2021 Subaru Outback problems and complaints
Owners have filed 300 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Outback. The most-reported areas: Visibility/Wiper (98), Electrical System (76), Unknown Or Other (67).
Key takeaways
- 300 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 9 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 4 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 98 | 33% |
| Electrical System | 76 | 25% |
| Unknown Or Other | 67 | 22% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 29 | 10% |
| Engine | 21 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 | 6% |
| Air Bags | 16 | 5% |
| Power Train | 12 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 | 3% |
| Visibility | 10 | 3% |
| Structure | 7 | 2% |
| Lane Departure | 7 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2021 Subaru Outback
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Subaru Outback SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-11-05
Radio sound stays muted including for in vehicle phone calls
Visibility/Wiper - filed 2026-10-26
Windshield wiper fluid level sensor will not turn off even though reservoir is full
Electrical System - filed 2026-10-14
Battery died multiple times. A DMC module went bad.
Diagnose it yourself
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More for the 2021 Subaru Outback
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.