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VinCanary

Reliability report · 2021 Subaru Outback · Updated July 2026 · ~$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 CVT work.

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

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 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.
2 mechanic & owner 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.open
  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.open
  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.open
  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.open

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?

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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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vincanary.com/subaru/outback/2021