← New search

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 →

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

What owners actually said

296 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2023
Service Brakes

With 22,000 miles my front rotor brakes need replacing and I don’t have a heavy foot! This is my 5th Outback and so my history vouches that I’m not a driver that wears down brakes or tires. When I did some online searching, there are a number of people posting with the same experience. Subaru knows there is a problem because the…

Read full complaint

With 22,000 miles my front rotor brakes need replacing and I don’t have a heavy foot! This is my 5th Outback and so my history vouches that I’m not a driver that wears down brakes or tires. When I did some online searching, there are a number of people posting with the same experience. Subaru knows there is a problem because they are quick to replace under warranty. But this is dangerous. In my case, the brakes were checked just a few thousand miles ago and the were “ very good”, scored 8. Fortunately a friend was sharing the driving on a long trip and they caught that there was a problem. I made a service appointment while we were on the road. Please investigate and have them come up with a better solution than resurfacing the breaks after just 22000 miles

NHTSA ODI #11540130

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2023
Visibility/wiper

When driving on Interstate Highway 44 at approximately 45mph the windshield suddenly cracked on the lower passenger side of the vehicle. There was minimal traffic at the time of the incident and the roadway ahead was clear.

NHTSA ODI #11539257

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceUnknown Or Other

The windshield has spontaneously cracked on 4 separate occasions. Subaru denies this is a defect and claims all have been caused by rock chips. This is not true. The cracked windshield has caused the vehicle on numerous occasions to slam on its breaks while traveling at 55 mph or greater as it “senses” a collision. This has near…

Read full complaint

The windshield has spontaneously cracked on 4 separate occasions. Subaru denies this is a defect and claims all have been caused by rock chips. This is not true. The cracked windshield has caused the vehicle on numerous occasions to slam on its breaks while traveling at 55 mph or greater as it “senses” a collision. This has nearly caused 3 accidents so far.

NHTSA ODI #11538618

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2023
Visibility/wiper

Windshield spontaneously cracked. There is no obvious sign of impact from an external object, verified by location replacing the glass. This is the second windshield that has spontaneously cracked in less than a year's time.

NHTSA ODI #11537109

48,000 miles · Jul 27, 2023
Electrical System

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact was unable to start the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact jump started the vehicle; however, approximately 5-7 days later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had b…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact was unable to start the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact jump started the vehicle; however, approximately 5-7 days later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

NHTSA ODI #11534818

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2023
Visibility/wiper

Have owned the vehicle less than a year and it has already acquired 2 chips. One of the chips spread out to a larger crack immediately.

NHTSA ODI #11530412

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2023
Unknown Or Other

I just had my second windshield failure in 2 years on this vehicle. The first time a rock hit me, but today a ~ 12" crack appeared out of nowhere while I was driving down the highway with no impact. The windshields on this vehicle seem overly prone to cracking, whether or not any impact is applied. I'm worried this will inter…

Read full complaint

I just had my second windshield failure in 2 years on this vehicle. The first time a rock hit me, but today a ~ 12" crack appeared out of nowhere while I was driving down the highway with no impact. The windshields on this vehicle seem overly prone to cracking, whether or not any impact is applied. I'm worried this will interfere with the eyesight functionality.

NHTSA ODI #11529285

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2023
Air BagsForward Collision Avoidance

Yet to be diagnosed but possibly the cockpit control computer. Dealer service department has not been able to diagnose. No components have been replaced yet except for a software update that did not correct the issue. Safety systems all report as not functioning, These include all "eyesight systems";the air bags, automatic eme…

Read full complaint

Yet to be diagnosed but possibly the cockpit control computer. Dealer service department has not been able to diagnose. No components have been replaced yet except for a software update that did not correct the issue. Safety systems all report as not functioning, These include all "eyesight systems";the air bags, automatic emergency braking, lane departure and lane keeping. Additionally all center console functions are not functional, including HVAC and radio. The vehicle has been to the dealer twice where the problem could not be reproduced. No other inspection has been performed. No warnings or other messages appear prior to the failure. The failure persists for approximately 10 minutes, after which normal operation resumes. I write this following the fourth occurrence of the failure.

NHTSA ODI #11528573

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2023
Fuel/propulsion System

My wife turned into a parking spot slowly with her foot on the brake, and the car suddenly accelerated without warning. It went up on the curb while my wife slammed on the brake and stopped the car. She then put the car in reverse and backed into the parking spot. Came home without further incident but was very upset. I intend…

Read full complaint

My wife turned into a parking spot slowly with her foot on the brake, and the car suddenly accelerated without warning. It went up on the curb while my wife slammed on the brake and stopped the car. She then put the car in reverse and backed into the parking spot. Came home without further incident but was very upset. I intend to question the dealer, Parkway Subaru in Wilmington, NC. I see articles online that relate problems like this to a number of different models and makes. My wife does not want the car anymore, but how can I be sure any car I replace it with does not have the same problem? 6/15/23 The contact called to add additional information to the complaint. The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while his wife was driving into a parking space at 1 MPH with her foot off the accelerator and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated. The contact stated that his wife was able to depress the brake pedal to the floorboard and bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

NHTSA ODI #11527114

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2023
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

My windshield has cracked 3 times since vehicle was purchased, the last time within 2 months of replacement. The first 2 times the windshield was replaced by the dealership with OEM glass. There was no visible crack from rocks, etc in the last two incidences...went out in the morning to find that the windshield was cracked acros…

Read full complaint

My windshield has cracked 3 times since vehicle was purchased, the last time within 2 months of replacement. The first 2 times the windshield was replaced by the dealership with OEM glass. There was no visible crack from rocks, etc in the last two incidences...went out in the morning to find that the windshield was cracked across half the windshield after it had been parked and no visible damage had occured beforehand in both cases. ( I have taken pictures of this last incident... insurance notified, but no inspections took place. no warning lights, etc appeared pryor to cracks)

NHTSA ODI #11526368

Official recalls

4

24V227000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Outback problems