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 order. I slid off the road in snow and hit a tree dead on and my entire front end crumpled, but my air bags didn't…
2014 Subaru Outback airbags problems
severe 36 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
36
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
6crashes
10injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 36 airbags complaints filed for the 2014 Subaru Outback, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 36 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Airbag alarm setoff and blinking whether someone occupies the passenger seat or not. Can not turn the alarm off
The ODS in our 2014 Subaru Outback has failed, and there is a constant beeping indicating that the air bag system is not functioning properly. This was definitely an issue the last two winters, too, but with covid quarantine and illness, we were not able to address it then. The airbag warning lights and sounds persist whether the seat is unoccupied or occupied by a child (14 or 16) or adult.…
Takata recall
The seat sensor for the passenger side is not working in cold weather, causing the airbag to be deactivated. The seatbelt indicator signal beeps regardless of whether someone is sitting in the seat with the seatbelt on or no one is sitting in the seat. This happens when the vehicle is in motion and happens any time the temperature in the vehicle is below freezing.
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 *bf updated 04/25/18 *jb…
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2014 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 36 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 34,000 and 67,933 miles, with the median around 45,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 34,000; a quarter make it past 67,933. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Subaru/Outback.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.