2021 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Honda CR-V | 2021 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 329 | 296 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 126 | 480 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 14 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 29–38 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 34,117 mi | 5,214 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda CR-V | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 111 | 5 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 87 | 29 |
| Electrical System | 34 | 75 |
| Visibility/wiper | 10 | 97 |
| Engine | 32 | 21 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 23 | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 25 | 7 |
| Air Bags | 14 | 16 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 17 | 10 |
| Loss of power | 15 | 6 |
| Stalling | 11 | 15 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 8 | 0 |
| Battery drain | 0 | 16 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 8 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 5 |
2021 Honda CR-V
2021 Subaru Outback
Compare all Honda CR-V 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.