CarRecallWatchThe 2021 Subaru Legacy has 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA, including 1 injury.
The most-reported problem area is Unknown Or Other (7 reports).
2021 Subaru Legacy recalls
Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy in a Crash
A sensor in the occupant detection system on the front passenger seat may have a capacitor that can crack and short circuit.
Failing Shifter Switch Can Hide Reverse Lights and Camera
The park/neutral start interlock switch, also called the inhibitor switch, can fail because a weld may not be strong enough to keep water out.
Transmission May Lose Drive Power, Raising Crash Risk
A programming error in the transmission control unit can let the clutch engage before the drive chain is fully clamped.
Most common 2021 Subaru Legacy problems
Problem areas named in the 31 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 4 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Visibility | 1 |
What owners report
Vehicle: 2021 Subaru Legacy Base 2.5i Mileage:~65,000 miles My engine suddenly began making loud internal knocking/tapping noises with no warning lights, no overheating, and no prior symptoms. The vehicle immediately became unsafe to operate. I had it towed to a Subaru dealership, where technicians confirmed the noise was coming from inside the engine and recommended a full engine replacement. The failure happened without any warning indicators, misfires, overheating, or oil pressure warnings. All diagnostics (including compression and leakdown) were clean, and the vehicle has been properly maintained. Subaru of America acknowledged the internal failure but only offered $1,000 goodwill towa
See attached document for complaint.
Car intermittently will studder and not go into first gear or go into second gear dangerously having car bog down and almost stall and then it violently downshifts having car RMP Hague go very high then slip and have no power to wheels and then a few seconds later go into second gear violently taking off again. Have tried taking issue to dealer but wonât even look unless check engine light comes on. Which it sometimes will for this issue and will shut back off before my short drive to dealership. Very frustrated especially being my first new car paying monthly to have this problem
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds during colder weather, the heater failed to operate as intended. Additionally, the Eyesight system was inoperable. The check engine and other unknown warning lights were displayed. In addition, the contact stated that the engine failed to warm up as intended after being started, and the engine temperature was 107°F, which was below the normal engine temperature of 200°F. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the Thermal Control Valve needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 09-119-24; however, the vehicle
CVT Transmission Failure. Failure occurred at approximately 66,706 miles on 5/16/25. The Check Engine and AT Temp lights appeared in the instrument cluster. The driving conditions when this happened were a safety concern. First, the vehicle would crawl, shutter, and almost stall with high RPMs when attempting to climb a hill. Second, on a level surface at any given time the vehicle would not respond then lunge forward unexpectedly. The vehicle was inspected by a Subaru Dealership and the diagnosis was "Internal failure of transmission". The transmission needs to be replaced. The same driving conditions and error codes were experienced by an AAMCO Transmission repair facility. The di
2021 Subaru Legacy questions
Does the 2021 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2021 Subaru Legacy: Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy in a Crash; Failing Shifter Switch Can Hide Reverse Lights and Camera; Transmission May Lose Drive Power, Raising Crash Risk. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru Legacy?
Based on 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Unknown Or Other (7), Air Bags (6), Electrical System (5).
How do I check if a recall on my 2021 Subaru Legacy has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.