SubaruOutback2021Overview/subaru/outback/2021/base/

2021 Subaru Outback

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 Outback.

The 2021 Subaru Outback is a midsize SUV built on the Subaru Global Platform and powered by a turbocharged engine requiring 0W-20 oil viscosity, combining rugged wagon heritage with contemporary crossover proportions. This model year entered production with 291 total owner complaints recorded, with visibility and wiper-related issues emerging as the most frequently cited concern among drivers, alongside four safety recalls issued during the model's lifecycle. When placed within the broader complaint history spanning 1995 through 2026, the 2021 Outback sits well below the peak of 1,029 complaints logged in 2019, though still elevated compared to earlier generations when just 2 complaints were recorded in 1995, suggesting incremental but not complete resolution of prior quality concerns as the model continues to mature.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacityTurboOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque89.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 620 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 620 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size225/65R17 102HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.3 in
Overall width74.8 in
Overall height66.5 in
Wheelbase108.3 in
Curb weight3649 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/54

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Outback of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.8–8.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.80 sec — 2022 Wilderness
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020Onyx Edition XT 2.4L Turbo F-46.10 sec14.80 sec260 hpAWD
2020Touring XT 2.4L Turbo F-46.30 sec14.80 sec260 hpAWD
2020Touring XT 2.4L Turbo F-46.30 sec14.90 sec260 hpAWD
2020Touring 2.5L F-48.50 sec16.70 sec182 hpAWD
2020Limited 2.5L F-48.70 sec16.60 sec182 hpAWD
2022Wilderness 2.4L Turbo F-45.80 sec14.60 sec260 hpAWD
2022Wilderness 2.4L Turbo F-45.80 sec14.40 sec260 hpAWD
2022Wilderness 2.4L Turbo F-46.10 sec14.70 sec260 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds Turbo of 0W-20 engine oil, GL-5 · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89.0 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to Use a new washer: 31.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidSubaru CVT Oil for Lineartronic III
Automatic Transmission FluidSubaru High Torque CVT Oil
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 75W-90
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 75W-90
Engine CoolantSubaru Super Coolant P/N SOA868V9270
Engine Coolant Capacity9.2 qt
Engine CoolantSubaru Super Coolant P/N SOA868V9270

Engine torques

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts47.9 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugUse a new washer: 31.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugFinal Drive: Use a new gasket: 37.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugFront: 52.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 37.0 ft-lbs
Differential Fill PlugRear: 37.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugFront: 52.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 37.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts89.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-2-4
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)Checking Speed: 675 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)Speed-Up Speed: 850 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)Checking Speed: 700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)Speed-Up Speed: 842.5 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity0.93-1.05 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46YF
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance620 cca

Service checks

RPM50.0 @ Idle rpm
RPM58.0 @ Idle rpm

Brakes

Minimum Pad Thickness0.059" in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Inspection Procedure (Lower) — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Inspect ball joint dust cover. Step 3: Replace ball joint if any looseness is detected during step 1. Step 4: Replace ball joint dust cover if any damage is noted during visual inspection of step 2.
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Bolts 3, 2 & 1: Loosen., Step 3: Bolts 1-3: 13.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: Bolts 8, 6 & 4: Loosen., Step 5: Bolts 4, 6 & 8: 13.0 ft. lbs., Step 6: Bolts 7, 9 & 5: Loosen., Step 7: Bolts 5, 9 & 7: 13.013 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
189.0 inch lbs., Step 2: 18.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90-95°89 in
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 115-125°15 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
170.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 55-65°70 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
114.8 ft. lbs., Step 2: 73.8 ft. lbs., Step 3: Loosen 360°, Step 4: 14.8 ft. lbs., Step 5: 31.0 ft. lbs., Step 6: 98-102°, Step 7: Bolts 1 & 2: 98-102°, Step 8: Bolts 3-6: 48-52°14.8 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
121.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30-35°21 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30-35°22 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 72,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 137,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2021 Outback marks a sharp inflection in the model's federal record: complaints plummeted to 291 from 891 in 2020 and 1,029 in 2019, reaching the lowest level since 2012, while recalls held at four — matching 2022 and improving on 2020's six. Technical service bulletins remain elevated at 465, though down from 2020's 597, indicating ongoing dealer-level service activity despite fewer owner reports. The complaint profile is led by visibility and wiper concerns (86), followed by electrical system (44) and air bags (14), with eight crash complaints and one fire complaint recorded; the data does not specify root causes for these categories. This year sits at the bottom of a pronounced complaint valley between the high-volume 2017–2020 period and a modest rebound in 2022 (454 complaints), suggesting a production or reporting shift rather than a resolved defect trend. For a used buyer, the 2021 Outback presents the most favorable federal complaint profile of the current generation, though the sustained TSB volume warrants a pre-purchase review of dealer service history for the leading visibility and electrical items.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
465
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
291
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 291 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility/Wiper86
Electrical System44
Unknown Or Other38
Air Bags14
Visibility10
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other6
Forward Collision Avoidance6
Engine4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V024000Power Train:Shift Linkage/Cable/RodReported 26/01/2021

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… Remedy: 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…

22V485000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)Reported 08/07/2022

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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 465 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
02-193-24R2026-06-29EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…
15-246-19R2026-06-29Electrical SystemThis Service Information Bulletin outlines a new required procedure to follow when…
09-74-21R2026-06-25EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…
09-81-21R2026-06-24Fuel/Propulsion SystemThis bulletin announces design changes made to the fuel injector and fuel pipe in…
16-159-262026-06-22Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides new diagnostic steps for DTC P0851 and P0852 to be used in…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Outback. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2021 Outback take?

Turbo of 0W-20 Synthetic, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 Outback have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.