What 208 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Subaru Outback Wilderness

Air bag Passenger light on and blinking .

NHTSA ODI 11500518

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 2016 due to the concern. Because they won't issue a recall, and the cost of repair is high ($400+), mainly due to the location of the part, many will not fix the issue. There is no way to warn other drivers or deer without use of the horn. This has put me in harm's way multiple times until I finally got it fixed. I have contacted my dealer who says it is one of the more common issues they see with this year and probably 2015 as well. It needs to be recalled so everyone with this problem can get their cars fixed instead of Subaru charging for a known problem and making money over safety.

NHTSA ODI 11455192

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 road in snow and hit a tree dead on and my entire front end crumpled, but my air bags didn't deploy and my seat belt was fully extended when I exited the vehicle to get into the ambulance.

NHTSA ODI 11445596

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 lights and sounds persist whether the seat is unoccupied or occupied by a child (14 or 16) or adult. The dealer has diagnosed that the passenger seatbelt switch is also not working properly. Their recommended remedy is replacing the entire seat base (~$1,300). This vehicle also had a recall of the passenger side airbag inflator, which was replaced in May 2019 when our mileage was 88,000. The issue started when weather turned cold in the winter of 2019. When it is below about 45 degrees, the beeping starts, and it only ceases when the vehicle is warmed up and the engine is turned off then on again. Our temperatures here in Eastern Washington get up to 115 in summer and down to 10 in winter. We are thinking that this ODS defect may be due to a loosening of the components during the airbag service or the exact same faulty ODS component that was recalled in the Subaru Forrester recall (NHTSA campaign number 19V701). It is important to us to have a functional airbag in case of a crash.

NHTSA ODI 11443248

Horn malfunctions. Press horn on steering wheel is dead silent. However, if I enable the Panic button on key, the alarm sounds. When I start the car after pressing Panic button, the horn I steering wheel works. Sporadic operation.

NHTSA ODI 11423392

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE T-BONED THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR FIRST DEGREE BURNS AND A CUT ON ONE SIDE OF THE FACE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, HIS VEHICLE T-BONED THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS ISSUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11315685

OVER THE LAST YEAR, THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO DISTINCT TAKATA AIRBAG RECALLS. I HAVE RECEIVED NOTICES FROM OUR DEALERSHIP AND FROM SUBARU CORPORATE, ATTACHED. I AM LIVING IN BOSNIA AS A US DIPLOMAT. THERE IS NOT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN THIS COUNTRY. I ACCOMPLISHED THE LAST RECALL, WITH SIGNIFICANT LOGISTICAL DIFFICULTY, WITH THE HELP OF THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN CROATIA. HOWEVER, THERE IS A CURRENT OPEN RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG (RECALL ID BTM3-EFX). DESPITE MULTIPLE EMAILS TO THE DEALER (BYER SUBARU IN ALEXANDRIA, VA) WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND TO MY CONTACTS IN CROATIA, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP IN CROATIA WAS, SUPPOSEDLY, CONTACTING SUBARU ITALIA, BUT TO DATE, I HAVE NOT MADE ANY PROGRESS IN RESOLVING THIS RECALL. I VERY MUCH NEED GUIDANCE AS THIS IS A FAMILY CAR AND, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICES, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I CONTACTED SUBARU CORPORATE IN THE PAST, I WAS ADVISED THAT, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OVERSEAS, THEY BELIEVED THEY WERE ABSOLVED OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY, A RIDICULOUS CLAIM.

NHTSA ODI 11309305

TURNING AT LOW SPEED, AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 11270331

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MILES/HOUR ON HIGHWAY 17 NEAR APALACHIN, NY, WHEN A DEER JUMPED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE AND HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IMMEDIATELY, THE GAS RELEASED FROM THE AIRBAGS COMPLETELY FOGGED THE WINDSHIELD REDUCING VISIBILITY ZERO, SO I COULD NOT SEE WHERE I WAS GOING DURING THE BRAKING PERIOD. FORTUNATELY, I ONLY SHIFTED TO THE OTHER LINE AND THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND. THE GAS DEPOSIT REMAINED ON THE WINDSHIELD AND I HAD TO USE A CLOTH TO CLEAN IT. IN MY OPINION, THE FOGGED WINDSHIELD RESULTING FROM THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS A MUCH HIGHER SAFETY HAZARD THAN THE COLLISION WITH THE DEER ITSELF. AN UNRELATED COMPLAINT IS THAT AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, THE DOORS WERE BLOCKED (WOULD NOT OPEN) FOR HALF A MINUTE OR SO.

NHTSA ODI 11255919

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH, WHEN AN ONCOMING VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO REAR END THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT AND TWO OF HER CHILDREN, IN THE VEHICLE, RECEIVED CUTS AND BRUISES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. ALL THREE WERE TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS)) WAS REPAIRED BY THE SHEEHY SUBARU OF SPRINGFIELD DEALER (70- 957-1623, LOCATED AT 6571 BACKLICK ROAD, SPRINGFIELD, VA 22150. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ODI 11232730

AS PART OF THE TAKATA RECALL, WE HAD THE AIRBAGS ON OUR 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON MAY 8, 2019. ON MAY 22, 2019, WE WERE SITTING AT A CITY STOPLIGHT WHEN WE WERE HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER DRIVER GOING 40-50 MPH. IN SPITE OF A DIRECT HIT TO THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON OUR 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN WE NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO DID THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAILED AIRBAGS, THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11222307

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT AND WARNING TONE SOUND WHEN OCCUPANT IS IN SEAT AND CAR IS MOVING. BEEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES. THE SEAT BELT LATCH WAS REPLACED, OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR REPLACED, SEAT WAS REPLACED. SENSORS RECALIBRATED BY DEALER. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AND WE'RE NOW TOLD IT CAN'T BE FIXED. DEALER WILL NOT SAY IF THE AIRBAGS WILL OR WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. CAR IS ESSENTIALLY UNDRIVEABLE AS THE WARNING TONE IS CONSTANT AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT AND SAFETY SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED.

NHTSA ODI 11217518

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER BUD CLARY CHEVROLET (1030 COMMERCE AVE, LONGVIEW, WA 98632 (360)-423-1700) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION CONNECTED. .*BF AIRBAG WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11206590

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SUMMER SUBARU (7211 W MEQUON RD, MEQUON, WI 53092, (262) 208-7660) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11204974

TAMAKA RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2019 FOR THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG REPLACEMENT AND CONTACTED MY TWO LOCAL DEALERS IN RICHMOND VA FIND DAD ONE DEALER IS BROOKE UP TILL JULY 2 019 AND THE OTHER IS BOOKED UP UNTIL AUGUST 2019.CALL

NHTSA ODI 11196000

TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE WEEK OF 3/11/2019. CALLED SUBARU DEALER (206-782-7475) AS INSTRUCTED IN LETTER ON 3/23/2019. INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO PERFORM RECALL SERVICE UNTIL 9/9/2019, EVEN THOUGH THEY *DO* HAVE SLOTS OPEN FOR OTHER WORK. THIS DELAY (ALMOST 6 MONTHS) SEEMS UNREASONABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11191094

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). CONTINENTAL SUBARU (4900 OLD SEWARD HWY, ANCHORAGE, AK) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11190558

TAKATA RECALL - MY LOCAL DEALER (KOPPEL SUBARU - QUEENS, NY) CANNOT REPLACE MY PASSENGER AIRBAG PER THE RECALL UNTIL JUNE 14, 2019 - THE EARLIEST THEY CAN FIX - WHICH IS COMPLETELY INSANE SINCE I MADE THE APPOINTMENT TODAY ON MARCH 20TH SO I TECHNICALLY AM BEING ASKED TO WAIT ALMOST 3 MONTHS TO GET IT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11190260

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V008000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. DEVOE SUBARU OF NAPLES WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AT (866) 982-1252 (LOCATED AT 1411 SOLANA RD, NAPLES, FL 34103) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED ON APRIL 9, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11189895

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V008000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. FIRST TEAM SUBARU (6520 PETERS CREEK RD, ROANOKE, VA 24019, (540)362-4800) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11190006

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WALSER SUBARU (600 W 121ST ST, BURNSVILLE, MN 55337, (952) 314-1391) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11187505

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. PREMIER SUBARU (LOCATED AT 150 N MAIN ST, BRANFORD, CT 06405, (203) 481-0687) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11189683

MY 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS BEEN RECALLED "TAKATA RECALL". UNFORTUNATELY, SUBARU OF AMERICA FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF THIS RECALL AND WHEN I INQUIRED AT THE LOCAL DEALER, JIM KERAS SUBARU OF MEMPHIS, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY ME OF ANYTHING...IN OTHER WORDS, TOO BAD, SO SAD, WE DON'T GIVE A HOOT! VERY DISAPPOINTING RESPONSE! AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT MAKE TO REQUISITE REPAIRS UNTIL 08 MAY. IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL BE DRIVING AT MY OWN RISK.

NHTSA ODI 11187234

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SHORELINE SUBARU (LOCATED AT 17225 AURORA AVE N, SEATTLE, WA 98133, (206) 542-1166) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT CONSUMER RECEIVED THE AIRBAG RECALL NOTICE STATING NOT TO ALLOW PASSENGERS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE AIRBAG WAS REPAIRED. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER "NOT TO WORRY". CONSUMER WAS TOLD REPAIRS COULD NOT BE MADE UNTIL JULY - 4 MONTHS LATER.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11186767

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED PRIME SUBARU HYANNIS (24 RIDGEWOOD AVE, HYANNIS, MA 02601, 508-778-5066) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER UNTIL APRIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11186396