IllustrationBACK UP CAMERA WENT OUT AT 60K MILES
2014 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2014 Subaru Outback do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
620–25K
3325–50K
2650–75K
1675–100K
10100–150K
4150K+
151 reports with mileage · 57 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
22 reports4 YEAR OLD CAR'S TRANSMISSION WENT UP AT 114,000. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSIONS, SUBARU DID NOT DO A RECALL ON THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. NOW THEY ARE QUOTING US $9000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION.
BURNING OIL. EXCESSIVE OIL CHANGES
V-BELT CHIRPING WHEN RUNNING ESPECIALLY WITH A/C ON
MY BLUETOOTH , WHEN I MAKE A CALL OR RECEIVE A CALL WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN MOTION ON THE CITY STREETS AND FREEWAY ,ON THE RECEIVERS END THE PERSON CAN HEAR A WHINNING NOISE LIKE A DENTAL DRILL. I BOUGHT A NEW CELL TO SEE IF IT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM AND IT DID NOT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO PURCHASING A NEW CELL …
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MY BLUETOOTH , WHEN I MAKE A CALL OR RECEIVE A CALL WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN MOTION ON THE CITY STREETS AND FREEWAY ,ON THE RECEIVERS END THE PERSON CAN HEAR A WHINNING NOISE LIKE A DENTAL DRILL. I BOUGHT A NEW CELL TO SEE IF IT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM AND IT DID NOT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO PURCHASING A NEW CELL PHONE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO HELP ME.
POSSIBLE OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE IT TWICE OR THIRD AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT OIL WAS GONE WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL LEVELER. YESTERDAY, I HAVE TALKED TO SUBARU SERVICE DEPT ABOUT IT AND HE SAID IT IS OK THAT KEEP POUR OIL INTO EVERY 1200 MILES (BURNED SOME OIL AND BETWEEN OIL CHANGE). I BOUGHT OIL AND POUR IT INTO. I DON'T BELIEVE IT…
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POSSIBLE OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE IT TWICE OR THIRD AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT OIL WAS GONE WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL LEVELER. YESTERDAY, I HAVE TALKED TO SUBARU SERVICE DEPT ABOUT IT AND HE SAID IT IS OK THAT KEEP POUR OIL INTO EVERY 1200 MILES (BURNED SOME OIL AND BETWEEN OIL CHANGE). I BOUGHT OIL AND POUR IT INTO. I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS SO NORMAL FOR BURNED SOME OIL LIKE EVERY 1200 MILES. I AM CONCERNING ABOUT IT.
SUBARU OUTBACK MOON ROOF IS THE PROBLEM. AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SUBARU VEHICLES, AND YET,THEY CHOOSE TO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION, EVEN WHEN SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED PRIOR TO PURCHASE. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT OPEN THE ROOF, THERE ARE DRAINS THAT CAN CLOG, AND WHEN THEY CLOG, THE CAR STARTS FILLING WITH WATER. T…
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SUBARU OUTBACK MOON ROOF IS THE PROBLEM. AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SUBARU VEHICLES, AND YET,THEY CHOOSE TO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION, EVEN WHEN SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED PRIOR TO PURCHASE. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT OPEN THE ROOF, THERE ARE DRAINS THAT CAN CLOG, AND WHEN THEY CLOG, THE CAR STARTS FILLING WITH WATER. THE CLOG, IN MY CASE, WAS FROM FIR NEEDLES, SINCE I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS. BUT THEY ALSO SAY THAT SIMPLY A SPIDERWEB OR ROAD DIRT CAN CAUSE A CLOG OF THESE VERY SENSITIVE DRAINS. IN MY CASE, WATER WAS RUNNING DOWN THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT SHAFT, AND ON TO THE BACK SEAT FLOOR. SINCE IT RAINS A LOT, THEN LOTS OF WATER CAN COME IN. MANY, MANY GALLONS OF WATER. IT HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND WHEN IT IS MOVING. WE HAD TWO OCTOBER STORMS THAT DROPPED A GREAT DEAL OF RAIN, WHICH CAUSED SO MUCH WATER TO ENTER THE CAR THAT IT SLOSHED WHEN DRIVEN; LITERALLY, LIKE DRIVING A SWIMMING POOL! AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, SUBARU AGREED TO CLEAN THE DISASTER ONCE ONLY UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEN THEY WERE DONE. THERE IS NOTHING IN THEIR MANUALS ABOUT KEEPING THESE MYSTERY DRAINS CLEAR. THEY JUST HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THEY WILL LIE TO YOUR FACE ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE WATER TIGHT NATURE OF THAT ROOF WINDOW. REPEATEDLY. AND ONCE THOSE HIDDEN DRAINS START TO CLOG, THE WINDOWS INITIALLY START FOGGING UP, FOLLOWED BY LARGE AMOUNTS OF MOLD AND OTHER NASTINESS. THEN THE CARPETING, UPHOLSTERY AND ALL OTHER "SOFT" COMPONENTS OF THE CAR NEED TO BE REPLACED. BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO CLEAN THE AIR VENT SYSTEM, SO MOLD IS THERE TO STAY.
NEW 2014 OUTBACK WITH STATIC NOISE COMING FROM THE AUDIO / SPEAKER SYSTEM; BOTH WITH OR WITHOUT THE RADIO BEING TURNED ON. THIS WILL HAPPEN RANDOMLY, WITH NO PARTICULAR SET PATTERN OR OBVIOUS REASON; IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN OR EVEN TRY TO RE-CREATE. WE DON'T HAVE THE NAVIGATION PACKAGE. I HAVE A HARMON …
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NEW 2014 OUTBACK WITH STATIC NOISE COMING FROM THE AUDIO / SPEAKER SYSTEM; BOTH WITH OR WITHOUT THE RADIO BEING TURNED ON. THIS WILL HAPPEN RANDOMLY, WITH NO PARTICULAR SET PATTERN OR OBVIOUS REASON; IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN OR EVEN TRY TO RE-CREATE. WE DON'T HAVE THE NAVIGATION PACKAGE. I HAVE A HARMON RADIO WITHOUT SATELLITE. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A PATTERN AND THE DEALER CANNOT PINPOINT THE ISSUE. THIS HAPPENS EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS OFF AND I AM NOT USING THE BLUETOOTH. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH OR WITHOUT ENGINE RUNNING. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN SINCE I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE RANDOMLY.
THE INTERIOR WINDOWS WILL SUDDENLY GET COVERED WITH FOG. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER TWENTY FIVE TIMES TO MY CAR. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER, OR OUTSIDE TEMP IS. THIS, CAUSES A SERIOUS PROBLEM TRYING TO SEE OUT OF THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I CALED THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD TO RUN THE AC. IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN WHEN TH…
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THE INTERIOR WINDOWS WILL SUDDENLY GET COVERED WITH FOG. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER TWENTY FIVE TIMES TO MY CAR. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER, OR OUTSIDE TEMP IS. THIS, CAUSES A SERIOUS PROBLEM TRYING TO SEE OUT OF THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I CALED THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD TO RUN THE AC. IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN WHEN THE AC , IS ALREADY ON. I'VE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES IN THE 14 MONTHS I'VE HAD THE CAR. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN CLEAR PHOTOGRAPHS 3 TIMES SHOWING CLEAR IMAGES OF HOW BAD THE INTERIOR FOGGING GETS. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO CONTACT SUBARU AMERICA ASK FOR RPLACMENT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THREE PEOPLE AT SUBARU, PROVIDED ALL PHOTOS. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. MUNN 16 2015 IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON INTERSTATE I-205 AND IT MADE SEEING OUT OF THE CAR ALMOST IMPOSSABLE. I HAD TO CAREFULLY PULL OF TO ROAD SIDE WIPE WINDSHIELD AND ALL INTERIOR WINDOWS OFF. I HAVE TO CARRY TOWELS WITH ME AT ALL TIMES. PROBLEM HAPPENS WITHOUT ANY INDACATION, IT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I'M DISABLED VETERAN AND REQUIRE A LOT OF MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AT THE VA MEDICAL CENTER. I LIVE ALONE SO I'M TAKING A CHANCE JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE VA. AT SOME POINT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCADENT. SUBARU SHOWED LITTLE CONCERN, EVEN IF THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THE SAME OR SIMILE PROBLEM.
THE SUNGLASSES STORAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR OF THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE WILL NOT STAY LATCHED UP. IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION THE DOOR BLOCKS THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.
Official recalls
1020V001000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 2, 2020
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
20V002000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 2, 2020
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
20V003000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 2, 2020
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
19V297000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Apr 11, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
19V007000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 9, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-19.
19V008000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 9, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-19.
19V009000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 9, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-19.
18V626000 · Parking Brake
Sep 13, 2018
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not engage as intended, allowing the vehicle to rollaway if the transmission is not in the proper gear when parked.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPB actuator assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTV-81.
16V694000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
Sep 27, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Legacy vehicles manufactured November 26, 2008, to June 7, 2013, and 2010-2014 Outback vehicles manufactured January 9, 2009 to June 7, 2013. Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If an obstruction, such as a buildup of snow or ice prevents the wiper arms from being able to stop in the parked position, the wiper motor may overheat and the bottom cover may melt.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the wiper motor cover may melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor bottom cover assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTK-71. Note: This recall supersedes recall 11V-469. All vehicles that were remedied under that campaign are affected by this campaign, and need to have their wiper motor bottom cover replaced again.
13V336000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Aug 1, 2013
Subaru of America is recalling certain model year 2014 Legacy 3.6R and Outback 3.6R and 2013 Tribeca vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through June 28, 2013 and equipped with 5-speed automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the parking rod may come loose inside the automatic transmission.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: As a result of the parking rod detaching, the transmission may not be able to be moved from the "park" position preventing the vehicle from being moved or driven. Furthermore, even with the transmission shifted into the 'park' position, the parking mechanism may not engage, and the vehicle may roll away while in the "park" position, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. The recall began during August 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall number is WQJ-46.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.