2021 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2021 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Ford Bronco Sport | 2021 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 669 | 292 |
| Recall campaigns | 16 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 185 | 468 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 17 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 16 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–26 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 40,000 mi | 5,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Bronco Sport | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 203 | 73 |
| Power Train | 173 | 11 |
| Engine | 140 | 20 |
| Visibility/wiper | 11 | 97 |
| Service Brakes | 100 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 55 | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 53 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 14 | 29 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 61 | 15 |
| Vibration / shaking | 40 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 35 | 6 |
| Check engine light | 34 | 10 |
| Hesitation / surging | 17 | 5 |
| Won’t start | 16 | 8 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 0 |
| Overheating | 11 | 0 |
2021 Ford Bronco Sport
2021 Subaru Outback
Compare all Ford Bronco Sport vs Subaru Outback years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.