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2021 Subaru Outback Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 298 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Outback, most often about the visibility and wipers (36% of complaints, typically around 3,000 miles). It is 10th of 27 Outback model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2021 Subaru Outback problems
Visibility and wipers
107 complaints · 36%Half of these problems showed up before 3,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield.
Crack in windshield appeared with no puncture. Noticed crack when driving on highway. Nothing had hit the windshield, passenger noticed the crack.
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, a small rock struck the windshield and made a small mark at the bottom of the passengerâs side windshield. The contact continued driving and the crack started to expand across the windshield. The contact stated that the next morning the…
Electrical
76 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 2,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, adas.
I bought a new car in december 2020. One day in jan 2021, I noticed that the battery had died. I jump started it and then in february 2021, I had to jumpstart it 3 times. At least the last instance, I was careful to check no interior lights were on, and it still happened. I went to the dealer and they replaced the…
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contactâs wife was driving 40 MPH and noticed that the center console display screen went blank and rebooted independently after a few minutes. However, the failure reoccurred and affected several safety features on the vehicle including the HVAC controls, bluetooth…
Other or unspecified
66 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 2,500 miles.
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.
I 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.
Driver assistance
30 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 1,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic emergency braking, warnings, adaptive cruise control, warning.
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 68 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that it was difficult while attempting to shift the gear lever out of drive(d). The…
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…
Engine
23 complaints · 8%The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while coming out of a full stop, the vehicle would stall without warning. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The…
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The instrument panel lights illuminated then went dark. The police came but there was no police report filed. The police had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Speed control
19 complaints · 6%The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle independently accelerated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle struck the curb before coming to a stop, causing damage to the rim and tire. The vehicle was towed to the…
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…
Air bags
16 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: sensor.
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 air bag warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a…
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was an audible chime while a passenger was seated in the front passengerâs seat. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v227000…
Transmission
12 complaints · 4%The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine, ABS, and brake warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact turned off the vehicle and waited for several minutes before restarting the vehicle; however, upon…
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2021 Subaru Outback recalls
Air bags: front passenger
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.
Full defect 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.
Transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
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.
Full defect 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.
Transmission: chain/belt
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.
Full defect 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.
Transmission: shift linkage/cable/rod
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.
Full defect 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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2021 Subaru Outback
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru Outback?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: visibility and wipers (107 complaints, typically around 3,000 miles); electrical (76 complaints, typically around 2,000 miles); other or unspecified (66 complaints, typically around 2,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Outback have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 22, 2024 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2021 a bad year for the Subaru Outback?
- It is 10th of 27 Outback model years by number of complaints, with 298 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.