What 208 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Subaru Outback Wilderness

The car had been recently serviced through the dealer and had 66,000 miles (9 yrs old). It was 6k miles past warranty. While driving, the radiator hose exploded—loud noise, white steam, and all the warning lights came on and the car heated up. I had the car towed and was told that the radiator hose, the radiator and the head gasket had been destroyed and the engine would need to be rebuilt. The car was essentially a total loss given the repair costs. There was no warning at all that anything was wrong with the car prior to the engine blowing. It is my understanding that many years of Subaru Outbacks have required recalls for head gasket problems.

NHTSA ODI 11550074

Suburu Outback had been showing signs of needing more oil between routine changes and frequent top-offs. When took to a Suburu Dealer in September 2021, prior to reaching 100,000 miles, Suburu said it was normal. Now at 118,000 miles as of November 2022, the engine jerks and makes noises. Upon taking to Suburu, short engine block repair was recommended, which would cost over $6,000. The issues of needing repair align with the 2016 extended warranty bulletin put out for other Suburu Outbacks, which goes through 100,000, but we were told that the VIN is outside of the extended bulletin and we are out of warranty. Being told our oil consumption is normal but suddenly experiencing a deterioration in the engine so suddenly is concerning; the jerky engine is not safe for the passengers or others on the road.

NHTSA ODI 11494514

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving the oil warning light illuminated and he added more oil. The contact stated that the oil level was low. The contact noticed that several times the oil level was low prior to the normal mileage interval to change the oil. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the oil was low. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired, however, the independent mechanic stated that the failure could be related to a mechanical engine issue. The contact stated that he found a Technical Service Bulletin Number: 02-157-14R; NHTSA ID Number: 10188219 (Power Train, Engine) which he related to the failure. The contact stated that he recently had an oil change at 88,000 and the oil warning light illuminated at 91,217. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

NHTSA ODI 11456058

1. REAR LIFTGATE WILL NOT OPEN WHEN USING REMOTE OR SENSOR ON VEHICLE. ONLY WAY TO OPEN IS TO CRAWL FROM INSIDE TO THE BACK, POP A LID AND THEN MANEUVER LATCH RELEASE. NO WAY TO OPEN LIFTGATE FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I'M 66 AND DISABLED. 2. EXCESSIVE OIL USE REPORTED BY TECHNICIANS DURING OIL CHANGE.

NHTSA ODI 11396469

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.

NHTSA ODI 11352232

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

NHTSA ODI 11325641

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

NHTSA ODI 11308821

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,

NHTSA ODI 11308094

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.

NHTSA ODI 11253679

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.

NHTSA ODI 11240854

SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING - MAR 07,2019 - 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH CURRENT MAINTENANCE AND NO PRIOR HISTORY OF MALFUNCTION. DURING A 2.1 MILE DRIVE ON CITY STREETS ELECTRICAL DISTURBANCES OF THE RADIO/MEDIA CONSOLE WERE NOTED, FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY BLACK SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON EXITING THE CAR, THE SMOKE HAD BECOME WHITE AND FLAMES WERE NOTED UNDER THE CAR. THE FRONT OF THE CAR SOON BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BURNT/MELTED. NO ONE WAS INJURED.

NHTSA ODI 11185999

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.

NHTSA ODI 11173783

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).

NHTSA ODI 11170374

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.

NHTSA ODI 11131806

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.

NHTSA ODI 11091668

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.

NHTSA ODI 11064658

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.

NHTSA ODI 11062788

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.

NHTSA ODI 11030642

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.

NHTSA ODI 11022783

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.

NHTSA ODI 11021148

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.

NHTSA ODI 10981147

IN THE SHOP FOR MOTOR PROBLEM AT DEALER GETTING FIX.

NHTSA ODI 10967846

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.

NHTSA ODI 10946925

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

NHTSA ODI 10935499

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.

NHTSA ODI 10917603