2014 Subaru Outback Reliability
The 2014 Subaru Outback has 208 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with nearby Outback model years (2012–2016), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Outback's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
208
NHTSA owner complaints
10
Recall campaigns
14
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2014 Subaru Outback complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 38 | 18% |
| Engine | 35 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 32 | 15% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 25 | 12% |
| Unknown or other | 22 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 22 | 11% |
| Steering | 17 | 8% |
| Speed control / throttle | 14 | 7% |
2014 Subaru Outback recalls
10 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2014 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V336000 | Aug 1, 2013 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | 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… |
| 16V694000 | Sep 27, 2016 | Visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / motor | 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… |
| 18V626000 | Sep 13, 2018 | Parking brake | 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… |
| 19V009000 | Jan 9, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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,… |
| 19V008000 | Jan 9, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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… |
| 19V007000 | Jan 9, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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,… |
| 19V297000 | Apr 11, 2019 | Electrical system — ignition / switch | 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… |
| 20V001000 | Jan 2, 2020 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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… |
| 20V002000 | Jan 2, 2020 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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… |
| 20V003000 | Jan 2, 2020 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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… |
How the 2014 compares with nearby Outback years
Verdicts compare these Outback model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 295 | 16 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2013 | 297 | 12 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 (this page) | 208 | 10 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2015 | 509 | 5 | Visibility / wipers | Avoid |
| 2016 | 643 | 4 | Electrical system | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2014 Subaru Outback on the used market
- 40 of 731 2014 Subaru Outback listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2014 Subaru Outback
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 10 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2014 Subaru Outback can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2014 Subaru Outback reliability FAQ
Is the 2014 Subaru Outback reliable?
The 2014 Subaru Outback has 208 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with nearby Outback model years (2012–2016), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Outback's typical year.
What are the most common 2014 Subaru Outback problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Subaru Outback are air bags (38), engine (35), electrical system (32), powertrain / transmission (25). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2014 Subaru Outback have recalls?
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2014 Subaru Outback, including 13V336000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission) and 16V694000 (visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / motor). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2014 Subaru Outback compare with the 2013 and 2015 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2013 has 297 complaints and 12 recalls (avoid); the 2015 has 509 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid). The 2014 has 208 complaints and 10 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2014 Subaru Outback?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Subaru Outback research
Other Subaru Outback model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2014 Outback, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.