2014 Subaru Outback vs 2016 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2014 Subaru Outback | 2016 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 208 | 643 |
| Recall campaigns | 10 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 362 | 472 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 14 | 22 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–26 | 22–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 38,000 mi | 36,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Outback | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 32 | 309 |
| Visibility/wiper | 8 | 83 |
| Engine | 35 | 53 |
| Power Train | 25 | 45 |
| Air Bags | 38 | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 22 | 19 |
| Steering | 17 | 24 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 22 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 15 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 14 | 15 |
| Stalling | 12 | 30 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 0 |
| Battery drain | 0 | 84 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 33 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 9 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 5 |
2014 Subaru Outback
2016 Subaru Outback
Compare all Subaru Outback vs Subaru Outback years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.