2021 Subaru Outback Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 37 engine-related complaints for the 2021 Subaru Outback, 13% of all 296 complaints filed for the year. Reported failures center on sudden unintended acceleration, stalling, and engine fires. No related recall exists for this component.
- Engine complaints
- 37
- 13% of 296
- Crashes reported
- 5
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 17,320 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Vehicle suddenly accelerates on its own at low speeds, such as backing out of a parking space or creeping forward, striking nearby vehicles or objects.
- Engine stalls without warning after coming to a full stop, with no warning light illuminated.
- Engine block reportedly caught fire while the vehicle was parked and turned off, destroying the engine and hood.
- Auto start-stop feature restarts the engine unexpectedly during turns, causing the steering wheel to jerk or the car to lurch forward.
- Vehicle lost power at higher RPM with multiple warning lights on, later tied to repairs involving the thermo control valve, fuel line, and intake manifold gaskets.
- Battery drains completely after short periods of non-use, requiring replacement.
When 2021 Subaru Outback engine complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 19, 2021, latest Aug 20, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2021 Subaru Outback
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Outback model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does the 2021 Subaru Outback have?
- NHTSA lists 37 engine-related complaints for the 2021 Outback, which is 13% of the 296 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2021 Subaru Outback engine?
- No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the 2021 Outback engine problems described here.
- What is the most serious engine issue reported on the 2021 Outback?
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds that resulted in crashes, along with one report of an engine fire while the vehicle was parked.
- At what mileage do 2021 Outback engine problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 17,320 miles for engine-related complaints on this model year.
- How does the 2021 Outback compare to other years for engine complaints?
- The 2021 Outback's engine complaints made up 13% of its total complaints, higher than 2019 (6%), 2020 (7%), and 2022 (6%), but lower than earlier years like 2013 (30%).