Vehicles › Subaru › Subaru Outback
2021 Subaru Outback
The 2021 Subaru Outback appears in 4 NHTSA recall campaigns (air bags and power train) and in 0 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
No consumer complaints for this model year are in the NHTSA file.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
- 24V227000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERReported 22 Mar 2024 · 118,723 units
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer campaign WRA-24).
- 23V755000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCHReported 9 Nov 2023 · 95,830 units
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer campaign WRQ-23).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer campaign WRK-22); components: power train:driveline:chain/belt; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer campaign WRA-21).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
No consumer complaints for this model year are in the NHTSA file.
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Subaru Outback model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 NHTSA | 1 | 2 | 180,000 |
| 1996 | 2 | 46 | 209,442 |
| 1997 | 4 | 79 | 289,943 |
| 1998 | 2 | 127 | 199,386 |
| 1999 | 1 | 111 | 180,000 |
| 2000 | 1 | 207 | 170,000 |
| 2001 | 3 | 171 | 470,144 |
| 2002 | 4 | 143 | 471,396 |
| 2003 | 14 | 93 | 1,916,339 |
| 2004 | 10 | 88 | 1,580,644 |
| 2005 | 9 | 244 | 1,672,351 |
| 2006 | 7 | 243 | 1,666,189 |
| 2007 | 8 | 106 | 1,766,316 |
| 2008 | 8 | 189 | 1,766,316 |
| 2009 | 13 | 82 | 1,988,974 |
| 2010 | 18 | 282 | 3,242,605 |
| 2011 | 16 | 441 | 3,115,845 |
| 2012 | 16 | 172 | 2,142,573 |
| 2013 | 12 | 184 | 2,061,376 |
| 2014 | 10 | 139 | 1,944,601 |
| 2015 | 5 | 265 | 124,244 |
| 2016 | 4 | 160 | 55,009 |
| 2017 | 4 | 116 | 49,018 |
| 2018 | 3 | 138 | 475,806 |
| 2019 | 3 | 25 | 366,282 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | 504,336 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 215,118 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 214,610 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 100,141 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Subaru Outback model years · Subaru: 29 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Outback have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 24V227000, was reported to NHTSA on 22 Mar 2024 and concerns air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger. Across all model years the Subaru Outback line has 71 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2021 Subaru Outback?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 2021 Subaru Outback complain about most?
No complaints for this model year are in the NHTSA file.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.