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Air bagsPart report

2021 Subaru Outback Air bags Problems

Complaints
16about this part
Share
5%of 299 total for the year
Median mileage
23,400miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the air bags of the 2021 Subaru Outback, 5% of the 299 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 23,400 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The airbag light came on in my car even though the cars airbags have never deployed. The code that the scanner is bringing up is B1784. The description for this error is Right front occupant detection sensor collision detection, Subaru has a safety recall for this exact issue for this exact year and type of car but are stating my vin does not have the recall. I have contacted them and they stated there is nothing they can do for me to fix this recall because my car's vin is not showing to have this recall.”

NHTSA complaint #11712489, filed 2026-01

“We are VERY concerned about the failure of some very important safety features of our 2021 Subaru Outback Touring Edition. We were involved in a bad car accident caused by a person under the influence who was in handcuffs when we were taken away by ambulance. As you can see by the photos, there was MAJOR damage to the other car and significant damage to ours. What is most concerning is the fact that NONE of the airbags deployed and the safety and security plan also failed - it did not call 911. I had to find my phone on the floorboard and call 911 myself. …”

NHTSA complaint #11739672, filed 2026-05

“Passenger seat air bag system does not recognize my wife at times. She weighs some where around 100 pounds. Sometime the “The passenger is here light” comes on right a way, sometimes with in a mile and sometime never. Talk to the Subaru services rep. He said there was nothing they could about it. I told him I would bring the car in and leave for days so they could check it out, he told if I wanted to waste my time to go a head. Looking online this has been a safety problem for sometime that Subaru won’t do anything about. …”

NHTSA complaint #11516593, filed 2023-04

“The passenger air bag alert on the dashboard indicates the air bag is off when my wife who is elderly and weighs approximately 95 pounds is seated in the front passenger seat .Sometimes it changes to air bag on during our journey but other times it remains off .I am concerned the air bag won't deploy in the event of a crash potentially causing serious injury .I have e mailed sales representative who sold us the car at Maple Hill Auto Group Kalamazoo ,MI in March 2021 who responded that seat sensor was designed to alert off at 65 pounds or less .Two subsequent e mails to Subaru Customer…”

NHTSA complaint #11446683, filed 2022-01

“The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”

NHTSA complaint #11603103, filed 2024-07, 29,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202556%
202466%
202322%
202261%
2021165%
2020182%
2019131%
201881%
2017162%
2016102%
2015143%
20143818%
20134214%
20123913%
20117311%
20104412%
20093028%
200810446%
20074736%
20064014%
20053814%
20042528%
20031920%
200254%
200132%
200052%
199976%
1998119%
199723%
1996817%

Other parts of the 2021 Subaru Outback

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
108 complaints
Electrical system
76 complaints
Other or unknown
66 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
29 complaints
Engine
21 complaints
Vehicle speed control
19 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
12 complaints
Fuel system
10 complaints
Brakes
8 complaints
Lane departure
7 complaints
Body and structure
7 complaints
Wheels
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2021 Subaru Outback

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology