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2014 Subaru Outback Other Problems

19 owner-reported other complaints from NHTSA data

19
Complaints
Jan 2016Dec 2017
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (19)

criticalUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Feb 2026

Your car pulled hard to the right while driving, which was scary and dangerous. An inspection revealed severe rust has eaten through the metal on the front subassembly, making the car inoperable. This appears to be a known issue affecting multiple vehicles. The problem will likely require replacement or repair of the corroded front suspension or steering components.

NHTSA #: 11716663
criticalUNKNOWN OR OTHER,STRUCTURE
Filed: Aug 2024

Your rear trunk gate's hydraulic support arms failed without warning while you were loading groceries, causing the heavy gate to slam down on your head. The hydraulic arms no longer work at all — the gate now only stays open as long as you manually hold it, then crashes shut on its own. This is a serious safety hazard that could cause head, hand, or arm injuries, or trap someone under the gate.

NHTSA #: 11606332
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2024

After rain, water is leaking from your driver's side camera that's used for visibility features. This water intrusion could affect the camera's ability to function properly and may indicate a seal or mounting issue. The repair will likely involve resealing or replacing the camera housing to prevent future water damage.

NHTSA #: 11593947
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Sep 2020

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO HOURS. THE DASH BOARD LIT UP WITH MANY OF THE "TROUBLE LIGHTS". THE BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING, EYE SIGHT WAS LIT, MEANING THAT IT WAS NO LONGER ENGAGED. AT OIL TEMP. CHECK ENGINE TRANSMISSION. ALL OF THE ABOVE. I AM LOOKING AT A PICTURE THAT I TOOK SHOWING THE MILEAGE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS. THE CAR CONTINUED TO OPERATE, WITHOUT ANY HESITATION AND I FELT THAT IT MUST "JUST BE AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE". IT HAPPENED TO ME ONCE BEFORE, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE FOR A QUICK DIAGNOSTIC AND THE GUY SAID IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE UNTIL I COULD GET BACK HOME TO THE DEALERSHIP. TWO DAYS LATER, THE WARNING LIGHTS DISAPPEARED! I UNDERSTAND NOW FROM VARIOUS THREADS ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU'S CVT. IT IS SAD BECAUSE THEY APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THIS ISSUE AND THEIR ONLY RESPONSE IS A REPAIR TO THE CVT ($1500-2000) OR A NEW TRANSMISSION ALL TOGETHER ($5- 8K). I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AS NEW... I HAVE NOT OWNED A SUBARU BEFORE BUT WANTED THE "SECURITY OF A RELIABLE CAR". I DID PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE 100K MILES SO I HAVE NO RECOURSE. PLEASE HELP ALL OF THE SUBARU OWNERS OUT THERE!! IT'S NOT JUST THE OUTBACK MODEL, BUT SEVERAL OF THEIR VEHICLES AND IT SEEMS THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE YEARS BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN MADE TO ADDRESS THIS DESIGN FLAW. SAFETY WISE-- I DON'T KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WILL JUST QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, OR WHAT. WE TRIED THE "GENERAL FIXES" .... UNPLUG THE BATTERY FOR A FEW HOURS; WE PURCHASED A NEW GAS CAP SEAL; BUT NEITHER OF THOSE DID THE TRICK. I WANTED TO SEND MY CASE TO YOU BUT, ALSO, THIS COMING WEEK, I WILL BE DROPPING IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

NHTSA #: 11354324
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: May 2019

SUNROOF DRAINS CLOG CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INTO CAR. THIS OCCURS WHEN RAINING OR WASHING CAR. INTERIOR WINDOWS BECOME VERY FOGGY AND OFTEN TIMES IT IS NECESSARY TO WIPE THEM DOWN WITH A CLOTH. DEALER WAS WILLING TO REMOVE STANDING WATER FROM CAR AND SEATS AS A "ONE TIME COURTESY" AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD CLEAR DRAINS DURING EACH CAR SERVICE PERFORMED BY THEM. RECENTLY HAD THE DRAINS CLEANED, WE HAVE HAD 4 FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS SINCE THEN AND WATER CONTINUES TO LEAK INTO THE INTERIOR (BOTH WHEN DRIVING OR STATIONARY). THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO SUBARU BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE A RECALL. THIS IS CERTAINLY BOTH A SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE (VISIBILITY/MOLD/MILDEW). LEAKING HAS OCCURRED DURING THE PAST 3 YEARS, PERHAPS A BIT MORE. WE HAVE A 2006 VOLVO THAT HAS A SUNROOF AND NO LEAKS!

NHTSA #: 11216994
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Nov 2018

MY CAR IS USING WAY TOO MUCH OIL FOR A 4 YEAR OLD CAR. SOMETHING IS WRONG AND TWO PLACES I'VE GONE HAVE SUGGESTED IT COULD BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PISTOLS IN THE ENGINE. I'VE READ ABOUT OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL EXPERIENCING THE SAME TROUBLE. THIS IS HIGHWAY AND STREET DRIVING.

NHTSA #: 11150809
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2018

BACKUP CAMERA IS NOT WORKING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN REVERSE.

NHTSA #: 11121326
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jul 2018

BACK UP CAMERA WENT OUT AT 60K MILES

NHTSA #: 11111365
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2018

4 YEAR OLD CAR'S TRANSMISSION WENT UP AT 114,000. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSIONS, SUBARU DID NOT DO A RECALL ON THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. NOW THEY ARE QUOTING US $9000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA #: 11081925
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Dec 2017

BURNING OIL. EXCESSIVE OIL CHANGES

NHTSA #: 11055058
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Oct 2017

V-BELT CHIRPING WHEN RUNNING ESPECIALLY WITH A/C ON

NHTSA #: 11033222
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Sep 2017

MY BLUETOOTH , WHEN I MAKE A CALL OR RECEIVE A CALL WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN MOTION ON THE CITY STREETS AND FREEWAY ,ON THE RECEIVERS END THE PERSON CAN HEAR A WHINNING NOISE LIKE A DENTAL DRILL. I BOUGHT A NEW CELL TO SEE IF IT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM AND IT DID NOT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO PURCHASING A NEW CELL PHONE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO HELP ME.

NHTSA #: 11022926
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2017

POSSIBLE OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE IT TWICE OR THIRD AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT OIL WAS GONE WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL LEVELER. YESTERDAY, I HAVE TALKED TO SUBARU SERVICE DEPT ABOUT IT AND HE SAID IT IS OK THAT KEEP POUR OIL INTO EVERY 1200 MILES (BURNED SOME OIL AND BETWEEN OIL CHANGE). I BOUGHT OIL AND POUR IT INTO. I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS SO NORMAL FOR BURNED SOME OIL LIKE EVERY 1200 MILES. I AM CONCERNING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA #: 10967819
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Nov 2016

SUBARU OUTBACK MOON ROOF IS THE PROBLEM. AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SUBARU VEHICLES, AND YET,THEY CHOOSE TO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION, EVEN WHEN SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED PRIOR TO PURCHASE. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT OPEN THE ROOF, THERE ARE DRAINS THAT CAN CLOG, AND WHEN THEY CLOG, THE CAR STARTS FILLING WITH WATER. THE CLOG, IN MY CASE, WAS FROM FIR NEEDLES, SINCE I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS. BUT THEY ALSO SAY THAT SIMPLY A SPIDERWEB OR ROAD DIRT CAN CAUSE A CLOG OF THESE VERY SENSITIVE DRAINS. IN MY CASE, WATER WAS RUNNING DOWN THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT SHAFT, AND ON TO THE BACK SEAT FLOOR. SINCE IT RAINS A LOT, THEN LOTS OF WATER CAN COME IN. MANY, MANY GALLONS OF WATER. IT HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND WHEN IT IS MOVING. WE HAD TWO OCTOBER STORMS THAT DROPPED A GREAT DEAL OF RAIN, WHICH CAUSED SO MUCH WATER TO ENTER THE CAR THAT IT SLOSHED WHEN DRIVEN; LITERALLY, LIKE DRIVING A SWIMMING POOL! AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, SUBARU AGREED TO CLEAN THE DISASTER ONCE ONLY UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEN THEY WERE DONE. THERE IS NOTHING IN THEIR MANUALS ABOUT KEEPING THESE MYSTERY DRAINS CLEAR. THEY JUST HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THEY WILL LIE TO YOUR FACE ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE WATER TIGHT NATURE OF THAT ROOF WINDOW. REPEATEDLY. AND ONCE THOSE HIDDEN DRAINS START TO CLOG, THE WINDOWS INITIALLY START FOGGING UP, FOLLOWED BY LARGE AMOUNTS OF MOLD AND OTHER NASTINESS. THEN THE CARPETING, UPHOLSTERY AND ALL OTHER "SOFT" COMPONENTS OF THE CAR NEED TO BE REPLACED. BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO CLEAN THE AIR VENT SYSTEM, SO MOLD IS THERE TO STAY.

NHTSA #: 10924424
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2016

NEW 2014 OUTBACK WITH STATIC NOISE COMING FROM THE AUDIO / SPEAKER SYSTEM; BOTH WITH OR WITHOUT THE RADIO BEING TURNED ON. THIS WILL HAPPEN RANDOMLY, WITH NO PARTICULAR SET PATTERN OR OBVIOUS REASON; IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN OR EVEN TRY TO RE-CREATE. WE DON'T HAVE THE NAVIGATION PACKAGE. I HAVE A HARMON RADIO WITHOUT SATELLITE. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A PATTERN AND THE DEALER CANNOT PINPOINT THE ISSUE. THIS HAPPENS EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS OFF AND I AM NOT USING THE BLUETOOTH. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH OR WITHOUT ENGINE RUNNING. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN SINCE I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE RANDOMLY.

NHTSA #: 10818527
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jul 2015

THE INTERIOR WINDOWS WILL SUDDENLY GET COVERED WITH FOG. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER TWENTY FIVE TIMES TO MY CAR. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER, OR OUTSIDE TEMP IS. THIS, CAUSES A SERIOUS PROBLEM TRYING TO SEE OUT OF THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I CALED THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD TO RUN THE AC. IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN WHEN THE AC , IS ALREADY ON. I'VE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES IN THE 14 MONTHS I'VE HAD THE CAR. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN CLEAR PHOTOGRAPHS 3 TIMES SHOWING CLEAR IMAGES OF HOW BAD THE INTERIOR FOGGING GETS. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO CONTACT SUBARU AMERICA ASK FOR RPLACMENT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THREE PEOPLE AT SUBARU, PROVIDED ALL PHOTOS. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. MUNN 16 2015 IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON INTERSTATE I-205 AND IT MADE SEEING OUT OF THE CAR ALMOST IMPOSSABLE. I HAD TO CAREFULLY PULL OF TO ROAD SIDE WIPE WINDSHIELD AND ALL INTERIOR WINDOWS OFF. I HAVE TO CARRY TOWELS WITH ME AT ALL TIMES. PROBLEM HAPPENS WITHOUT ANY INDACATION, IT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I'M DISABLED VETERAN AND REQUIRE A LOT OF MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AT THE VA MEDICAL CENTER. I LIVE ALONE SO I'M TAKING A CHANCE JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE VA. AT SOME POINT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCADENT. SUBARU SHOWED LITTLE CONCERN, EVEN IF THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THE SAME OR SIMILE PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 10731625
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2015

THE SUNGLASSES STORAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR OF THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE WILL NOT STAY LATCHED UP. IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION THE DOOR BLOCKS THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.

NHTSA #: 10726419
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2015

I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND THERE WAS A LONG, ABOUT 7 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. IT WAS IN GEAR AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS BUT NOTHING HAPPENED.

NHTSA #: 10705991
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Feb 2015

HAVING WARMED UP THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR FIVE MINUTES AND HAVING DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, BRAKING SEVERAL TIMES, DRIVER APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN AT THE TOP OF THE HILL WHERE THE ROAD INTERSECTS WITH A BUSY HIGHWAY. SHE TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. TO STOP THE CAR, SHE THREW THE CAR INTO PARK. "CHECK ENGINE @ OIL TEMP" LIGHT OR SOMETHING SIMILAR CAME ON. SHE TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED A SHORT WHILE AND RESTARTED CAR, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND CAR WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. TURNED OFF CAR. A SHORT WHILE LATER SHE STARED AGAIN; AFTER PUSHING GAS HARD, CAR STARTED TO SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD. PUT CAR IN P AND WAITED FOR ASSISTANCE, LEAVING HEAT ON. WHEN ASSISTANCE CAME 10-15 MIN LATER, CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A SAFE ROADSIDE SPOT AROUND THE CORNER. CONDITION: LOW TEMPS. NO ICE ON ROADS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10689615

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