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Reliability report · 2021 Subaru Outback · ~$2,150/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

The quietest year in our Outback data — the settled sixth-gen car, just confirm the recalls and turbo transmission work.

By Russell, VinCanary founder · How these reports are built · Data updated July 2026

2021 has the lowest complaint count of the whole range (291), which fits the pattern: the sixth generation's launch-year bugs were largely sorted by now. The recalls are all free — the turbo cars' CVT chain-slip campaign (22V485), an inhibitor-switch recall (23V755) that could stop the reverse lights and rearview camera, and the occupant-detection airbag recall (24V227).

The costlier sixth-gen items still apply but stay covered: the thermal control valve carries its 15-year/150,000-mile extension, and the acoustic windshield has its 2020–2022 extension and settlement. Confirm the four recalls by VIN — especially the CVT one on a turbo car — and you're buying the settled version of the current Outback.

Evidence: 291 NHTSA complaints · 4 recall campaigns · 2 mechanic & forum sources

The short version

Status
Chirping. 291 federal complaints — the smallest file of any Outback year here — as the sixth generation settles after its launch year.
Biggest risk
Turbo CVT chain-slip — recalled, free, confirm it was done (2.4L turbo (FA24))
First check
On a turbo (XT) car, confirm the CVT chain-slip recall (22V485) shows completed by VIN — and that any slipped transmission was replaced.

Canary status

Chirping

What that means: 291 federal complaints — the smallest file of any Outback year here — as the sixth generation settles after its launch year. Four recalls, all free, including the turbo CVT (continuously variable transmission) chain-slip campaign and an inhibitor-switch recall. The expensive items from 2020 (thermal control valve, windshield) still carry their extended coverage.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

291

Federal complaints

4

Recalls

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2021 Subaru Outback SUV AWD (NHTSA VehicleId 15629)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

Turbo CVT chain-slip — recalled, free, confirm it was done

major
  • 2.4L turbo (FA24)

On turbo (XT) 2021 cars, the CVT chain-slip recall (22V485, Subaru code WRK-22 — the expansion covering 2020–2021 turbo Outback/Legacy) applies: a Transmission Control Unit programming error could let the chain slip or break with a loss of drive power. The remedy is a control-unit reprogram plus chain inspection, with a free transmission replacement if slippage is found. On any turbo 2021, confirm the recall shows completed by VIN — and that a slipped transmission was actually replaced, not just flagged. Naturally-aspirated 2021 cars aren't part of this campaign.

This is a 2.4L turbo (FA24) problem. The 2.5L boxer (FB25) doesn’t share it.

Which engine is in the one you found? →

CVT recall (reprogram / replacement if needed)

$0

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2021 Subaru Outback (true count 291) · NHTSA recalls + manufacturer communications (CVT WRK-22, thermal control valve, windshield extensions, recall documents)

Recalls: inhibitor switch and occupant-detection airbag — freemoderate

Two more free campaigns. The inhibitor-switch recall (23V755) covers an insufficient weld that can let water into the switch and make it fail, which could stop the reverse lights and the rearview-camera image — a replacement switch, free. The occupant-detection-system recall (24V227) covers a sensor capacitor that can crack and short, potentially preventing the front-passenger airbag from deploying — sensors replaced free. Also note a small CVT select-lever cable-nut recall (21V024) that could loosen and affect gear selection. Confirm all show completed by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA recalls + manufacturer communications (CVT WRK-22, thermal control valve, windshield extensions, recall documents)

$0

All recall work

Thermal control valve and windshield — covered carryoversminor

The sixth-gen items that cost money out of coverage still apply to 2021 but keep their extensions. The thermal control valve (a coolant-flow valve) carries a 15-year/150,000-mile warranty extension. The acoustic windshield — prone to cracking from minor impacts or temperature, $500–$1,100 to replace with EyeSight recalibration — has a 2020–2022 warranty extension and a class-action settlement. If the coolant system codes or the windshield is cracked, confirm coverage eligibility by VIN before paying anything.

Sources: NHTSA recalls + manufacturer communications (CVT WRK-22, thermal control valve, windshield extensions, recall documents) · Independent Subaru mechanic / used-buyer channel transcripts (windshield, CVT, thermal control valve)

$0

Thermal control valve under 15 yr / 150k

$0

Windshield under extension / settlement

$500–$1,100

Windshield out of coverage (+EyeSight recal)

The best Subaru Outback years are 2020 and 2021 because they have fewer issues — these will accompany you for a very long time.
From mechanic testimony (2 sources).

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Subaru dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 22V485Turbo CVT chain-slip: Transmission Control Unit programming error may let the chain slip/break — loss of drive power (2020–2021 turbo Outback/Legacy). Reprogram + inspect; replace transmission free if slippage found. Subaru code WRK-22.VERIFY BY VIN
  2. 23V755Insufficient weld may let water into the inhibitor switch and cause it to fail, stopping reverse lights and the rearview image (2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021–2023 Legacy/Outback). Switch replaced free. Subaru code WRQ-23.VERIFY BY VIN
  3. 24V227Occupant Detection System sensor capacitor may crack and short, potentially preventing front-passenger airbag deployment (2020–2022 Outback/Legacy). Sensors replaced free. Subaru code WRA-24.VERIFY BY VIN
  4. 21V024CVT select-lever cable nut may not be properly tightened and can loosen, affecting gear selection (2021 Outback/Impreza). Inspect/tighten free. Subaru code WRA-21.VERIFY BY VIN

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2021 Outback

Four sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

29 MPG combined (26 city / 33 highway) for the AWD, 2.5L on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 42858 (Outback AWD).
Other builds EPA lists: AWD, 2.4L turbo 26 MPG.

$2,150/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Crash losses

Insurers lose about 40% less on this vehicle than on the average car. Lower collision losses tend to show up in what you pay for coverage.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI collision losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report R-23). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Subaru Outback 4WD with EyeSight.

60 vs 100

40% below average

Theft

Stolen about 83% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report WT-22). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Subaru Outback 4WD with EyeSight.

17 vs 100

83% below average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

CVT recall (reprogram / replacement if needed)$0
All recall work$0
Thermal control valve under 15 yr / 150k$0
Windshield under extension / settlement$0
Windshield out of coverage (+EyeSight recal)$500–$1,100
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

Get the printable pre-purchase checklist and an alert if this year’s recall sheet changes.

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01On a turbo (XT) car, confirm the CVT chain-slip recall (22V485) shows completed by VIN — and that any slipped transmission was replaced.
  2. 02Verify the inhibitor-switch (23V755), occupant-detection airbag (24V227), and select-lever cable-nut (21V024) recalls are closed.
  3. 03If the coolant system codes, confirm thermal-control-valve coverage (15 yr / 150k) eligibility by VIN.
  4. 04If the windshield is cracked, confirm the 2020–2022 windshield extension / settlement eligibility before paying.
  5. 05Ask for CVT fluid service history — the strongest longevity sign on any Subaru.
  6. 06Test the Starlink head unit and rearview camera for blanking/freezing (2019–2022 head-unit extension applies).

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