2014 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

Your radiator hose suddenly burst while driving, releasing steam and causing the engine to overheat with all warning lights illuminating. The failure damaged the radiator, head gasket, and required a complete engine rebuild. There were no warning signs before the failure occurred, even though the car had recently been serviced at the dealer.

Your engine is consuming oil between scheduled oil changes and requires frequent top-ups. Starting around 118,000 miles, your engine began jerking and making unusual noises, which your Subaru dealer says requires a short engine block repair costing over $6,000. This issue matches a known problem covered under Subaru's extended warranty bulletin for other Outbacks, but your vehicle's VIN falls outside that coverage and is no longer under warranty.

Your oil warning light keeps coming on between regular oil changes, indicating your engine oil level is dropping faster than normal. A mechanic confirmed the oil was low but couldn't pinpoint the exact cause, though they suspect it may be a mechanical engine issue. The fix will likely involve a thorough engine inspection to identify whether there's an oil leak, internal seal damage, or other mechanical problem causing the oil loss.

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, I WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL CHANGE NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED EVERY 7,500 MILES. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE LOW ENGINE OIL LIGHT WOULD COME ON SHORT OF 7,500 MILES. SUBARU CHANGED WHEN THE OIL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED FROM 7,500 TO 6,000 MILES DUE TO THE OIL USAGE WITH THE ENGINE IN THIS OUTBACK YEAR. RECENTLY, I CANNOT DRIVE MUCH BEYOND 3,000 MILES WITHOUT THE LOW ENGINE OIL COMING ON AFTER NEW OIL CHANGES BY THE DEALERSHIP!! IT APPEARS AS THE VEHICLE AGES THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT IS COMING ON SOONER AND SOONER!! I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT IS LOW WHEN THE LIGHT DOES COME ON. I FEEL SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG AND SUBARU NEEDS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM WHICH IS BECOMING VERY SERIOUS. THIS IS MY FIRST SUBARU AND I'VE NOT EXPERIENCED THESE ISSUES WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I'VE OWNED FOR THE PAST 30+ YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THE CAR ENGINE DIES FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN OR ABOUT TO ENTER A HIGHWAY. THEN IT JUMPS AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED VERY DANGEROUS I AM SCARED TO DEATH. *TR

MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK BLEW ON ME IN DECEMBER 2019. I WAS IN MOTION TURNING OFF THE HIGHWAY TO AN INTERSECTION

I HAVE A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH AN EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. SUBARU RECENTLY SETTLED THE CLASS ACTION FOR THE SAME ISSUE FOR SEVERAL VEHICLE MODELS BUT NOT MY VEHICLE IS INCLUDED. MY VEHICLE HAS SHOWN THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE WHEN I DROVE ABOUT 50K MILES. I WENT TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP, SUBARU IMPORTS OF TROY IN MI, FOR THE ISSUE BUT THEY JUST REFILLED THE OIL WHEN I ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT. AT 61,721 MILES, THE DEALERSHIP FIRST TESTED IT BUT I BELIEVE THEY OVERFILLED THE OIL WHEN TESTING BECAUSE THE ISSUE CAME BACK AFTER THE TEST. WHENEVER I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ISSUE, THE DEALERSHIP JUST REFILLED THE OIL. BUT RECENTLY WHEN I STRONGLY COMPLAINED ABOUT IT BY MENTIONING REPORTING TO NHTSA, THE DEALERSHIP ASKED ME TO CONTACT SUBARU AMERICA AND TO GET THE APPROVAL OF EXTENDED WARRANTY SO THAT THEY CAN FIX MY CAR. I CONTACTED SUBARU AMERICA BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THAT THEY CAN'T PROVIDE ME WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAVE PASSED 5YEAR/60KM WARRANTY ALREADY. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT THEY CHEATED ME TO OVERFILL THE ENGINE OIL AND KEPT REFILLING WHEN I WENT THERE WITH THE LOW ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT ON. THE FACT IS THAT THE ISSUE CAME BEFORE THE WARRANTY BUT IT WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF IN A FAIRWAY. SUBARU AMERICA SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEFECTIVE PART FOR MY VEHICLE AND COMPENSATE MY TIMES AND STRESSES BECAUSE I HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY OTHER MONTH TO REFILL THE OIL AFTER 50K MILES. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES BUT SUBARU HAS ONLY THIS ISSUE. AND SUBARU AMERICA SHOULD CHECK THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE PARTS FOR OTHER VEHICLES, WHICH ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU AMERICA KEEP CHEATING THE CUSTOMERS BY NOT TAKING CARE OF CUSTOMER SAFETY. THANKS,

OIL LIGHT COMES ON AFTER 3000 MILES FROM OIL CHANGE. SOMETIMES IMMEDIATELY AFTER OIL CHANGE DESPITE HAVING FULL LEVEL. OIL LEVELS CAN DROP SIGNIFICANTLY FROM OIL CHANGES. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED BY DEALER AND OWNER WITH SAME RESULTS. HAPPENS WHEN ASCENDING AND DESCENDING HILLS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IRA SUBARU (LOCATED AT 97 ANDOVER ST, DANVERS, MA 01923, (978) 739-8850) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A SHORT BLOCK MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

3 TO 15 SECOND HESITATION IN THROTTLE RESPONSE. LAST INCIDENT NEARLY RESULTED IN A COLLISION. I STOPPED WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR BEFORE MAKING AN LEFT TURN. MADE THE LEFT TURN, GENTLY APPLIED THE THROTTLE PEDAL, NO RESPONSE, PUSHED IT TO MAXIMUM TRAVEL, STILL NO RESPONSE, CAR COMING TOWARD ME IN ONCOMING LANE, THEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED SO THAT A COLLISION WAS AVOIDED. CITY 2 LANE STREET, TURNING LEFT.

AT 70,000 MILES (ROUNDED) ENGINE BEGAN LEAKING OIL FROM BOTH CAM CARRIERS AND THE UPPER OIL PAN. OIL LEAKS ON EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING A BURNING OIL SMELL AND CAN SEE SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE CAR. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IS $2050 FROM SUBARU DEALERSHIP. HAVE HEARD RUMORS OF OTHER 2.5I ENGINES HAVING SAME PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS, CAN CAUSE ENGINE FIRE AS OIL LEAKS DIRECTLY ON EXHAUST PIPE. PROBLEM (BURNING SMELL) IS MOST NOTICEABLE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WHEN OIL HAS HAD CHANCE TO LEAK OVERNIGHT. MORE PREVALENT IN COLD WEATHER (WHEN METAL AND GASKETS CONTRACT FROM THE COLD).

MY VEHICLE KEEPS BURNING ENGINE OIL AFTER 3,000 TO 4,000 MILES DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THE ISSUE SINCE NOVEMBER 2017 AND WENT TO SUBARU DEALER TO CHECK IT AND THEY SAID AS LONG AS ENGINE OIL IS THE SAME LEVEL AFTER 1,200 MILES, ENGINE OIL BURNING IS NORMAL. WHEN I ASKED SUBARU DEALER TO ADD THE OIL, THEY CHANGED THE ENGINE OIL AND CHARGED ME BY SAYING THAT IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION. EVEN SUBARU ISSUED TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR THE ENGINE OIL BURNING ISSUE, THEY TREAT THE COMPLAINING CUSTOMERS IN A SNEAKY WAY. THE SYNTHETIC OIL SHOULD RUN OVER 5,000 MILES WITHOUT BURNING IN THE ENGINE AND I HAD NO ISSUES WITH OTHER BRAND CARS SUCH AS FORD. NHTSA SHOULD WARN SUBARU TO MANAGE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS IN A PROPER WAY. IT IS RELATED TO DRIVER'S SAFETY AS I FIND ONLY 1/4 QUART OIL LEFT AFTER 4,000 MILES DRIVING, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS NOT A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THANKS FOR HELPING IN ADVANCE.

MY SUBARU OUTBACK 2014 HAS 50,000 MILES, LOW OIL LIGHT COMES UP ABOUT 4000 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE. SUBARU MANUAL SAID THAT IS 7500 MILES BETWEEN OIL CHANGE. SUBARU DEALER PERFORMS OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. SUBARU DEALER TOLD ME IT IS NORMAL AND THAT I HAVE TO ADD OIL IF LOW OIL LIGHT COME UP. I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE CHEATING.

TL- CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THROUGH SUBARU FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO SUBARU AND HAD ENGINE CHECKED FOR OIL CONSUMPTION AND ENGINE OIL WAS EMPTY. SUBARU SAID NO RECALL ON VEHICLE. CONTACT WANTS ENGINE BLOCK REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE.. SUBARU STATED ENGINE BLOCK IS NOT UNDER RECALL. 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN.

VEHICLE BEGAN USING OIL AFTER APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES. LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN IMMEDIATELY. THE OIL AND FILTER WERE CHANGED AND I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK AFTER 1200 MILES FOR A "OIL CONSUMPTION TEST" . THE TEST WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP, PATRICK SUBARU AND THE RESULTS, 1/3 QT. OF OIL WAS CONSUMED AND THE INFORMATION WAS SENT TO SUBARU OF AMERICA. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. I HAVE SINCE DRIVEN THE CAR 2789 MILES AND HAVE CONSUMED 1.1QTS OF OIL. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD ANOTHER OIL CONSUMPTION TEST MUST BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE IS ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR. PLEASE NOTE THAT A CLASS ACTION SUITE WAS AWARDED AGAINST SUBARU FOR 2012 TO 2014 VEHICLES USING EXCESSIVE OIL. THIS VEHICLE CARRIES THE "PREZ" EMBLEM FOR PARTICLE ZERO EMISSIONS. YET THIS VEHICLE EMITS OVER A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2790 MILES.

OUTBACK 2.5L. WE NOTICED OIL CONSUMPTION AFTER THE 3-4TH OIL CHANGE. ALL OIL CHANGES WERE PREFORMED AT SUBARU DEALERSHIP ( BROWNS MANASSSAS OR SHEEHY SPRINGFIIELD). WE ASKED WHY WE WERE HAVING TO ADD OIL AND TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THE SITUATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE WITH LOW OIL LIGHT COMING ON AT ABOUT 4,000 MILES ON THE OIL CHANGE. WE NOTIFIED SUBARU HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SUGGESTED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT HAD BEEN SUGGESTED. THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT APPX 72,000 MILES. WE DID THEY OIL CONSUMPTION TEST ON THE NEXT OIL CHANGE AT APPX 78,800. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AFTER 1,200MILES (80,000 MILES). THE VEHICLE USED 3 OZ. OF OIL IN 1,200 MILES. WE WERE TOLD THAT WAS IN NORMAL LIMITS OR SPECS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT USED THAT MUCH OIL WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE SINCE I HAD THIS START TO HAPPEN ABOUT 22,500 MILES.

WHEN AT A STOP EITHER AT A 4 WAY, TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR WAITING TO MAKE A TURN, SOMETIMES THE CAR HESITATES A FEW SECONDS BEFORE GOING AND THEN SURGES FORWARD. I ALSO HAVE HAD IT STALL FOR OVER 20 MINUTES AND WOULDN'T START TILL AFTER 20 MINUTES. THE HESITATION IS DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING TURNS ACROSS OR INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GO AND YOU CAN GET HIT. IT DOES NOT TRIP THE ENGINE LIGHT SO THE DEALER CAN FIX IT.

AT 38,000 MILES LOW-OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I STOPPED AT A MADISON WI DEALER WHO INDICATED THE CONSUMPTION IS NORMAL. I ARGUED THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD A LOW-OIL LIGHT COME ON IN OVER FORTY YEARS OF DRIVING. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO CONDUCT AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THERE IS NOW 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT IS USING A QUART EVERY 3,500 MILES. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. NHTSA NEEDS TO FORCE SUBARU TO REPLACE THESE ENGINES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING AN OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

IN THE SHOP FOR MOTOR PROBLEM AT DEALER GETTING FIX.

I PURCHASED AFTER 1 YEAR OLD FROM SUBARU DEALERSHIP. IN 2014 AT ABOUT 17,000 MILES. AFTER EVER OIL CHANGE, THE OIL LIGHT GOES ON AT ABOUT - 1,500 MILES PRIOR. TONTHE OIL CHANGE BEING DUE. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY STAYED IT IS NORMAL WITH THAT LIGHTER AEGHT SYNTHETIC OIL. RECOMMENDED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST IF IT KEPT HAPPENING. NOW I FIND OUT TODAY FROM CORPORATE SUBARU # THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 69,000. I HAVE 66,000 ON MY OUTBACK. THE LOCAL DEALER NEVER INFORMED ME ABOUT THE 60,000 LIMIT. I & MY HUSBAND OWN AN INDEPENDENT GOODYEAR DEALERSHIP, HAVE 4 MECHANICS, WHY WOULD I WANT TO PAY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO GO A CONSUMPTION TEST.

PURCHASED FEB 2014, SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE OIL LIGHT COMING ON. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 3400 MILES AND THE OIL IS LOW. I HAVE ADDED UP TO A QUART OF OIL. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 34,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND I HAVE HAD THE OIL LIGHT COME ON WITH LOW OIL ABOUT 7 TIMES. THE LIGHT COMES ON USUALLY BETWEEN 3400 & 4000 MILES. THIS IS MY SECOND OUTBACK AND I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE FIRST ONE. I HAVE BEEN OUT OF TOWN ALL BUT 1 OF THESE TIMES WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON. I LIVE 1-1/2 HOURS FROM THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER AND THEY KEEP HAVING ME COME EVERY 1200 MILES TO DO A OIL CHECK. THE FIRST TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON IT WAS FEBRUARY 5, 2014 AND HAS COME ON 5-6 TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, THE VEHICLE PASSED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST TWICE. THE SERVICE ENGINE AND OIL INDICATORS RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED FOR MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

OIL SENSOR LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATES. OIL IS LOW. SENSOR MEASURES PRESSURE NOT LEVEL. OIL PUMP HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX ISSUE(4 TIMES). REPLACED SENSOR, OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. VEHICLE IN AGAIN AT 34000 MILES FOR SAME ISSUE. DEALER MENTIONED SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. LAST RESORT IS A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT.

AT APPROXIMATELY 29000 MILEAGE ON THE MY 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE OIL LEVEL LAMP ILLUMINATED. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND FOUND IT TO BE NOT READABLE ON THE DIPSTICK. I ADDED A QUART, WHICH BROUGHT THE LEVEL TO HALF. I THEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER, BEARDMORE SUBARU IN BELLEVUE, NE. THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND REPLACED THE OIL LEVEL SWITCH. THEY ALSO INITIATED A AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND I HAVE TO RETURN IN 1200 MILES TO HAVE LEVEL RECORDED. HOWEVER, WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I CHECKED THE OIL A FEW WEEKS LATER (APPROX 400 MILES DRIVEN), WHILE THE ENGINE WAS COOL, AND NOTICED THE OIL LEVEL WAS WELL ABOVE THE FULL MARK. CLEARLY THEY OVERFILLED THE ENGINE. ADDITIONALLY, THE MECHANIC LEFT OPEN THE TOP OF THE COOLANT RESEVOIR (WHICH I DID NOT ASK THEM TO EVEN CHECK). I WILL BE CALLING THEM ON MONDAY TO REPORT THIS ISSUE.

FROM THE TIME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR, THERE IS A LOT OF ENGINE HESITATION GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. WE LIVE ON A BUSY STREET AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN WE BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, SWITCH INTO DRIVE, AND STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL - NOTHING HAPPENS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS, THEN THE CAR STARTS GOING FORWARD. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO TELL ME IT IS THE CVT, BUT I WATCH THE TACHOMETER, AND THE ENGINE DOESN'T REV UP. I HAD SOME OF THIS PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS (NON-CVT) 2005 OUTBACK, BUT THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER 10 YEARS LATER. IT ISN'T - IT'S WORSE. *TR

VEHICLE HESITATES OCCASIONALLY ON ACCELERATION COMING OFF A STOP.

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 LATER. I DIDN'T CHECK THE LEVEL SINCE THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THEN 50 MILES LATER, BOTH TURNED ON AGAIN. I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK, AND THERE WAS APPROX. 1MM OF OIL REGISTERING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DIPSTICK. THE SUBARU OF BATON ROUGE, LA DEALER TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL AND CHANGED THE OIL AT 5400 MILES. *TR