Illustration2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUNROOF DRAINS BEING CLOGGED WHICH CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO VEHICLE WHEN RAINING. *LD *JS
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
What owners actually said
208 reportsINSPECTION NOTED BELT SEPERATION ON GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TIRES, VEHICLE STATIONARY
I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-17 NORTH OF PHOENIX AZ. ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) WAS SET AND I WAS FOLLOWING THE CAR AHEAD AT THE MAXIMUM DISTANCE SET BY ACC. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKE. I SAW THE PRECEDING CAR'S BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, AND I FELT MY CAR START TO SLOW. THE PRECEDING CAR STOPPED AND IT…
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I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-17 NORTH OF PHOENIX AZ. ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) WAS SET AND I WAS FOLLOWING THE CAR AHEAD AT THE MAXIMUM DISTANCE SET BY ACC. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKE. I SAW THE PRECEDING CAR'S BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, AND I FELT MY CAR START TO SLOW. THE PRECEDING CAR STOPPED AND IT BECAME APPARENT THAT MY CAR WAS NO LONGER BRAKING, OR IF IT WAS, NOT HARD ENOUGH TO STOP. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT IT WAS TOO LATE AND WE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US AT A SPEED GREAT ENOUGH TO DO $7000 OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR. CURIOUSLY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGERS IN THE CAR INCLUDED MY WIFE IN THE FRONT SEAT, WHO WAS THROWN INTO THE SEAT/SHOULDER HARNESS HARD ENOUGH TO KNOCK THE WIND OUT OF HER. SHE COMPLAINED OF CHEST PAINS AND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. NO SERIOUS INJURIES WERE FOUND. MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT AND I WERE RESTRAINED PROPERLY BY THE SEAT BELT AND SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. THEY RESPONDED BY TELLING ME THAT THEY WERE SENDING TWO ENGINEERS TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE. AFTER A MONTH OR 6 WEEKS THEY RESPONDED THAT THEIR INVESTIGATION WAS COMPLETE. THEY FOUND THAT 5 SECONDS BEFORE THE CRASH I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. 1.5 SECONDS BEFORE THE CRASH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED (DISABLING ACC). THEY TOLD ME THAT THE EYESIGHT WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AND WILL NOT STOP ALL CRASHES. SO SORRY. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG, EITHER WITH THE DESIGN OR THE FUNCTIONING OF EYESIGHT AND ACC. MY CAR HAD 60,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. I HAVE USED ACC HUNDREDS (PERHAPS THOUSANDS) OF TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. IT HAD ALWAYS PERFORMED AS ADVERTISED, I.E. MAINTAINING A CONSTANT DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR AHEAD. IT SLOWED AS NEEDED, AND CAME TO A STOP WHENEVER TRAFFIC STOPPED. THEN ONE DAY IT DIDN'T
STARTED CAR NORMALLY, POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. RESTARTED CAR A FEW TIMES IN HOPES IT WOULD START WORKING AGAIN, IT DID NOT. NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. DROVE HOME WITH MANUAL STEERING ~30 MIN. RESTARTED AGAIN AT HOME, THEN IT WORKED PROPERLY. ONCE CAR SITS FOR A WHILE IT GOES BACK TO NOT WORKING. THIS PAT…
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STARTED CAR NORMALLY, POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. RESTARTED CAR A FEW TIMES IN HOPES IT WOULD START WORKING AGAIN, IT DID NOT. NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. DROVE HOME WITH MANUAL STEERING ~30 MIN. RESTARTED AGAIN AT HOME, THEN IT WORKED PROPERLY. ONCE CAR SITS FOR A WHILE IT GOES BACK TO NOT WORKING. THIS PATTERN HAS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW. NO SQUEALING AND NO FLUID LEAKS. MUST BE ELECTRICAL ISSUE SOMEWHERE. BATTERY IS GOOD, ALTERNATOR IS GOOD. 2014 OUTBACK, 55,000 MILES, 2.5I BASE MODEL, MANUAL TRANSMISSION
4 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT WAS NOT PROMPTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GANLEY SUBARU OF BEDFORD (123 BROADWAY AVE, BEDFORD, OH) AND DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT AB…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT WAS NOT PROMPTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GANLEY SUBARU OF BEDFORD (123 BROADWAY AVE, BEDFORD, OH) AND DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. *TT
TL- CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THROUGH SUBARU FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO SUBARU AND HAD ENGINE CHECKED FOR OIL CONSUMPTION AND ENGINE OIL WAS EMPTY. SUBARU SAID NO RECALL ON VEHICLE. CONTACT WANTS ENGINE BLOCK REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE.. SUBARU STATED ENGINE BLOCK IS NOT UN…
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TL- CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THROUGH SUBARU FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO SUBARU AND HAD ENGINE CHECKED FOR OIL CONSUMPTION AND ENGINE OIL WAS EMPTY. SUBARU SAID NO RECALL ON VEHICLE. CONTACT WANTS ENGINE BLOCK REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE.. SUBARU STATED ENGINE BLOCK IS NOT UNDER RECALL. 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN.
VEHICLE BEGAN USING OIL AFTER APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES. LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN IMMEDIATELY. THE OIL AND FILTER WERE CHANGED AND I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK AFTER 1200 MILES FOR A "OIL CONSUMPTION TEST" . THE TEST WAS PERF…
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VEHICLE BEGAN USING OIL AFTER APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES. LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN IMMEDIATELY. THE OIL AND FILTER WERE CHANGED AND I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK AFTER 1200 MILES FOR A "OIL CONSUMPTION TEST" . THE TEST WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP, PATRICK SUBARU AND THE RESULTS, 1/3 QT. OF OIL WAS CONSUMED AND THE INFORMATION WAS SENT TO SUBARU OF AMERICA. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. I HAVE SINCE DRIVEN THE CAR 2789 MILES AND HAVE CONSUMED 1.1QTS OF OIL. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD ANOTHER OIL CONSUMPTION TEST MUST BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE IS ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR. PLEASE NOTE THAT A CLASS ACTION SUITE WAS AWARDED AGAINST SUBARU FOR 2012 TO 2014 VEHICLES USING EXCESSIVE OIL. THIS VEHICLE CARRIES THE "PREZ" EMBLEM FOR PARTICLE ZERO EMISSIONS. YET THIS VEHICLE EMITS OVER A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2790 MILES.
BURNING OIL. EXCESSIVE OIL CHANGES
TAKATA RECALL
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.