IllustrationSTEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK IN EITHER UP OR DOWN POSITION
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 reportsREGULAR DRIVING LIGHTS FOR NIGHT TRAVEL ARE TOTALLY INSUFFICIENT AND DO NOT FULLY LIGHT STREET MORE THAN 1- 2 CAR LENGTHS IN FRONT OF CAR. DEALER CHECKED DIRECTION AND POWER OF LIGHTS AND CLAIMS ALL IS NORMAL. WHEN I DRIVE IN A DARK AREA, I FEEL UNSAFE. I CAN;T BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL BUT DEALER CLAIMS IT IS.
DANGEROUS! INTERMITTENT DELAY OF 4 TO 6 SECONDS TYPICALLY PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A COMPLETE STOP. OTHER CARS SLAMMING ON BRAKES TO PREVENT WRECK, SWERVING TO MISS MY STALLED CAR. MY WIFE AND GRAND-KIDS HAVE BEEN ON PASSENGER SIDE WHEN THIS OCCURS WHERE THEY ARE MOST VULNERABLE SINCE MOST INCIDENCES OCCUR WHEN TURNING LE…
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DANGEROUS! INTERMITTENT DELAY OF 4 TO 6 SECONDS TYPICALLY PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A COMPLETE STOP. OTHER CARS SLAMMING ON BRAKES TO PREVENT WRECK, SWERVING TO MISS MY STALLED CAR. MY WIFE AND GRAND-KIDS HAVE BEEN ON PASSENGER SIDE WHEN THIS OCCURS WHERE THEY ARE MOST VULNERABLE SINCE MOST INCIDENCES OCCUR WHEN TURNING LEFT. THIS CAR IS LIKELY TO KILL OR MANGLE SOMEONE IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED. THE OL 'WE CAN'T CREATE IT' IS GETTING REALLY STALE FROM THE DEALER WHEN LIVES ARE AT RISK. I'M ASSUMING IT'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW DEATHS BEFORE A RECALL OCCURS. I WOULD LOVE TO RAISE THE MONEY TO PUT A FULL PAGE IN USA TODAY TO GET THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION SOME ATTENTION IF NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO.
V-BELT CHIRPING WHEN RUNNING ESPECIALLY WITH A/C ON
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 CHA…
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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. WE DID THEY OIL CONSUMPTION TEST ON THE NEXT OIL CHANGE AT APPX 78,800. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AFTER 1,200MILES (80,000 MILES). THE VEHICLE USED 3 OZ. OF OIL IN 1,200 MILES. WE WERE TOLD THAT WAS IN NORMAL LIMITS OR SPECS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT USED THAT MUCH OIL WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE SINCE I HAD THIS START TO HAPPEN ABOUT 22,500 MILES.
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.
WHEN AT A STOP EITHER AT A 4 WAY, TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR WAITING TO MAKE A TURN, SOMETIMES THE CAR HESITATES A FEW SECONDS BEFORE GOING AND THEN SURGES FORWARD. I ALSO HAVE HAD IT STALL FOR OVER 20 MINUTES AND WOULDN'T START TILL AFTER 20 MINUTES. THE HESITATION IS DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING TURNS ACROSS OR INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE IT DOESN'…
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WHEN AT A STOP EITHER AT A 4 WAY, TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR WAITING TO MAKE A TURN, SOMETIMES THE CAR HESITATES A FEW SECONDS BEFORE GOING AND THEN SURGES FORWARD. I ALSO HAVE HAD IT STALL FOR OVER 20 MINUTES AND WOULDN'T START TILL AFTER 20 MINUTES. THE HESITATION IS DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING TURNS ACROSS OR INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GO AND YOU CAN GET HIT. IT DOES NOT TRIP THE ENGINE LIGHT SO THE DEALER CAN FIX IT.
AT 38,000 MILES LOW-OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I STOPPED AT A MADISON WI DEALER WHO INDICATED THE CONSUMPTION IS NORMAL. I ARGUED THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD A LOW-OIL LIGHT COME ON IN OVER FORTY YEARS OF DRIVING. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO CONDUCT AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THERE IS NOW 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT IS U…
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AT 38,000 MILES LOW-OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I STOPPED AT A MADISON WI DEALER WHO INDICATED THE CONSUMPTION IS NORMAL. I ARGUED THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD A LOW-OIL LIGHT COME ON IN OVER FORTY YEARS OF DRIVING. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO CONDUCT AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THERE IS NOW 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT IS USING A QUART EVERY 3,500 MILES. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. NHTSA NEEDS TO FORCE SUBARU TO REPLACE THESE ENGINES.
THERE IS NO EMERGENCY BRAKE ON A 2014 OUTBACK,THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING.UNSAFE, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS WITH BRAKES THERE IS NOTHING TO STOP CAR FOR SAFETY THE HAND EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOULD BE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE, SO PASSENGER COULD ALSO PULL IT ON. .FRONT SPRINGS BOTTOM OUT FOR THE SLIGHTEST DIP IN THE …
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THERE IS NO EMERGENCY BRAKE ON A 2014 OUTBACK,THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING.UNSAFE, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS WITH BRAKES THERE IS NOTHING TO STOP CAR FOR SAFETY THE HAND EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOULD BE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE, SO PASSENGER COULD ALSO PULL IT ON. .FRONT SPRINGS BOTTOM OUT FOR THE SLIGHTEST DIP IN THE ROAD.. I COMPLAINED TO SUBARU ABOUT THE BRAKE AND THEY TOLD ME BUY ANOTHER CAR
"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.