2014 Subaru Impreza Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Impreza most often describe the passenger airbag indicator switching off while an adult is seated, generally reported from low mileage and often tied to damp clothing, a damp seat or electronics placed on the seat. A second, smaller cluster involves the engine: oil consumption that requires topping up between changes, and occasional reports of a fractured valve spring. Electrical faults — no-crank conditions, a key stuck in the ignition, a melted pump connector — round out the more common themes.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag turns off with someone in the seat

   • 31 complaints (29%)
   • median 39,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2022

   Complaints describe the passenger airbag indicator showing the bag as off even when an adult is sitting in the front seat, sometimes at startup and sometimes while driving; several owners say the warning returns intermittently or after the vehicle is restarted. A common trigger reported is moisture — damp clothing after sports or rain, a damp seat — or a phone or electronics placed on the seat, and one owner reported a body code for an occupant classification malfunction. According to complaints, dealers often said the behavior was normal or related to moisture or weight, and in some cases replaced the seat bottom or sensor; several owners report the symptom returned after repairs. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 10,000 to over 80,000 miles, frequently in wet or cold conditions and with damp passengers.

   What to check: Sit in the passenger seat at startup and over a short drive and watch the airbag indicator, including with a phone on the seat; ask whether the seat sensor or seat bottom has been replaced and whether any occupant-classification codes were stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My front seat passenger airbag turns off sometimes even when I have passengers sitting there. I took the car to carmax, where I purchased it and they said the seat sensor was malfunctioning due to a wet seat. The seat was not wet to my touch and no liquid had soaked it. Since then, the airbag has continued to turn off with a passenger in the seat when driving. This has happened more than 5 times in a 6 months timespan. I have a video documenting one of the times this has happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #11103629, filed 2018-06, 50,000 miles

   “To whom it may concern my son has a 2014 Subaru Impreza . Leased brand new. While driving home from the beach and after drying off the passenger noticed that the air bag deployment light was not on. I took the car to the dealer in ramsey new jersey ?invoice 244854 .they had the technicians look at the car and what they told us was very upsetting and seems ridiculous . If the passenger seat is the least bit damp the air bag will not deploy. I have in writing from Subaru, owner?s manual page 1-47. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10744983, filed 2015-07, 30,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden unintended acceleration reports

   • 11 complaints (10%)
   • median 26,250 mi at 2.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   A handful of complaints describe the engine revving unexpectedly — while braking for a stop or turn, on startup, or while pulling into a driveway or parking space — with some owners reporting the car moving into a garage door or wall despite braking. Owners describe the event as brief in some cases and sustained in others, sometimes clearing after a restart. Reported at very low mileage, several under 2,000 miles and most under 10,000.

   What to check: During a test drive, check for an uneven or hanging idle and any hesitation when moving between throttle and brake; ask whether the throttle body or pedal assembly has been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle accelerated on its own. Was able to pull car over quickly and throw it into neutral. It then preceded to accelerate radically on its own. While this was happening, the horn lost its connection and I was not able to honk at the person in front of me. I avoided a collusion by pulling over immediately. This took place on a city street going about 25 miles an hour driving straight.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339917, filed 2020-07, 53,700 miles

   “I experienced sudden extreme acceleration just after I pulled into my driveway. The car suddenly--very rapidly--accelerated and crashed through wooden garage door and into the poured concrete wall at back of garage, cracking the wall and of course totaling the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11012263, filed 2017-08, 50,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine oil consumption between oil changes

   • 11 complaints (10%)
   • median 22,500 mi at 3.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the low-oil and check engine lights coming on well before the next scheduled change, with owners adding a quart or more at a time. According to the complaints, dealers frequently described the rate as normal, and owners who asked for an oil consumption test say the usage was still characterized that way. Some owners also connect engine stalling or a loud noise from the engine bay to internal engine problems. Mostly reported on low-mileage cars, in several cases under 15,000 miles.

   Recall 18V772000

   What to check: Check the oil level on the dipstick and look for a service record of an oil consumption test; ask whether the valve spring recall 18V772000 was performed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at highway speed (55mph in california) I heard a loud slapping sound coming from the engine area. The highway was relatively straight. A few minutes later the engine light came on and the car began to slow. I could not give the engine more power by stepping on the accelerator. I put the car in neutral and coasted to the far right shoulder.”

   NHTSA complaint #11123317, filed 2018-08, 30,000 miles

   “Was told that my car might have a recall on the valve spring, took it in they said the valve spring was bad but that my car was not included in the recall and I had to pay 2200. Not sure why my car which is the exact year for the recall and was actually having the issues caused by the bad valve would not be included in the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11230482, filed 2019-07, 90,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Elektrisches: no-start, key stuck, melted connector

   • 14 complaints (13%)
   • median 75,897 mi at 6.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe a range of electrical faults: turning the key and getting no crank, no dash lights and dead windows; a key that will not release from the ignition without repeated turning; and a no-start traced to a pump assembly whose connector had melted. One owner also describes a heater blower and starter failing in succession, with a burning smell afterward. Most reports fall between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles, with some at much lower mileage.

   Recall 19V149000Recall 16V7380001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test a cold start and confirm the dash lights and windows work, try removing the key in each gear position, and ask about battery drain or no-start history; a service bulletin describes a diagnostic procedure for parasitic draw.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Have had numbeous repairs starting at 50000 miles. Heater blower unit went out at around 50000 - was actually melted according to mechanic. Starter went out at 90000. Was not getting enough power to starter. Drove it the next day after the $1000 repair and it's smells like something is burning. The vechicle does not seem to be getting enough power to vital parts and are overheating and melting. I have paid over $6000 in repairs and it keeps getting worse. I'm afraid to drive it for fear the vehicle will catch on fire. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11181383, filed 2019-02, 90,000 miles

   “I adujsted steering wheel and tried to start the ignition and no crank, no lights on dash and car windows wont work. This car is well taking care of at Subaru dealership only. Please help.”

   NHTSA complaint #11252607, filed 2019-08, 42,500 miles

Buying note. Have the passenger airbag indicator checked with an adult seated at startup and while driving, and confirm in writing whether recalls 18V772000 and 19V149000 were completed for the VIN. On the test drive, watch the oil level and idle behavior, and ask for service records covering oil consumption and any electrical no-start repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.