CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2014 Outback is showing an early trend of problems with hesitation when accelerating.

The vast majority of owners experiencing this problem have reported that Subaru has not been able to find the cause of the engine hesitation, or fix the problem.

Especially because this is a potential safety defect, we are flagging the 2014 Outback as a model year to watch out for.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,346 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Subaru Outback drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2014 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

Mar 012024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 casting where the "holder, axle brg" is bolted up to the left output shaft side I noticed a massive cavity in the casting which was drilled into and tapped for a bolt. This cavity is so large it presents a huge risk of catastrophic rear differential failure resulting in potential loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash. When I called the dealership to obtain the answers to the questions I know my customer is going to ask me, they shrugged it off as no big deal and couldn't even get me a price on a new rear diff housing or complete assembly. Using my brake rotor thickness calipers I was able to measure what I believe is the closest part of the cavity to the hole where the "holder, axle brg" is fastened in place. This "holder, axle brg" is the output shaft seal housing, plus, the outer race for the differential carrier is pressed into this component. Making it quite a critical component of the delicate innerworkings of a differential. Just a few ten-thousandths out of tolerance and the ring and pinion gears will destroy one another, the cavity in the casting right in a bolt hole creates potential for the differential carrier to not receive the proper bearing preload greatly reducing the life of the bearings, and in the worst case, the cavity could cause the rear differential to crack under heavy load which could cause a catastrophic failure, locking up the rear differential causing the vehicle to skid uncontrollably.

- Eugene, OR, USA

problem #23

Jun 182023

Outback 4-cyl

  • miles
Valve body transmission module failed at 118k with no prior warning There are some subaru bulletins that say up 120k. Dealership i bought it from told me 100k. I was never notified this issue was a recall. It could have potentially caused an accident if the transmission failed on the highway.

- Berlin , CT, USA

problem #22

Jun 062021

Outback

  • miles
The center differential or Viscous Coupling locks up after any extended highway driving. The car lurches when turning sharply. This is a 6-speed manual transmission. This started at around 70,000 miles and is getting progressively worse now at 80,000 miles. The tires have always been all the same, inflated according to spec. New tires at about 72,000 miles. From online research, the Viscous Coupling on Subarus fails very frequently. This is a defective design resulting in a safety hazard, and requires expensive replacement.

- Falmouth, MA, USA

problem #21

May 172020

Outback 4-cyl

  • 119,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car makes excessively loud roaring, whining noise in acceleration; it's response is unpredictable. It doesn't shift and the differential is the likely source of problem. Car has been properly maintained all along.two independent mechanics reported the cvt must be replaced. Subaru service informed me after 120K mile servicing. It can stall without warning anywhere anytime causing accident, injury etc. Though I'm told it's dangerous to drive Subaru is unwilling to take responsibility, except paying half of their $8000 charge for a re-manned cvt...no recall! what's it going to take Subaru? your integrity is compromised; your claim of quality is false. You want owners to pay for your technology problem. Though the cvt has a long history of failure, Subaru hasn't solved the problem or improved the technology. Instead owners pay $4,000 for a new, faulty cvt and Subaru continues to avoid recall. Buyers are the losers.

- Willow Spring, NC, USA

problem #20

Dec 072019

Outback

  • 84,000 miles
Cvt transmission stalled on freeway, then locked up, putting us into skid. Very dangerous situation that could have resulted in serious injury accident. Was able to restart and limp to emergency lane. Speed was 65 mph zone. Very scary for us. Had previously complained to Subaru of problem, but they didn't give it a full diagnostic and said to drive it until it broke. We have opened a case with Subaru America.

- Twain Harte, CA, USA

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problem #19

Jun 292019

Outback

  • 60,097 miles
When driving the transmission will slip out of gear not allowing you to accelerate and then it will go back into gear shifting into gear extremely hard. Not safe for highway driving

- Woodlawn, TN, USA

problem #18

May 302019

Outback

  • 93,880 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Outback. While reversing out of a driveway, the contact stopped the vehicle, shifted into park, and exited the vehicle. Suddenly, the vehicle lurched forward and struck and dragged the contact. The vehicle drove over a brush and finally came to a stop. The contact was not injured. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had an extended warranty up to 120,000 miles. The failure mileage was 93,880.

- Grove City, PA, USA

problem #17

Feb 282019

Outback

  • 66,000 miles
On Feb 28, 2019 I was driving my 2014 Subaru Outback on interstate 64 on a straight stretch at approximately 70 mph going uphill when accelerator became suddenly and completely unresponsive. I was in the far left lane of 3 lanes of traffic also traveling at a high rate of speed and had to try to get to the emergency lane to the right of the 3 lanes. I had absolutely no response when pushing on the accelerator pedal and could have been hit by numerous semi trailer trucks. I was able to coast to the right into the emergency lane which was a miracle because I was on a steep uphill incline. When I reached the emergency lane, I stopped the car, shifted into park, and back into drive mode and the accelerator did engage at that point. I immediately took the car to a Subaru dealer but they have not diagnosed it as of yet. I have been researching on the internet to see if other 2014 Outback owners have the same complaint and came across numerous other complaints of the same problem on the website www.carcomplaints.com. those complaining of the same problem have not had any success with a fix from Subaru. Please look into this before someone is injured or killed as I could have easily been today.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #16

Feb 042019

Outback

  • 400 miles
Car hesitates/does not respond, intermittently but often, when accelerator pedal is pushed to the floorboard from a stop. Lag/no response time is about about 1 1/2 seconds. This results in near accidents when pulling out into traffic at an intersection. Car has been taken to dealer twice to have this issue resolved with no success.

- Sudbury, MA, USA

problem #15

Aug 242018

Outback

  • 63,200 miles
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 contact held onto the driver's door, but was unable to apply the emergency brake as the vehicle gained speed. None of the air bags deployed. A police report was not filed. Subaru of little rock (12121 colonel glenn rd, little rock, ar 72210, (501) 503-5454) was unable to duplicate and diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 63,200.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #14

Sep 062018

Outback

  • 71,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Excessive shudder noticeable throughout the car at various speeds including ~35-40 mph and 78-83 mph. I've tried new tires, rebalancing wheels, all wheel alignments, all without relied. The dealer has not been helpful. Occurs in motion. We bought the car in September 2015 with 31,000 miles on it. I noticed the shudder on a test drive but the dealer put new tires on it and it seem to go away. But I noticed it again within a month of purchasing the car and it's only gotten worse

- Newton, KS, USA

problem #13

Oct 202017

Outback

  • 15,000 miles
Dangerous! intermittent delay of 4 to 6 seconds typically pulling out into traffic from a complete stop. Other cars slamming on brakes to prevent wreck, swerving to miss my stalled car. My wife and grand-kids have been on passenger side when this occurs where they are most vulnerable since most incidences occur when turning left. This car is likely to kill or mangle someone if this is not resolved. The ol 'we can't create it' is getting really stale from the dealer when lives are at risk. I'm assuming it's going to take a few deaths before a recall occurs. I would love to raise the money to put a full page in usa today to get this dangerous condition some attention if nobody else is going to.

- North Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #12

Jan 012017

Outback

  • 25,200 miles
On January 1st and again on January 3rd after vehicle was parked at least 5 hours, I came out of building and vehicle had rolled 2 feet forward from where I originally parked it. Went and talked with patrick motors where I had purchased the car new. Service foreman said never heard of that. He said make appt. And they will see if it rolls. I then talked with Subaru of America and was told the same thing. I left the car for 2 days and it did not roll. Now have been told nothing can be done until it rolls there. A friend was with me the first time this happened who is an engineer. Her immediately said it was something to do with my parking pin. When I looked this up with NHTSA, I found there was a recall on some of these cars for that problem. I don't know how they narrow it down to only certain cars but my car has rolled 2 times and has got to have something to do with the parking pin.

- Shrewsbury, MA, USA

problem #11

Aug 212016

Outback

  • miles
I had put the parking break on it got stuck the light finally went off and the at oil temp light came on I took car to dealership they informed me that the car had no transmission fluid and they believed that the place that changed my oil had accidentally drained transmission fluid that's not possible I never had any issues or lights on until the night I put parking break on the car already had a transmission problem

- Sandwich, MA, USA

problem #10

Jun 282016

Outback

  • 17,500 miles
Pulling car into parking space at slow speed when car, without driver input, suddenly accelerated. Heavy pressure on brakes, driver felt the ABS cycling, did nt stop vehicle. Finally, after colliding with a parked car, nose to nose and pushing other car out of its parking spot, driver was able to stop the car my moving transmission gear selector to park

- Sterling, VA, USA

problem #9

Feb 062014

Outback

  • 3,000 miles
When accelerating after a near stop, the engine hesitates for at least 3 seconds at acceleration which in many instances has been very dangerous upon entering traffic, especially turning left and entering a high traffic street or road.

- Wimberley, TX, USA

problem #8

Mar 262014

Outback 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50 miles
Same issue as listed in complaint 10715452. While making a left turn on return from vehicle purchase, the vehicle stopped in the middle of the intersection for several seconds with the engine running. I was nearly T-boned while waiting for the drive system to re-engage. To date, 2jul15, this stalling situation has occurred numerous times. I had the dealer inspect the vehicle, but no out of specification conditions were found. I think the problem rests with the cvt transmission trying to shift during acceleration. I recently learned by experimentation that I might be able to minimize the problem by placing the transmission in manual mode and forcing it to remain in 1st during acceleration. I do not believe that one should be forced to manipulate an automatic transmission to avoid a very dangerous stall during acceleration. Someone is going to be seriously injured or killed because of this problem. A vehicle recall is required....updated 09/22/15 updated 10/13/2015

- Monroe, OH, USA

problem #7

May 072015

Outback

  • 20,400 miles
For the past few days, my vehicle many times hesitates for at least 3-5 seconds when trying to accelerate from a stop/rest at a stop light, almost cause accident when trying to enter into an intersection. It seems to happen around 2000 - 3000/RPM. The car even exhibited slight jerky when at the start of accelerating up a slight sloppy hill. This is serious issue as accident is imminent when the car has no acceleration when trying to get going in traffic. This issue is commonly experienced by other drivers (online forum) : www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/98450-2014-Outback-acceleration-hesitation.html

- Castro Valley, CA, USA

problem #6

Nov 012013

Outback 4-cyl

  • 500 miles
Multiple incidents of lag when driving slowly into cross traffic or from a dead stop that sometimes last up to several seconds that has resulted in some very close calls in heavy traffic. The worst times have been while making a left turn across traffic when you are creeping out and try to accelerate and nothing happens! I have called the dealer and taken it into the dealer and they tell me it is a design flaw in their cvt transmission and that there is no fix at present. They did some updates to the cars computer and thought that might help but on a trip in St. George ut a few days later we were almost in an accident merging right into heavy traffic when we were left sitting in the middle of the street for several seconds before the car would move. The service writer said his 20013 legacy does the same thing and this is a common complaint. I have researched this on line and can't find anything about it, why" this is a very dangerous problem, we purchased this car with the eyesight accident prevention system because we wanted all the safety features it has, now were told that it's normal to leave you hanging in traffic waiting for the car to respond"

- Marana, AZ, USA

problem #5

Oct 012013

Outback 4-cyl

  • 3,700 miles
There is a hesitation when accelerating, it happens from complete stops by stepping on the gas, and while turning your vehicle. I was on a 35mph. Back road and went to turn left onto a side street, I yielded for 2 cars and then went into the turn and stepped on the gas, it hesitated and then I was hit in the rear side of my vehicle. If it would have responded correctly I would not have gotten into the accident.

- Reston, VA, USA

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