Headlights Burn Out

2014 Subaru Outback

This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Subaru dealer.

CarComplaints.com Seal Of This Might Hurt

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2014 Outback is showing an early trend of problems with hesitation when accelerating.

The vast majority of owners experiencing this problem have reported that Subaru has not been able to find the cause of the engine hesitation, or fix the problem.

Especially because this is a potential safety defect, we are flagging the 2014 Outback as a model year to watch out for.

7.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$110
Average Mileage:
48,200 miles
Total Complaints:
9 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. replace bulbs (4 reports)
2014 Subaru Outback lights problems

lights problem

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2014 Subaru Outback Owner Comments

problem #9

Sep 082019

Outback

  • CVT transmission
  • 80,376 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The problem with the 2014 Subaru Outback lighting system is asinine! I have 80,000 miles on this car and I have replaced eight lights, three of them headlights. Two of the same headlights within the last two months and less than 5,000 miles of each other.

The difficulty of replacing the lights is bullshit! To change the headlights, the car must be jacked up, the wheel taken off, and the wheel well liner has to be removed.

What really ticks me off is that I have been pulled over two times, because of the frequency of light failures.

Oh, did I mention that I am a mechanic! Have been for many years. I have seen the argument that touching the bulbs is what is causing the failures. I use nitrile gloves, but another issue is, that even with the wheel off and liner out, it is difficult to position the light and the gloves don't help that at all! But they are, however, necessary!

The lighting problem boils down to a poorly designed electrical and lighting system, that Subaru is aware of and trying to shift responsibility to the consumer.

- Daniel G., West Richland, US

problem #8

Jan 232019

Outback

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

Another bulb bites the dust!

- Aaron F., Delanson, NY, US

problem #7

May 232017

Outback

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles

After owning the Subaru Outback wagon for 4 years we love it! Great in the snow, lots of interior space, decent fuel economy, but replacing various bulbs every 1-2 months is a royal PITA!

- Aaron F., Delanson, NY, US

problem #6

May 192018

Outback Premium 2.5i

  • CVT transmission
  • 43,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

click to see larger images

headlights burn out

Ongoing light issue that Subaru turns a blind eye to! Not safe. Repeated light issues burning out (all exterior lights). One fixed, next light burned out the next day. Yet I'm supposed to keep coming in and paying out of my pocket. Known issue for Outbacks. Class action lawsuit for 2010-2013 Outbacks. I have 2014, same issues, no comp or fixes from Subaru. Not hard on car, taken care of, mostly local and some highway. See attached photo. Some reporting its an electrical issue with surge, then why don't they fix it? I've had 6 exterior lights die on me. Come on Subaru. Do the right thing. I still don't how I can have a dealer fix a low beam and within 24 hours the daytime running lights are burned out!

- no love here , Hamilton, US

problem #5

Dec 102017

Outback 2.5i

  • CVT transmission
  • 35,000 miles

The driver's side low beam headlight AND daylight burned out - at just 35,000 miles! So disgusted that my 2014 Subaru Outback can't even hold up to low wear-and-tear. Out-of-warranty at 30,000. In order to change, must remove tire, engine wall panel and reach up through engine. Way behind my capability. Fortunately I found a repair guy to do it at 1/2 the price of the dealer. WHY CAN"T THEY EXTEND THE 2011-2012 HEADLIGHT REPAIRS to 2014s? Clearly its the same model. Will NOT buy another Saturn... tire blew at 10,000 and car won't kick on when starting (I'm in a mild climate) with a key - the alternator grinds away. Oddly, starts perfectly with the remote. My first and last Subaru.

- Denise M., Hamilton, US

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problem #4

Nov 252016

Outback

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

This is the third time this year I've dropped my car off for a burnt out light. This time, it's the driver's side headlight and parking light. Last time, it was a tail light and the time before that, passenger side headlight. The very first time, the shop took my car, kept it for 5 hours only to call me and tell me they didn't have the light in stock, grrrr! So, this is the fourth time, really. FOUR times in 6 months I've lost my car for the day. For the first time I argued and got the light for free (since they had inconvenienced me the first time). The second time it was $120 and this time the quote is around $250. WTF??? Tech says I can expect the rest of the lights to go out one by one and, no, they can't just change them all. I called Subaru and complained. You can't expect your customers to lose their car a few times a year over a dang light! At least make it so we can change them ourselves.

- bilinibeard, Oakland, US

problem #3

Aug 022016

Outback V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is the 10th time a headlight has burned out, the fog lights have burned out twice and now there's a tail light out!!!!!!!!!! There has to be an issue, not to mention how hard it is for the mechanics to get to the d--- headlights!!!!!!!!

- ronnifogle, Statesville, NC, US

problem #2

Sep 142016

Outback 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

This has been a continual problem with the car, with multiple front-end OEM lights burning out far sooner than they should. I read there was an issue with earlier models (resulting in a lawsuit) and it was confirmed by my dealer/service shop, but haven't heard of recurring issues in later models. Sounds like the EXACT SAME problem hasn't been solved, at least not in my car!

- bkoutback, Orlando, FL, US

problem #1

Oct 212016

Outback Premium 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

I have had to replace the low beam headlights over and over. Seven lights now to the tune of $50 a pop. The driver's side just went out.... again! The dealership said there had just, within the last week, been a recall. Not for my car though. Hmmm.

Update from Mar 23, 2018: Now, tthe car is at 62,000 miles. We've replaced the headlights again. I took the car in for an oil change and found out that all for marker lights and a tail light were out too. They charged me $40 to replace those. Not horrible. Then today, I am driving out of the state for a road trip and I make a stop for gas. When I get back on the road, my blinkers had stopped working. I was close to a dealership so I popped in. I am someone who really uses my blinkers and couldn't be on a road trip with my kid with faulty lights! They said my hazard button must have been stuck in a strange way because they just pressed it a couple of times and problem solved. The hazards had not been on and weren't at the time. Then he told me to make an appointment to have the electrical system checked. Well that was reassring. We've had numerous Subarus in our family and this is the worst. That includes the 1990s Outback that blew it's head gasket..... after 200,000 miles. This 2014 is straight junk. Next year I'm buying something else.

- Amy C., Spokane, WA, US

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