2021 Subaru Outback reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2021 Subaru Outback — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 405
- 384 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- 97 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 18 reported crashes · 7 injuries · 2 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,296
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+223
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2019-2023
+166
median 240 complaints in 444 records
Top component share
24%
Visibility/Wiper: 97 complaints
What owners report fails — 2021 Subaru Outback
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 97
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 69
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 63
- ENGINE 20
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING 17
4 recalls on record for the 2021 Subaru Outback
- NHTSA 24V227000 · 2025 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 23V755000 · 2024 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/ An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from disp
- NHTSA 22V485000 · 2022 · POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CHAIN/BELT An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 21V024000 · 2021 · POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2021 Subaru Outback
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2021 Subaru Outback units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Subaru Outback reliable?
NHTSA has 405 consumer complaints on record for the 2021 Subaru Outback and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is visibility/wiper (97 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2021 Subaru Outback units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru Outback?
Owners most often report problems with: visibility/wiper (97), electrical system (69), unknown or other (63), engine (20). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2021 Subaru Outback?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.