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Buying a used 2021 Subaru Outback? Check these 4 recalls first

4 NHTSA recalls · 296 owner complaints on file

Four recalls: a shifter cable nut that may loosen, transmission software that can break the drive chain, a passenger airbag that may not deploy, and reverse lights that may fail. None is flagged stop-driving or park-outside. At 296 unverified NHTSA complaints, the file is far smaller than the 2019 and 2020 totals. Those reports lead with visibility/wiper and electrical, with forward collision avoidance a distinct cluster; nine crashes and four injuries are cited.

Before you buy

1. Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
2. Confirm the shifter cable nut recall was inspected, and check that the gear indicator matches the actual gear
3. Verify the transmission software and passenger airbag recall remedies were completed
4. Ask whether the forward collision system has thrown warnings or false alerts, and test wipers and reverse lights
5. Open recalls are repaired free at any Subaru dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.

Recalls covering the 2021 Subaru Outback

What owners have reported to NHTSA

296 complaints filed for this model year, including 9 mentioning a crash, 1 a fire and 4 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.

Other model years

• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2022
• 2023
• All Outback recalls