2021 Subaru Outback: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
296 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Outback's record is quiet through the fourth and fifth generations apart from the FB25 engine's oil-consumption complaints on 2013–2014 cars, which Subaru settled with a class action. The sixth generation launched for 2020 on a new platform with a new infotainment system and a turbocharged 2.4-litre option, and the 2019–2020 years carry the highest counts in the Outback's history: the Starlink touchscreen freezing and rebooting, the battery draining, the windscreen cracking. Read the full note on the model page. 2021 specifically: a year the record favours — 296 complaints, score 78/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Subaru Outback and Forester: oil consumption, then Starlink, then a clean run, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 296 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 59.2
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
I was already parked in a spot in a public parking lot. I tapped the accelerator pedal to move the car a few inches. The vehicle responded by violently accelerating, hitting a vehicle directly in front of me in another parking space. I applied my brake but the car would not stop. The force of the acceleration pushed the car out of the it's spot and it hit a curb and tree appox 30 ft away. In defensive move I turn…
First battery drain in car. Bought a new battery and it drained again for the second time. Called Suburu to ask about a parasitic drain from the DCM and they said it was likely that and told me to call Suburu America. Did that but they wanted me to take it to a Suburu dealer to get the problem verified. I don’t have the $ to do that. I notice there is a class action in court right now for this exact problem.
We are VERY concerned about the failure of some very important safety features of our 2021 Subaru Outback Touring Edition. We were involved in a bad car accident caused by a person under the influence who was in handcuffs when we were taken away by ambulance. As you can see by the photos, there was MAJOR damage to the other car and significant damage to ours. What is most concerning is the fact that NONE of the ai…
Recalls: 4 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 22V485000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. |
| 23V755000 | 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. |
| 24V227000 | Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. |
| 21V024000 | Power Train:Shift Linkage/Cable/Rod | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 29 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Visibility/Wiper97 complaints · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
- Electrical System75 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other65 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Forward Collision Avoidance29 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Engine21 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Vehicle Speed Control19 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
Other Subaru Outback years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Subaru Outback?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Visibility/Wiper (97 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Subaru Outback a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 78/100, computed from 296 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Subaru Outback's most common problem?
97 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Subaru Outback sit in the Visibility/Wiper group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement: about 2.5 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $490–$1,200 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 Subaru Outback cost to run per year?
About $4,594 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $22,972 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2021 Subaru Outback have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Subaru Outback, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 08/07/2022. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2021 Subaru Outback really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 296 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 296 NHTSA complaints on record (59.2/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (64.2/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems