2021 Subaru Outback problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (98) · Electrical System (43) · Vehicle Speed Control (19)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Outback model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
61 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger 2024-03-22 · campaign 24V227000 · 118,723 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 2023-11-09 · campaign 23V755000 · 95,830 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:driveline:chain/Belt 2022-07-08 · campaign 22V485000 · 182 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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:shift Linkage/Cable/Rod 2021-01-26 · campaign 21V024000 · 383 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (488)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Power Train 2026-09-28 · SubaruNet Announcement (T · Other
this announcement provides information on an enhancement of the techshare cvt diagnostic assitance application.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Electrical System 2026-09-18 · 18-244-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"this bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following dtcs: dtc c1956: rh actuator circuit dtc c1957: lh actuator circuit"
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 488 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-26 · Visibility/Wiper“windshield wiper fluid level sensor will not turn off even though reservoir is full…”
2026-10-14 · Electrical System“battery died multiple times. a dmc module went bad.…”
2026-10-13 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“my car caught fire this morning. it had been making a little noise but nothing i thought couldn't wait til the next service. it started to have a smell, and then while i was waiting at a light with my son in the car, i noticed smoke from under the hood. i turned around and parked in a parking lot. the smoke got worse. my son and i got out of the ca…”
2026-08-26 · Electrical System“vehicle's auto start-stop system shut the engine off while stopped at a red light in [xxx], in rainy conditions in late xxx at approximately 29,000 miles. when the brake was released after the light turned green, the engine did not restart, leaving it stopped in the travel lane in live traffic. the driver had to use a portable jump starter to get i…”
2026-08-20 · Power Train“good day! i bought my 2021 subaru outback xt onyx in jan 2021. i had waiting 6 yrs for subaru to use the turbo motor in the outback again. i've had this car for 5 years with my warranty running out jan 2026, but i only drive 5000-7000 miles per/yr. current odometer is 29,901 miles. at my most recent oil change service at the dealer, they showed me …”
2026-08-16 · Unknown Or Other“i am reporting a serious and intermittent steering safety issue with my 2021 subaru outback. on two separate occasions, the vehicle suddenly lost what appeared to be power-steering assistance while the vehicle was in motion, causing the steering wheel to become extremely difficult to turn. the first incident occurred while i was driving on the hig…”
2026-08-07 · Vehicle Speed Control · 70,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owned 2021 subaru outback. the contact stated that while driving at 5 mph turning a right hand corner into a shopping center, the vehicle began to accelerate without the contacts consent. and the contact proceeded to frantically apply the brakes. the vehicle came to a stop upon impact with a brick wall impacting the front drivers side o…”
2026-07-31 · Unknown Or Other“my 2021 subaru outback suffered a failure of the oil control valve (ocv), a sealed subaru component with no maintenance interval, no inspection procedure, and no preventative service. this failure allowed engine oil to migrate into multiple wiring harnesses and modules, causing extensive electrical contamination. this is not normal wear and tear. i…”
2026-07-06 · Vehicle Speed Control · 💥 crash“i was already parked in a spot in a public parking lot. i tapped the accelerator pedal to move the car a few inches. the vehicle responded by violently accelerating, hitting a vehicle directly in front of me in another parking space. i applied my brake but the car would not stop. the force of the acceleration pushed the car out of the it's spot…”
2026-06-15 · Unknown Or Other“first battery drain in car. bought a new battery and it drained again for the second time. called suburu to ask about a parasitic drain from the dcm and they said it was likely that and told me to call suburu america. did that but they wanted me to take it to a suburu dealer to get the problem verified. i don’t have the $ to do that. i notice there…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.