NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 300 owner complaints for the 2021 Subaru Outback.
Recalled components: air bags and powertrain. Most-described problem: a cracked or shattered windshield (108 complaints, 36%). Most-reported area: visibility/wiper (98 complaints, 33%; median mileage when it happened: 3,000).
One of the best Outback years by owner complaints
The 2021 drew 225 owner complaints in its first three years, against 311 for a typical Outback year since 2016. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.
Years to avoid: 2020; best years: 2021 and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy 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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles.
NHTSA listing: OUTBACK. Subaru campaign WRQ-23.
Powertrain
Jul 8, 2022
automatic transmission · control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy 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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles.
NHTSA listing: OUTBACK. Subaru campaign WRA-21.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2021 Subaru Outback.
What owners report
Owners have filed 300 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Outback. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Cracked or shattered windshield108 · 36%
Median 3,000 miles at failure, from 28 reports with mileage
Dead battery or battery drain30 · 10%
Won't start22 · 7%
Infotainment or touchscreen failures12 · 4%
Check engine light10 · 3%
Stalling or shutting off9 · 3%
Several warning lights at once8 · 3%
Driver-assist errors or blocked-sensor messages8 · 3%
Median 3,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
Electrical system76 · 25%
Forward collision avoidance29 · 10%
Most named: automatic emergency braking (18); warnings (13)
Engine21 · 7%
Speed control19 · 6%
Air bags16 · 5%
Powertrain12 · 4%
Unknown or other67 · 22%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Subaru Outback recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2021 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2020 Outback drew the most (720) and the 2021 drew 225.
Owner complaints
2021: 300 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Subaru Outback
Model year
Complaints
2010
360
2011
653
2012
295
2013
297
2014
208
2015
510
2016
644
2017
921
2018
816
2019
1,036
2020
906
2021
300
2022
467
2023
89
2024
106
2025
84
2026
21
Safety recalls
2021: 4 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Subaru Outback
Model year
Recalls
2010
18
2011
16
2012
16
2013
12
2014
10
2015
5
2016
4
2017
4
2018
3
2019
3
2020
6
2021
4
2022
4
2023
2
2024
0
2025
0
2026
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 300 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Subaru Outback, the problems described most are a cracked or shattered windshield (108), a dead battery or battery drain (30), and the engine not starting (22). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2021 Subaru Outback safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2021 Subaru Outback earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2021 Subaru Outback?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2021 Subaru Outback.
How do I check if my Outback has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Subaru dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: OUTBACK.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.