This page covers 9 recalls, 207 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2014 Subaru Outback.
20–26 mpg combined
9–11.8 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints about the 2014 Subaru Outback cluster heavily around airbags, the engine, and the powertrain. The airbag category draws the most reports, with owners describing unexpected warning lights and concerns about whether restraint systems are functioning correctly. Engine complaints cover a range of symptoms including noise, rough running, and performance issues. A recurring theme across multiple reports is underbody corrosion, owners describe severe rusting of chassis and subframe components, in some cases severe enough to raise concerns about structural integrity. Steering pull and front-end shaking while driving also appear across several reports, sometimes accompanied by grinding noises. A handful of owners mention the infotainment screen going black intermittently, requiring a full restart to restore backup camera function, a pattern that comes up often enough to be worth noting.
207
Total Complaints
14
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
8
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 Subaru Outback has 9 recalls, the most serious being a front passenger airbag inflator that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death to occupants.
Multiple recalls cover this same airbag inflator defect, and prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles. There is also an ignition switch concern on vehicles where the switch was replaced as a service part: a small spring inside the switch can break, causing the engine to shut off without warning and potentially preventing the airbags from deploying in a crash. On the visibility side, the windshield wiper motor can overheat and stop working, leaving the driver without wipers in wet conditions. On manual transmission models, the electronic parking brake may fail to engage properly, allowing the vehicle to roll if the transmission is not left in gear when parked.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown caused by long-term exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown caused by prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator with a different design at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from exposure to high humidity, temperature changes, and heat over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The ball spring inside the ignition switch may break, weakening it. Key ring weight or road conditions could then shift the switch from run to accessory position, shutting off the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the ignition switch and replace it if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode during deployment in a crash. This can happen because the propellant inside degrades over time when exposed to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator can explode during deployment due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant breaking down after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electronic parking brake may fail to engage properly, which could allow the vehicle to roll away if the transmission is not in the correct gear when parked.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electronic parking brake actuator assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Contaminated components in the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If snow or ice buildup prevents the wiper arms from stopping in the parked position, the motor can overheat and the cover may melt.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor bottom cover assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
