YearToAvoid

2014 Subaru XV CrossTrek Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 5 XV CrossTrek years

The 2014 Subaru XV CrossTrek ranks worst of 5 model years, with a complaint index of 100 and 81 complaints, mostly tied to the Electrical System (25%), Engine (20%), and Brakes (17%). No recalls have been issued for this year.

Complaints
81
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
8 / 1
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
25 city / 32 hwy

Top 2014 Subaru XV CrossTrek problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System20 (25%)
  2. Engine16 (20%)
  3. Other16 (20%)
  4. Brakes14 (17%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain13 (16%)
  6. Airbags9 (11%)
  7. Steering7 (9%)
  8. Structure & Body4 (5%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers4 (5%)
  10. Fuel System3 (4%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel reportedly seized suddenly at highway speed, causing loss of control.
  • Some owners describe unintended acceleration while braking, including during low-speed maneuvers like backing into a garage or parking.
  • Electrical wiring in the heating/AC control unit has been reported to melt, disabling the heater and in one case causing a fire.
  • Owners report the vehicle pulling to the right consistently, described as a torque steer condition.
  • One owner reported the engine consumed over five quarts of oil before reaching 9,000 miles.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in low-speed crash situations.
2014 Subaru XV CrossTrek complaints: complaints filed per quarter92014 Q12016 Q42018 Q42020 Q22021 Q42023 Q42025 Q2
109 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2021 Q1 (9).

2014 Subaru XV CrossTrek recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2014 Subaru XV CrossTrek fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
32 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2014 compared with other XV CrossTrek years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid7597226.5
2014Avoid10081028
2015Caution5078129
2016No verdict03029

All Subaru XV CrossTrek years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Subaru XV CrossTrek reliable?
Among the 5 model years with data, 2014 ranks worst, with a complaint index of 100 and 81 complaints. Electrical System, Engine, and Brakes are the top reported problem areas.
Does the 2014 Subaru XV CrossTrek have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2014 XV CrossTrek, though other years such as 2013 and 2015 have 2 and 1 recalls respectively.
What is the most common complaint on the 2014 XV CrossTrek?
Electrical System complaints are most common, making up 25% of all reports, with a median failure mileage of 59,600 miles.
How does the 2014 XV CrossTrek compare to the 2015 model?
The 2014 has a complaint index of 100 versus 50 for 2015, and 2014 ranks worse overall, being labeled Avoid compared to Caution for 2015.
Were there any crashes or injuries reported for the 2014 XV CrossTrek?
NHTSA data shows 8 crashes, 6 injuries, and 1 fire reported among the 81 complaints for the 2014 XV CrossTrek, with no deaths recorded.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.