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2014 Subaru Outback: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
41%
67 of 164 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

41% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2014 Subaru Outback are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Better than 52% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 44 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 32%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
67
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
208
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
10
14 crashes · 21 injuries

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS38 · 18%
ENGINE35 · 17%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32 · 15%
POWER TRAIN25 · 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER22 · 11%
SERVICE BRAKES22 · 11%

The years either side

2010
52%
148 of 360
2011
62%
288 of 651
2012
62%
146 of 292
2013
49%
121 of 296
2014
41%
67 of 208
2015
18%
89 of 509
2016
16%
99 of 642
2017
11%
97 of 917
2018
10%
81 of 809
2019
7%
72 of 1,033
2020
11%
97 of 896
2021
13%
36 of 296
2022
9%
39 of 462
2023
9%
7 of 89

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other midsize SUVs with no elevated signal in 2014

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN09/14/2018CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND EXITING, THE CONTACT RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND THE GEAR ROLLED OUT OF PARK. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE CONTACT'S HOUSE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE LEGS AND KNEES. THE CONT…
STEERING,SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING01/13/2025
The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH or above, the front end and the steering wheel were shaking abnormally. While driving at various speeds, there was a metallic grinding sound coming from the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact stated that while depressing the brake p…
POWER TRAIN03/04/2024
I am just the mechanic and this is my customer's vehicle, but whilst doing some regular maintenance on the vehicle and also replacing part number 383485200 which Subaru calls "HOLDER, AXLE BRG" due to a crack which ran thru one of the 5 fastener holes. Upon normal cleaning of the threads in the rear differential castin…

Three of 67 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (10)

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…
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…
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 sol…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2014 Subaru Outback

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.