UsedScore

2021 Subaru Outback: Solid

Owners filed 279 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Outback in its first five years on the road, about 181 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Outback year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (38% of complaints, median 3,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.9×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Outback year
Rank
6th of 15
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
279
first five years; 181 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
4
campaigns
6th generation, 2020–2025 · Updated November 9, 2026 · How we rate
2021 Subaru Outback Limited

Photo: 2021 Subaru Outback Limited · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Visibility38% · 107 complaints · median 3,000 miles
  2. Electrical25% · 71 complaints · median 2,000 miles
  3. Driver assistance11% · 30 complaints · median 1,000 miles
  4. Engine7% · 20 complaints
  5. Speed control5% · 15 complaints
  6. Air bags5% · 14 complaints
  7. Fuel and propulsion4% · 10 complaints
  8. Powertrain3% · 9 complaints
  9. Brakes3% · 8 complaints
  10. Wheels and tires2% · 6 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Driver assistance

Owners of this Outback describe the EyeSight and infotainment system randomly shutting down, taking cruise control, automatic braking, and lane assist offline mid-drive. Some also report unexpected hard braking or acceleration events and windshield cracking, with dealers frequently unable to reproduce or permanently fix the issue.

Warning signs:
Many report the touchscreen suddenly goes black with no warning, sometimes accompanied by sudden deceleration, check engine or EyeSight warning lights, or a stuck thermo control valve code.
What shops did:
Owners report dealers often could not duplicate or diagnose the failure, some installed software updates that did not resolve it, and some later replaced a thermo control valve under extended warranty.
Mileage:
most under 15,000 miles, among 5 complaints that give it

“Shuts down (goes black), and reboots randomly. When this occurs, all of the functions and controls associated with the computer system are lost.”

“the "Eyesight" message was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated”

Electrical

Many owners of this Outback report the battery dying unexpectedly, sometimes repeatedly even after replacement, leaving them stranded. Others describe the infotainment and EyeSight screen randomly going blank or rebooting while driving, temporarily disabling cruise control and other safety features.

Warning signs:
Owners report no warning light before the car won't start, or the touchscreen suddenly going black while driving, sometimes with cruise control, EyeSight, HVAC, and camera functions cutting out.
What shops did:
Dealers most often recharged or replaced the battery, though several owners say the problem returned; for the screen reboots, dealers often could not reproduce or fix the issue despite software updates or module replacements.
Mileage:
most under 15,000 miles, among 12 complaints that give it

“noticed that the center console display screen went blank and rebooted independently after a few minutes”

“Battery of the vehicle continues to drain itself at seemingly random times”

Visibility

Many 2021 Outback owners report windshields cracking with little or no apparent cause, with cracks spreading quickly across the glass sometimes within hours. Dealers often blame rock strikes and decline warranty coverage, leaving owners to pay for repeated replacements, sometimes multiple times within a year.

Warning signs:
Owners often report hearing a pop or cracking sound, then noticing a small chip or hairline crack that quickly spreads across the windshield.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently attributed cracks to rock or debris impact and denied warranty coverage, though some replaced the windshield under warranty or after contacting corporate; several owners paid out of pocket, and some report the same problem recurring after replacement.
Mileage:
most under 5,000 miles, among 29 complaints that give it

“a roughly 6 inch horizontal crack had appeared, originating from the driver's side edge about halfway up the glass”

“Started on the Driver side halfway up and spread daily horizontally towards the passenger side and within a day or two was half the windshield.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (4)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 24V227000March 2024118,723 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA 23V755000November 202395,830 vehicles

    Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA 22V485000July 2022182 vehicles

    Power train: driveline: chain/belt · Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA 21V024000January 2021383 vehicles

    Power train: shift linkage/cable/rod

    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.

    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.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Subaru sent NHTSA 502 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2021 Outback. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • SubaruNet Announcement (T · October 2026This is an update announcement regarding the TechShare & NorthStar Integration - CVT Diag.
  • 18-247-26 · October 2026This Service Information Bulletin announces Service Manual updates for the diagnosis of hands-free calling and voice recognition concerns.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (S · October 2026This announcement provides information on the connected services platform for Subaru EVs.
  • 15-344-26 · October 2026This bulletin provides a step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES) failures for both Telematics and remote engine start equipped vehicles.
  • 15-304-22R · October 2026This Service Information Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (Q · October 2026This announcement provides information on DCM replacememts due to a parasitic draw.
  • SubaruNet Announcement (M · October 2026This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
  • 18-244-26 · September 2026This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"

All 2021 Outback bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2021 Subaru Outback reliable?
Owners filed 279 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Outback in its first five years on the road, about 181 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Outback year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Outback years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2021 Outback problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (38%), the electrical system (25%) and driver-assistance features and cameras (11%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2021 Subaru Outback been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Subaru Outback, the most recent in March 2024 (air bags). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of November 9, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. The 2021 Subaru Outback on NHTSA.gov · How we rate