2014 Subaru Outback problems
The 2014 Subaru Outback has 276 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (15%) concerns air bags. Next are engine (13%) and electrical system (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 276 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 26 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 23 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 31,000 miles 201 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 81 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 37 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 23 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 27 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 18 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 4 |
What the data shows
Of the 201 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 30,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 46,000 miles (17 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 26 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 23 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2014 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 31 model years of the Subaru Outback with enough data (218 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 10 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
As part of the takata recall, we had the airbags on our 2014 subaru outback replaced by the dealer on may 8, 2019. On may 22, 2019, we were sitting at a city stoplight when we were hit head on by another driver going 40-50 MPH. In spite of a direct hit to the front airbag sensors, the airbags did not deploy on our 2014 subaru outback. When we notified the dealer who did the replacement of the failed airbags, they refused to comment.
Tl* the contact owned a 2014 subaru outback. The contact was driving about 35 MPH, when an oncoming vehicle lost control and crashed into another vehicle, hit the guard rail and causing the contact's vehicle to rear end the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact and two of her children, in the vehicle, received cuts and bruises that required medical attention. All three were taken to the emergency room. The vehicle was totaled and was towed to a tow yard.
I backed out of my driveway and put the car into drive and there was a long, about 7 second delay before the car moved forward. It was in gear and my foot was on the gas but nothing happened.
I was hit by a 1979 dodge pickup that ran a red light on 6th street while I was driving 30 MPH headed north on jackson street in topeka, kansas. It impacted my subaru on the passenger side in the area of the front fender and front door. Upon impact, none of my airbags deployed nor did my seat belt restrain me. I hit the steering wheel with my chest....updated 12/03/15 updated 04/25/18
Outback 2.5l. We noticed oil consumption after the 3-4th oil change. All oil changes were preformed at subaru dealership ( browns manasssas or sheehy springfiield). We asked why we were having to add oil and told that this was normal. The situation has gotten worse with low oil light coming on at about 4,000 miles on the oil change. We notified subaru headquarters and they suggested an oil consumption test. That was the first time that had been suggested. The mileage was about appx 72,000 miles.