2012 Subaru Outback vs 2014 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Subaru Outback | 2014 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 291 | 208 |
| Recall campaigns | 16 | 10 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 316 | 357 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–24 | 20–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 90,991 mi | 38,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Outback | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 107 | 25 |
| Engine | 50 | 35 |
| Air Bags | 39 | 38 |
| Electrical System | 37 | 32 |
| Service Brakes | 34 | 22 |
| Steering | 9 | 17 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 83 | 12 |
| Vibration / shaking | 32 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 21 | 8 |
| Rust / corrosion | 12 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 14 |
| Airbag warning light | 7 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
2012 Subaru Outback
2014 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.