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2021 Subaru Outback problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Subaru Outback. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 13% of relevant complaints.
Better than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Subaru Outback have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 36 of 296 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Outback concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (13%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 11% and the 2022 scores 9%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Subaru Outback years
Of the 14 Subaru Outback years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 7th-best on engine and transmission share (13%). The worst is the 2011 (62%), the best the 2019 (7%). By volume, the 2021 drew 296 complaints (36 drivetrain), against 899 for the 2020 and 464 for the 2022.
Subaru Outback years to avoid and best years →
2010 Outback problems · 2011 Outback problems · 2012 Outback problems · 2013 Outback problems · 2014 Outback problems · 2015 Outback problems · 2016 Outback problems · 2017 Outback problems · 2018 Outback problems · 2019 Outback problems · 2020 Outback problems · 2021 · 2022 Outback problems · 2023 Outback problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Subaru Outback
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 36 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Subaru Outback transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2021 Subaru Outback involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
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.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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…
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Subaru Outback? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2021 Subaru Outback have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 36 of 296 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Outback concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (13%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Subaru Outback?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Subaru Outback is visibility/wiper: 97 of 296 complaints (33%) name it, followed by electrical system (75) and forward collision avoidance (29). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 13% of the relevant total.
Is the 2021 Subaru Outback reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 13% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Subaru Outback years we score, it ranks 7th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Subaru Outback?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2021 Subaru Outback involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 23V755000 (power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch), 22V485000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)), 21V024000 (power train: shift linkage/cable/rod). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru Outback years are better?
Among the Subaru Outback years we track, the 2019 (7%), the 2022 (9%) and the 2023 (9%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (13%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-outback
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.