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The 2021 Subaru Outback is a small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicle covered by 2 EPA fuel-economy configurations. In NHTSA's records it has accumulated 298 owner complaints and 4 recall campaign(s). Of those complaints, 9 report a crash and 2 report a fire; 3 complaints report injuries totalling 4 injured people, and 0 deaths are recorded across all complaints for this model-year. The single most-reported component is Visibility/wiper, named in 97 complaints (32.6% of the total). The sections below reproduce the underlying records in full: crash-test ratings, every recall campaign with its NHTSA campaign number, complaint counts by component, and EPA fuel-economy figures for each configuration.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
NHTSA tested the 2021 Subaru Outback SUV AWD under its 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars; "Not rated" means NHTSA did not publish a score for that test for this variant.
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — passenger | ★★★★☆ |
| Side crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side pole crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover resistance | ★★★★☆ |
Electronic stability control was fitted as standard equipment on the tested variant, and NHTSA records no safety recall investigation rating adjustments for it.
Recall Campaigns (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) that include the 2021 Subaru Outback. Each campaign below shows the official NHTSA campaign number, the affected component, and the manufacturer's own summary, consequence and remedy statements as published by NHTSA. To check whether a specific vehicle is covered, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.
Campaign 21V024000 — Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod 26/01/2021
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 22V485000 — Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm) 08/07/2022
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.
Consequence: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 23V755000 — Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch 09/11/2023
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.
Consequence: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 24V227000 — Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger 22/03/2024
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.
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Owner Complaints (298)
Owners have filed 298 complaints about the 2021 Subaru Outback with NHTSA. Complaint counts are not sales-adjusted — higher-selling vehicles naturally attract more complaints — but the breakdown by component shows where owners report problems most often.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 97 | 32.6% |
| Electrical System | 76 | 25.5% |
| Unknown Or Other | 66 | 22.1% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 29 | 9.7% |
| Engine | 21 | 7.0% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 | 6.4% |
| Air Bags | 16 | 5.4% |
| Power Train | 12 | 4.0% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 3.4% |
| Visibility | 10 | 3.4% |
| Structure | 7 | 2.3% |
| Lane Departure | 7 | 2.3% |
Complaints by Component — Visual
Bar length is proportional to the most-reported component for this model-year (Visibility/wiper, 97 complaints).
By filing year, complaints peaked in 2021 with 103 filings. Owners filed 298 complaints in total across 7 calendar years in the database extract. Complaints involving a crash number 9 and those involving a fire number 2; 3 complaints report at least one injury.
EPA Fuel Economy
The EPA classifies the 2021 Subaru Outback as a small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicle and published ratings for 2 configurations (engine, transmission, drive and fuel combinations). Combined fuel economy spans 26–29 MPG; the median configuration returns 24.5 city / 31.5 highway / 27.5 combined MPG. Fuel types covered: Regular Gasoline.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 29 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 |
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and safety ratings databases and EPA FuelEconomy.gov dataset, accessed October 2026. See our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2021 Subaru Outback have?
NHTSA's complaints database held 298 complaints for the 2021 Subaru Outback when accessed in October 2026. The most-reported component was Visibility/wiper with 97 complaints.
How many recalls affect the 2021 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) covering the 2021 Subaru Outback in the data accessed in October 2026, including campaign 21V024000 for Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod.
What is the 2021 Subaru Outback's safety rating?
NHTSA gave the tested 2021 Subaru Outback SUV AWD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with 5 stars for frontal crash, 5 for side crash and 4 for rollover resistance.
What MPG does the 2021 Subaru Outback get?
The EPA rated 2 configurations of the 2021 Subaru Outback. Combined fuel economy ranges from 26 to 29 MPG, with a median of 27.5 MPG (median city 24.5, median highway 31.5).