE TIME. THE FRACTURED GLASS WAS BROKEN OUTWARD WHICH LEADS US TO BELIEVE THIS IS A VEHICLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY REFERRED US TO SUBARU CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS.
BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND BASICALLY PARKED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE A/O 23 NOV 2020. I TRAVEL FOR WORK MOST OF THE TIME. BETWEEN 3 - 7 DEC, THE CAR WAS USED BY MY EX-HUSBAND FOR TWO TRIPS TO THE AIRPORT TO PICK ME UP/DROP OFF FROM/FOR A BUSINESS TRIP AND FOR ME TO DROP OFF THE TITLE OF MY OLD CAR. ON 21 DEC, AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE …
Read full complaint
BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND BASICALLY PARKED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE A/O 23 NOV 2020. I TRAVEL FOR WORK MOST OF THE TIME. BETWEEN 3 - 7 DEC, THE CAR WAS USED BY MY EX-HUSBAND FOR TWO TRIPS TO THE AIRPORT TO PICK ME UP/DROP OFF FROM/FOR A BUSINESS TRIP AND FOR ME TO DROP OFF THE TITLE OF MY OLD CAR. ON 21 DEC, AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR THREE WEEKS (SINCE 7 DEC), MY EX-HUSBAND NOTICED IN THE GARAGE AS HE WAS GETTING IN THE CAR TO HEAD TO THE AIRPORT TO PICK ME UP FROM MY 3-WEEK BUSINESS TRIP, SAW A 1 1/2 FOOT LONG CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING BY THE WINDSHIELD PERIMETER FRAME (PASSENGER SIDE).
WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY TWO TIMES. HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD TWICE AND HAD TO RECALIBRATE EYESITE CAMERAS BOTH TIMES. ONE TIME HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND THE OTHER TIME PARKED.
Official recalls
424V227000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
Mar 22, 2024
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 & remedy
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.
23V755000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Nov 9, 2023
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 & remedy
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.
22V485000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:driveline:chain/belt
Jul 8, 2022
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 & remedy
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 source detail variants (2)
Power Train:driveline:chain/belt
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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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.
21V024000 · Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod
Jan 26, 2021
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.