repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2014 Subaru OutbackProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 208 owner complaints about the 2014 Subaru Outback, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-297 the manufacturer reports only 62% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 2, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2014 Subaru Outback has problems
208 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
38Air bags7 crash/fire/injury
35Engine2 crash/fire/injury
32Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
25Power train4 crash/fire/injury
22Service brakes1 crash/fire/injury
17Steering1 crash/fire/injury
14Vehicle speed control
12Fuel/propulsion system
11Structure
4413 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 38 | 7 |
| Engine | 35 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 32 | 2 |
| Power train | 25 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 22 | 1 |
| Steering | 17 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 1 |
| Structure | 11 | 4 |
| 13 other systems | 44 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2014 Subaru Outback recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Ignition: switch
Risk. The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash.
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2023 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other…
repaired · 2020 Q4
Parking brake
Risk. A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Windshield wiper/washer: motor
Risk. If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. As a result of the parking rod detaching, the transmission may not be able to be moved from the "park" position preventing the vehicle from being moved or…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Best & worst years
2014 vs. every other Outback year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Outback median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2014 Subaru Outback safety ratings
2014 Subaru Outback SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Outback owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The Roll Connector Harness failed, and use of the horn was disabled. It is due to the mechanical steering of the vehicle, and fails over time. As a multiple Subaru owner this has been a topic of safety with most of the owners with 2014 Subarus. Subaru changed the design/engineering of this part in…
my air bags didn't deploy when I hit a tree, and the seat belt gave loose. A police report was filed, and the car was evaluated by a collision center. The insurance company has not yet evaluated the vehicle. The air bag indicator light indicated the air bags were in good working order. I slid off…
The ODS in our 2014 Subaru Outback has failed, and there is a constant beeping indicating that the air bag system is not functioning properly. This was definitely an issue the last two winters, too, but with covid quarantine and illness, we were not able to address it then. The airbag warning…
Own a 2014 Outback?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.