The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 111 of 299 complaints (37%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more crash reports (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 906 in 2020 to 299 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 299
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,150–$2,400
- Combined MPG
- 26–29
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,200–2,850 | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,600 | 2,200–2,700 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–28 | 26–29 | 26–29 | 24–29 | 23–28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–25 / 27–32 | 23–26 / 30–33 | 23–26 / 30–33 | 22–26 / 26–33 | 21–26 / 26–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 320–398 | 308–343 | 308–343 | 308–377 | 314–378 | |
| Complaints filed | 1,036 | 906 | 299 | 465 | 89 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 24 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 18 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Outback have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Subaru Outback?
Visibility & Lighting: 111 of 299 NHTSA complaints (37%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Subaru Outback get?
EPA rates it 26–29 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Subaru Outback?
EPA estimates $2,150–$2,400 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 26 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $2,150 (low) | 308 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 23 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 343 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 76 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 16 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 43 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 111 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 66 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
- Defect
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
- Defect
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CHAIN/BELT
- Defect
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD
- Defect
- 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.