2014 Subaru Outback: Excessive oil consumption
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2014 Outback report: excessive oil consumption. CarComplaints.com lists 9 owner complaints, average mileage 34,200 miles.
NHTSA has 36 owner complaints for the 2014 Outback in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11635704 (filed 01/13/2025): “The contact owns a 2014 subaru outback. the contact stated while driving 50 mph or above, the front end and the steering wheel were shaking abnormally. while driving at various speeds, there was a metallic grinding sound coming from the passenger side of the v…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11550074 (filed 10/15/2023): “The car had been recently serviced through the dealer and had 66,000 miles (9 yrs old). it was 6k miles past warranty. while driving, the radiator hose exploded—loud noise, white steam, and all the warning lights came on and the car heated up. i had the car to…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace a short block assembly (2 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $6,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .