2021 Kia Seltos 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 Kia Seltos | 2021 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 368 | 296 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 134 | 480 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 27–31 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 45,000 mi | 5,214 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Seltos | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 224 | 21 |
| Electrical System | 47 | 75 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 97 |
| Power Train | 68 | 12 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 43 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 26 | 10 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 29 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 19 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 98 | 15 |
| Check engine light | 53 | 10 |
| Oil consumption | 53 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 29 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 22 | 6 |
| Clunking / rattling | 17 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 16 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 15 | 5 |
2021 Kia Seltos
2021 Subaru Outback
Compare all Kia Seltos 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.