Car · Subaru problems

2021 Subaru Outback problems

299 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Subaru Outback. The most reported area is visibility and wipers (36% of them). NHTSA also lists 181 service bulletins and 4 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 4. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 299 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Visibility and wipers108 · 36%
• Electrical system76 · 25%
• Other or unknown66 · 22%
• Forward collision avoidance29 · 10%
• Engine and engine cooling23 · 8%
• Speed control and throttle19 · 6%
• Air bags16 · 5%
• Power train (transmission and drive)12 · 4%

11 smaller areas not shown (54 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 181 repair bulletins from Subaru for the 2021 Subaru Outback. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. 13-109-26Received October 5, 2026

   Paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.

2. 15-304-22RReceived October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.

3. 15-322-25RReceived October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the CP1 & Gen 3.1 Head Unit used in the listed models and model years...

4. 15-333-25RReceived October 5, 2026

   Illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.

5. 18-244-26Received October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   Additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit.

6. 02-196-26RReceived September 3, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   This service bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the exhaust after startup.

7. 05-62-18RReceived September 3, 2026

   Body and structure

   A procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top center retaining nut area of the front strut mounts.

8. 15-261-20RReceived September 3, 2026

   Electrical system

   Reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4 Denso CP1 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the...

Recalls

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Subaru Outback. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 24V227000March 22, 2024

   Air bags

   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.

2. 23V755000November 9, 2023

   Power train

   An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

3. 22V485000July 8, 2022

   Power train

   A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.

See all 4 recalls for the 2021 Subaru Outback, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Outback will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Visibility and wipers 108 complaints · 36%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Electrical system 76 complaints · 25%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Forward collision avoidance 29 complaints · 10%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Speed control and throttle 19 complaints · 6%

• Throttle body cleaning$75 to $180
• Throttle body replacement$290 to $900

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2021 Subaru Outback: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2021 Subaru Outback?

Of the 299 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Subaru Outback, 108 (36%) name visibility and wipers, and 76 (25%) name electrical system. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2021 Subaru Outback reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 9 of the 299 complaints as involving a crash and 2 as involving a fire. They also reported 4 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Outback have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Subaru Outback. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 181 repair bulletins for the 2021 Subaru Outback.

More

• 2022 Outback problems
• 2020 Outback problems
• 2019 Outback problems
• 2018 Outback problems
• 2017 Outback problems
• 2016 Outback problems
• 2015 Outback problems
• 2014 Outback problems
• 2013 Outback problems
• 2012 Outback problems
• 2011 Outback problems
• 2010 Outback problems
• 2021 recalls
• All Subaru recalls
• Subaru problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.