2014 Subaru Forester 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 | 2014 Subaru Forester | 2014 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 403 | 208 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 10 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 627 | 357 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 48 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–27 | 20–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 55,000 mi | 38,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Forester | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 69 | 35 |
| Suspension | 94 | 5 |
| Air Bags | 57 | 38 |
| Electrical System | 42 | 32 |
| Power Train | 41 | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 42 | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 31 | 22 |
| Structure | 27 | 11 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 32 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 26 | 15 |
| Stalling | 23 | 12 |
| Hesitation / surging | 19 | 14 |
| Airbag warning light | 18 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 15 | 8 |
| Loss of power | 9 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 9 | 0 |
2014 Subaru Forester
2014 Subaru Outback
Compare all Subaru Forester 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.