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 and a grandchild were on the passenger side and narrowly missed a direct side impact. The problem is intermittent, we…
2014 Subaru Outback cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Subaru Outback have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 10,200 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Outback | 8 |
| 2011 Outback | 12 |
| 2012 Outback | 4 |
| 2013 Outback | 11 |
| 2014 Outback (this page) | 10 |
| 2015 Outback | 20 |
| 2016 Outback | 15 |
| 2017 Outback | 25 |
| 2018 Outback | 17 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 10 cruise control complaints filed for the 2014 Subaru Outback, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report five distinct problems with the 2014 Outback's throttle and drivability. The most common complaint is throttle hesitation: the engine fails to respond for 2–15 seconds when the driver depresses the accelerator, particularly from stops, during low-speed turns, and highway merges. The engine holds idle while hesitating, then delivers a sudden hard surge once it engages. This has created near-misses with oncoming traffic during left turns and highway on-ramps.
Unintended acceleration without driver input is also reported, with RPMs spiking to 3,000 and the vehicle accelerating on its own. One complaint describes a severe crash where the vehicle hit 40 mph uncontrollably, ran off road, struck three parked cars and a garage, and continued revving until the homeowner manually shut down the engine. The owner notes Subaru's awareness of a class-action lawsuit for this defect.
Engine stalling occurs specifically during left turns from stopped positions, causing dangerous hesitation in traffic. Engine RPM hunting on steady grades (800–1000 RPM cycling at ~4 cycles/minute) adds annoyance and driver stress. One complaint of fuel-system failure—gasoline smell, hesitation, and sudden inoperability at low speed on a busy road—was reported on a near-new vehicle with only 9,000 miles.
Across all issues, dealers have failed to diagnose or recreate the problems, dismissing them as normal CVT behavior or blaming two-foot driving despite owner denial.
Same Subaru Outback cruise control reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Throttle hesitation / delayed acceleration response
Engine fails to respond to accelerator pedal input for 2–15 seconds, particularly from stops or low speeds. The engine holds idle while the driver depresses the pedal, then suddenly lurches forward once the delay resolves.
When: Occurs at low speeds (<20 mph), at stops, during left turns from traffic lights, and during highway merges. Happens intermittently, reportedly once every 60–75 left turns in some cases.
Symptoms owners cite: 2–15 second delay between pedal input and engine response; Sudden hard acceleration after hesitation ends; Engine holds steady idle during delay; Occurs most often at stops and low-speed maneuvers
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce or fix; stated 'normal for CVT transmission' or blamed two-foot driving habit despite owner denial.
Unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input, sometimes to high speed. Driver unable to decelerate normally. Foot not on accelerator at time of event.
When: Reported at 25 mph approaching red light; occurred approximately 12 times since February 2017 (failure mileage ~22,000). Also reported at 40 mph on regular route.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration without foot on accelerator; RPMs increase (to 3,000 in one case); No warning lights before failure; Brake pedal becomes ineffective or goes to floor in severe case; Vehicle unable to stop normally
Repairs/costs cited: One severe case: vehicle went airborne, missed tree, crashed into 3 parked cars and garage; engine continued revving until homeowner shut it off. Dealer attempts to duplicate failed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no recall or service bulletin issued; owner notes awareness of class action lawsuit.
Engine stall on left turns from stopped position
Vehicle stalls (loses power momentarily) when turning left from a stop, typically at traffic lights. Engine does not fully shut down but loses power for 3–6 seconds.
When: Occurs intermittently when turning left from stopped position at red lights; estimated once per 60–75 left turns.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of engine response for 3–6 seconds during left turn from stop; Vehicle nearly missed by oncoming traffic multiple times; No brake or accelerator misuse; normal driving technique
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to recreate over 3+ visits; computer shows no faults.
Cruise control hunting and poor drivability on grades
With cruise control engaged on rolling terrain, vehicle overshoots set speed on downhill, brakes hard, then undershoots and accelerates aggressively over crest. Additionally, engine RPM cycles erratically (800–1000 RPM range at ~4 cycles/minute) when climbing steady 3–4% grades at highway speed.
When: Occurs on rolling terrain and uniform grades at highway speeds; observed since vehicle was new.
Symptoms owners cite: Speed oscillates 2–3 mph above and below set point on hills; RPM cycling at ~4 cycles per minute on steady grades; Annoying to driver and passengers; increases driver stress
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Factory rep and dealer evaluated; stated vehicle operating within specifications, no adjustments or action taken despite three dealer visits.
Loss of fuel system / fuel starvation
Vehicle suddenly develops gasoline smell, hesitant acceleration, low-fuel warning light, and becomes inoperable mid-drive on a busy road.
When: At approximately 20 mph on busy road; vehicle only ~7 months old with ~9,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden gasoline smell; Hesitant acceleration; Low-fuel warning light illuminates; Vehicle becomes inoperable
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Periodically the vehicle will not accelerate for 3-5 seconds from a standing stop when the gas pedal is depressed . This is well documented in several Subaru user groups on the internet. When pulling into busy traffic this problem is terrifying. The car will just not accelerate. The car was returned to the dealer and, as expected, he could find nothing wrong. We told the dealer that the…
Entering a main state highway from a rural road I pressed down on the accelerator resulting in no response placing myself in jeopardy for a a collision from rapidly approaching cars behind me this intermittent stalling problem also occurred previously at slow speeds upon exiting a shopping mall on to a busy local highway. *tr
Had cruise control 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 cruise control problem on the 2014 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 7,500 and 22,000 miles, with the median around 10,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,500; a quarter make it past 22,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.