2021 Subaru OUTBACK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
296 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
3,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 97 of 296 complaints (32.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 51 | 17.2% |
| Braking behavior | 33 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 2.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 97 |
| Electrical System | 72 |
| Unknown Or Other | 65 |
| Engine | 21 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 18 |
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 13 |
Visibility/Wiper: 97; Electrical System: 72; Unknown Or Other: 65; Engine: 21; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 18; Air Bags: 16; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 55 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 55; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (55). 235 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 103 |
| 2022 | 61 |
| 2023 | 56 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 | 14 |
2020: 5; 2021: 103; 2022: 61; 2023: 56; 2024: 37; 2025: 20; 2026: 14
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 51 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11396114 · 2021-02-13 (February 13, 2021)
I BOUGHT A NEW CAR IN DECEMBER 2020. ONE DAY IN JAN 2021, I NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY HAD DIED. I JUMP STARTED IT AND THEN IN FEBRUARY 2021, I HAD TO JUMPSTART IT 3 TIMES. AT LEAST THE LAST INSTANCE, I WAS CAREFUL TO CHECK NO INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE ON, AND IT STILL HAPPENED. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. I HOPE THAT FIXES IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11396114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11403232 · 2021-03-16 (March 16, 2021)
PURCHASED THE CAR 7 DAYS AGO. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES SO FAR. WENT OUT TO START THE CAR THIS MORNING AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. NO LIGHTS HAD BEEN LEFT ON. CAR NEEDED TO BE JUMPED.
Owner-reported narrative. 210 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11405068 · 2021-03-26 (March 26, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKES ENGAGED INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HYMAN BROS. SUBARU (11960 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113) WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE EYESIGHT BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER UNREPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11405068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421481 · 2021-06-19 (June 19, 2021)
While moving forward slowly with foot lightly on the brakes and pulling into a parking space at local shopping center the car accelerated and the steering wheel turned to the right. The result of the cars actions made the car jump the curb, drive across the sidewalk and then across small hedges in the landscaped area. Car finally came to a stop about 20 feet later, with me pushing hard on the brake, just prior to entering parking lot roadway cross traffic. There was no alarm, warning or any other indication from any of the safety systems. A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11421481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11432757 · 2021-09-13 (September 13, 2021)
The Auto-start feature, which stops the engine at a light, then restarts, is very dangerous. It cannot be permanently turned off - always on by default. 1 if the steering wheel is not perfectly straight, it jerks out of your hand when the engine restarts. 2 the car jerks forward when the engine restarts. This has already put me in danger of a crash several times - and this 'feature' must be actively disengaged each and every time the car is started. It should be able to be permanently turned off - not always on by default.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11432757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11431370 · 2021-09-01 (September 1, 2021)
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while coming out of a full stop, the vehicle would stall without warning. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11431370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11467029 · 2022-06-01 (June 1, 2022)
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The instrument panel lights illuminated then went dark. The police came but there was no police report filed. The police had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 12,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11467029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11505358 · 2023-02-03 (February 3, 2023)
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 68 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that it was difficult while attempting to shift the gear lever out of drive(D). The contact stated that once she was able to shift the gear shifter, she shifted into park(P) to turn off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted after multiple attempts. The contact then noticed that the parking brake had engaged independent…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11505358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11611660 · 2024-08-29 (August 29, 2024)
The car flashed “eye sight off” before flickering and shutting off while I was braking at a stop light. I tried putting my car into park and then turning it off and restarting it but it would not turn back on. I tried this a few more times but I was in the middle lane of a heavily trafficked street. The steering wheel was locked and I was not able to immediately remove it from the road and maybe an hour later it was able to be shifted into neutral and moved out of the street. However, it would still not turn on and when I did open my power gate…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11611660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11654281 · 2025-04-12 (April 12, 2025)
Purchased used with just over 60k miles & have had less than a year. Vehicle still under 80k miles. Told transmission needs replaced but found service records from previous owner which shows fuel pump replaced twice at about 20k mile intervals & I am just under 20k miles past previous pump replacement. Vehicle does not run at the moment & warranty company refusing to help.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11654281 at NHTSA ↗