2014 SUBARU OUTBACK Electrical System Problems

My Subaru has some kind of electrical issues I was driving and car stopped would start again I had to towed to Arts repair shop they said was starter put new starter in 400 dollars later says it wasn't starter some kind of electrical and they dont do that electrical service they recommend Carlins automotive geico would not tow again I pd out of pocket they had it 2 days said could not figure it out put electrical meters on find nothing so decided to look at fuses again replaced #13 fuse said it started and thought was fixed (carry 15A fuses with me) Picked up that day drove it stopped and drove got it home next morning taking older client and standed again, im [XXX] I take of seniors that dont have family i see no recalls kept reading said updated 2024 an 2025 electrical issue with engine everyone...

I purchased this vehicle in May 2024 within 2 months of purchase the eyesight function malfunctioned. I took it back to the dealership where I purchased it and they attempted to diagnose it at cost of parts and I ended up paying a few hundred dollars for that repair. That didn’t work and they offered to attempt something else but this was just guessing. Then a few months down the line I receive a post card in the mail for a ‘warranty extension’ on the exact issue I am having. I take it to the Subaru dealership once and they had me return a second time saying they couldn’t diagnose it at that time because the lights that appear on and off weren’t appearing for them. Returning a second time they said they were able to diagnose the issue but the warranty only covers 75%. The remaining 25% that’s left...

For several years, the nav/camera/radio screen goes black. Only turns back on when car is turned off and restarted, then does it again. It is available for inspection upon request. I almost ran into pedestrian at grocery store without backup camera and have had many more incidents like this. Dealership I visited won't look at it unless I pay. Independent Subaru service provider saw this and said to contact you to help with "service campaign" as other clients of his have mentioned same complaint. No warnings/messages prior to failure or patterns for when it happens. Just happens at random times while driving.

I noticed when driving that my horn had stopped working. I am unsure if this is related to the airbag replacement or some other issue. The concern is that most people do not check their horns for functionality before it is really needed. I was able to get it repaired at a cost of 529.58

The Roll Connector Harness failed, and use of the horn was disabled. It is due to the mechanical steering of the vehicle, and fails over time. As a multiple Subaru owner this has been a topic of safety with most of the owners with 2014 Subarus. Subaru changed the design/engineering of this part in 2016 due to the concern. Because they won't issue a recall, and the cost of repair is high ($400+), mainly due to the location of the part, many will not fix the issue. There is no way to warn other drivers or deer without use of the horn. This has put me in harm's way multiple times until I finally got it fixed. I have contacted my dealer who says it is one of the more common issues they see with this year and probably 2015 as well. It needs to be recalled so everyone with...

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the vehicle was at a standstill when the contact saw unknown warning lights were flickering on and off. The contact parked the vehicle and went inside a store when approximately 10 minutes later the vehicle was on fire. Fire marshals and police extinguished the fire and a report was taken; no one was injured. The vehicle was then towed to an insurance lot where the contact was awaiting a diagnosis. The manufacturer was informed of failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

Driving at highway speeds with over half a tank of gas and car just shut down, no warning lights, no noise just shut down and lost all control. Fortunately was able to safely move to shoulder. Sat there for a few minutes, called subaru dealer (no suggestions though i now know there is a recall (NHTSA 21V587000) for an identical problem in newer subaru outbacks and also plenty of online sites suggesting this has happened to other outbacks. Car restarted and we were able to complete our ride home, very scary to think of what could have happened if we were in a different situation of traffic or highway conditions.

Horn malfunctions. Press horn on steering wheel is dead silent. However, if I enable the Panic button on key, the alarm sounds. When I start the car after pressing Panic button, the horn I steering wheel works. Sporadic operation.

THE REAR VIEW CAMERA WAS NOT DESIGNED OR MANUFACTURED PROPERLY AND IT ALLOWS MOISTURE TO GET INTO THE CAMERA ITSELF. AFTER A WHILE THE CAMERA WITH FUZZY PICTURE AND EVENTUALLY YOU CAN NOT VIEW THINGS PROPERLY OR SEE THEM AT ALL. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS ON THE INTERNET. THIS MAKES IT UNSAFE TO BACK THE CAR UP IF TRYING TO USE THE CAMERA TO ASSIST IN CLEARING THE PATH ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

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.

HVAC FAN CONTROL SWITCH AND CONNECTOR MELTED

THE BACK-UP CAMERA STARTED FLICKERING WHEN BACKING IN PARKING LOT. THAT HAPPENED TWICE. THE NEXT TIME IT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. THE SCREEN DOESN'T EVEN SHOW THAT I'M BACKING-UP. *TR

MY BACK-UP CAMERA COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN SWITCH INTO A MODE WHERE I CAN SEE THE CAMERA WHEN I SHIFT THE CAR INTO REVERSE; IT STAYS ON WHATEVER SCREEN IT WAS ON. NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE, IT JUST QUIT WORKING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

SINCE 5/2019 MY SUBARU HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 5 TIMES DUE TO THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHING WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT. MY REMOTE STARTER AND RADIO DO NOT WORK EITHER. EACH TIME IT'S BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I AM GIVEN A DIFFERENT REASON, CHARGED A FEE AND SENT ON MY WAY, UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN! GETTING A LITTLE TIRED OF HAVING MY CHAIN YANKED. SUBARU NEEDS TO DO A RECALL FOR THIS RECURRING PROBLEM.MY CAR RAN FINE UNTIL THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS CHANGED, DUE TO A RECALL.

BATTERY FAILING PREMATURELY EVEN NEW. LEAVING DRIVERS AND OCCUPANTS STRANDED IN WINTER FREEZING , OR SUMMER HOT WEATHER. I HAD TOTAL OF 4 EPISODES OF BATTERY FAILURE IN MY 2014 OUTBACK BOUGHT NEW ON 8/12/2014. SUBARU FACTORY BATTERY FAILED TWICE WHEN CAR WAS LESS THEN 20K MILES IN JANUARY 2017, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, THEN AGAIN FAILED TWICE AGAIN WITH THE REPLACED BATTERY 11/26/2019 AT 47K MILES. SUBARU DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY THIS TIME STATING WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. RESEARCHED ONLINE FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUBARU BATTERIES BELOW: VEHICLE 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED 4DR SUV AWD (2.5L 4CYL CVT) REVIEW I HAVE HAD PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH A DEAD BATTERY. IF I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR AT LEAST ONE-HALF HOUR EACH DAY,THE ... 3.9/5(196) MILEAGE: 106400 DRIVE TRAIN: ALL WHEEL DRIVE MPG: 25 COMBINED MPG SUBARU BATTERY PROBLEMS? QUESTIONS ABOUT SUBARU BATTERY ON ... HTTPS://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/TOPICS-BATTERY SUBARU BATTERY PROBLEMS A...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AND ATM OIL TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE GEARS AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GROVE SUBARU OF SILVERTHORNE (171 9TH ST, SILVERTHORNE, CO 80498, (970) 276-6039) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT CODE: P0971 FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING (CRUISE CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHTS).PARKED CAR, CHECKED GAS CAP AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY AND CLEANED TERMINALS, PROBLEM CONTINUED. TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC (AFTER SOME NOT SO PLEASANT DEALINGS WITH SUBARU) 7/22/19 HE PERFORMED COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR. $601.38. CAR WORKED WELL UNTIL TODAY. RETURNING HOME FROM STORE THE LIGHTS ARE FLASHING AGAIN BACK TO THE MECHANIC. 18,000 MILES ON THE CAR!

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.

REAR TAIL RUNNING LIGHT BULBS INSIDE THE LIFT/TAIL GATE WERE BURNT OUT AND WHEN REPLACING THE BULBS THE PLASTIC HOUSING THE BULBS PRESS INTO WERE CHARRED AND CRACKED. I FEAR THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD GIVEN THE STATE OF CHARRING. MY VEHICLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FIRE, BUT I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT IN CASE SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THIS AREA.

ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED. WHEN THIS OCCURS YOU CAN'T USE THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE EYESIGHT SAFETY EQUIPMENT DOES NOT WORK. THIS OCCURS AT STARTUP, WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES THROUGH IT'S DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS. CAR HAS STRANDED US TWICE WITH THE BRAKE NOT ALLOWING US TO DISENGAGE. EVENTUALLY, AFTER STARTING CAR MULTIPLE TIMES OR REMOVING BATTERY, IT WILL WORK BRIEFLY TO ALLOW TO DISENGAGE. NOW WE DON'T SET THE PARKING BRAKE, OR USE THE EYESIGHT. SUBARU HAS RECALLED THEIR MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODELS WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODELS.

4 HEADLAMPS CHANGED. 2 FOG LAMPS, BOTH FRONT MARKER LIGHTS, BOTH REAR STOP LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. UNIT WAS PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2014 FROM DEALER SHOWROOM. I HAVE CHANGED MORE LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE THAN MY LAST 5 CARS COMBINED. IS THERE AN ELECTRICAL OR WIRING ISSUE HERE?

VEHICLE IS STOPPED, TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK AND IGNITION KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF. JIGGLING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SEEMS TO FIX THE ISSUE.

ON OR ABOUT NOV 24, 2015, AN IGNITION PROBLEM DEVELOPED. WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH THERE WAS NO POWER. WITH EACH TURN, MORE AND MORE POWER TURNED UNTIL IT FINALLY STARTED. ACCORDING TO SHEEHY SUBARU, SPRINGFIELD, VA, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND STATED "I NEEDED TO START THE CAR EVER COUPLE OF DAYS." ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, REYNOLDS GMC SUBARU CAME AND PICKED UP THE CAR AND SAID THERE WAS TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM (I WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE) AND THEY HAVE FIXED TWENTY OTHER CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL JANUARY 11, 2016, THE CAR STARTED EXHIBITING THE SAME IGNITION ISSUES. I CONTACTED REYNOLDS WHO CONTACTED SUBARU ENGINEERS WHO SAID NOT TO HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION KEY. THE VEHICLE STARTS WITH A FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL OR NOT. THEY STATED...

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) : HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/66-PROBLEMS-MAINTENANCE/98450-2014-OUTBACK-ACCELERATION-HESITATION.HTML

ON 3/22/15 WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE LOCKED ON AT 10 MPH. AFTER PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RELEASING AND APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES IT FINALLY RELEASED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE AND FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF FOR 10 MINUTES THE SYSTEM RESET TO NORMAL. THE SYSTEM REMAINED NORMAL UNTIL ARRIVING AT A SUBARU DEALER ON 3/24/15 WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE DEALER TOOK CONTROL, IDENTIFIED AND REPLACED A RELAY AND SEVERAL SENSORS. THE CAR PERFORMED NORMAL UNTIL 4/1/15 WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH. AFTER STOPPING AND RELEASING AND APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES THE SYSTEM RESET BUT THE CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS REMAINED STEADY OR FLASHING. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SET FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE SYSTEM RESET ITSELF. ANOTHER APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE...

THE CAR DOES NOT STAY ON. STARTED THE CAR BY TURNING THE KEY TO THE "START" POSITION FROM THE "ON" POSITION. THE CAR STARTS BUT ONCE THE KEY MOVES BACK TO "ON", THE CAR STOPS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE BEEN STRANDED BY THIS OCCURRENCE. AFTER 20-30MINS, THE CAR STARTS AGAIN. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS RELATIVELY HOT (+85 DEGREES F). SEEMS TO BE AN IGNITION ISSUE. *TR

ZERO OIL PRESSURE (RED) INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT SAFE AND PRUDENT OPERATING SPEED. LOW OIL INDICATOR LIGHT (YELLOW) NEVER ILLUMINATED. LIGHT REMAINED ON FOR THREE MILES, ONE AT SPEED 55 MPH TO ZERO AND TWO AT 20 MPH. THEN WENT OUT. INSPECTION OF OIL LEVEL SHOWED LEVEL APPROXIMATELY ONE CENTIMETER ABOVE LOW LEVEL MARKER ON DIPSTICK. ADDITION OF .5 QUART US RAISES LEVEL TO APPROXIMATELY ONE CENTIMETER BELOW FULL LEVEL MARKER ON DIPSTICK. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP; HAD FULL OIL SERVICE PERFORMED 2,500 MILES AHEAD OF SCHEDULED SERVICE. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS "SENSOR RESISTANCE IS HIGH, WILL R&R." DEALER FAILED TO PROVIDE EMPIRICAL OIL PRESSURE PSI READING DESPITE REQUEST. PART REPLACEMENT YET TO BE DONE. *TR

UPON INSPECTING THE TRAILER HITCH AND WIRING LOOM THAT THE RENO, NV, SUBARU DEALER INSTALLED FROM THEIR INVENTORY, THE WIRING LOOM AND CONNECTOR WHICH CONNECTS TO A TRAILER'S LOOM WAS FOUND TO BE HANGING FREELY IN THE WIND. THE TRAILER'S LOOM RUNS BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. THE LOOM WAS ATTACHED TO THE TRAILER HITCH WITH A SINGLE PLASTIC WIRING TIE WHICH WENT THRU THE WHOLE IN THE TRAILER HITCH INTENDED FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF THE TRAILER'S SAFETY CHAINS. THE PLASTIC TIE USED WAS OF THE TYPE NORMALLY USED TO HOLD A GROUP OF WIRES TOGETHER. UPON ATTACHING THE SAFETY CHAINS, THE PLASTIC TIE WHICH SUPPORTED THE WIRING LOOM, CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE METAL SAFETY CHAIN HOOK. NOWHERE ON THE HITCH WAS THERE ANY METAL BRACKET TO ATTACH THE WIRING LOOM PLUG TO PREVENT THE LOOM FROM SWINGING IN THE BREEZE. IF THE PLASTIC TIE WERE TO BREAK...

THIS IS AN UPDATE: DEALER CALLED US TO HAVE [XXX] DRIVE THE CAR WITH A SERVICE TECHNICIAN PRESENT ( TECH NAMED [XXX]) CAR WAS DRIVEN APROX 5-6 MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT ...SYSTEM DID NOT FAULT. DEALER TOLD US THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH SUBARU TECH CENTER & COMPLETED ALL THE TEST PROCEDURES BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE ANY OF THE BRAKE-CHECK/ ENGINE FAULTS EXPERIENCED 3 ON 5/22 OR 1 ON 5/23/2014. [XXX] SERVICE COORDINATOR IS NOT CERTAIN WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. WE ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE ONCE THE SYSTEM FAULTED & THE ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION & TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ARE SHUT DOWN ( AS A RESULT OF THE FAULT). I ASKED THEM NOT TO GUESS WHEN THEY ANSWERED THIS QUESTION. DEALERSHIP HAS DECIDED TO KEEP THE CAR AN ADDITIONAL DAY FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE SYSTEM TO FAULT...

THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDERWAY. WHEN THE FAULT IS CLEARED AND DRIVING RESUMES THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE AGAIN ENGAGES. THE MFG ( SUBARU) PROVIDES A SMALL TOOL & INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO CRAWL UNDER THE CAR, USE THE TOOL TO MECHANICALLY RELEASE THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE. IF A TOOL IS PROVIDED ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNER MANUAL HOW TO RELEASE A FAULTY ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ( WHICH MAY ENGAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WAY ) THIS IS A CLEAR WARNING OF A POSSIBLE UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS US ( THIS PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM HAS NEVER HAPPENED) THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR TELLS US TOWING VEHICLES TO DEALERSHIPS BECAUSE OF FAULTY ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKES IS A MAJOR PART OF HIS BUSINESS. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WHERE THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE LIGHT INDICATES THE BRAKE HAS BEEN SET & NOT RELEASED. THE CAR WAS TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY (5/22/2014) FOR SAME REASON. DEALER STATED THEY SPOKE WITH SUBARU & WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY REASON FOR THE FAULT. THEY STATED COMPUTER INDICATED THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED BUT THAT THIS SAME SYSTEM DOES DISABLE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WHEN THIS FAULT OCCURS. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE DESPITE THE ASSURANCES OF THE SERVICE MANAGER ( [XXX]) THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE (NO WORRIES). THE INSTRUMENT LIGHT ON THE PANEL ALSO FLASHES "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT THE SAME TIME LIGHT FLASHES INDICATING PARKING BRAKE HAS BEEN SET & NOT RELEASED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR