Subaru Outback problems
207 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
- Electrical system: 29 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 11,528–85,004 mi
- Powertrain: 25 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 7,000–71,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
my air bags didn't deploy when I hit a tree, and the seat belt gave loose. A police report was filed, and the car was evaluated by a collision center. The insurance company has not yet evaluated the vehicle. The air bag indicator light indicated the air bags were in good working…
While driving on highway windshield cracked in an arc pattern starting from the drivers side to passenger side resulting in a perfect symmetrical pattern. It was around 10 degrees outside and the vehicles defrost and heat were on high. No object hit windshield before crack…
I need to pursue a critical problem that the dealer is unable to re-create/solve. Approximately a dozen times(10 by my wife and 3 by me), we've turned left from a stop(typically at a red-light) only for the car to stall from 3 to 6 seconds. The 3 times I was driving, my wife…
Brand new car and engine burning oil issue: Subaru of georgetown, tx, dealer told me that I did not have to change the oil until I reached 7500 miles on my brand new 2014 Subaru outback. At 4900 miles, oil pressure and low oil lights came on briefly, then turned off 30 miles…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2014 Subaru Outback reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 207 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 Subaru Outback is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2014 Subaru Outback?
The 2014 Subaru Outback is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 29 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 11,528–85,004 mi; Powertrain: 25 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 7,000–71,000 mi; Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2014 Subaru Outback?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 36 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 55,445 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 55,445 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Subaru Outback has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2014 Subaru Outback?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 207 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.