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2014 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Forester years

Owner complaints for the 2014 Subaru Forester are substantially higher than the model-year median of 131.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

298 reports with mileage · 105 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 94 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

48 crash reports3 fire reports18 injury reports

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

15 reports
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25,000 miles · Sep 15, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion System

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN TEMPERATURES AROUND 85-90 (OR GREATER) DEGREES VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW ACCELERATION. VEHICLE STUMBLES, DETONATES AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER TO APPLY POWER WITHOUT HESITATION AND ENGINE STUMBLES. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE RECREATED AT WILL AND YET THE VEHICLE WILL NOT THROW A CEL UNLESS A …

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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN TEMPERATURES AROUND 85-90 (OR GREATER) DEGREES VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW ACCELERATION. VEHICLE STUMBLES, DETONATES AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER TO APPLY POWER WITHOUT HESITATION AND ENGINE STUMBLES. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE RECREATED AT WILL AND YET THE VEHICLE WILL NOT THROW A CEL UNLESS A LARGER FAILURE HAPPENS, WHICH TYPICALLY IS THE #3 CYLINDER BURNS OFF THE SPARK PLUG ELECTRODE AND DAMAGES THE ENGINE. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT CONSIDERS THIS CONDITION NORMAL. THE VEHICLE IS NOT APPROPRIATELY MAPPED FOR THE SUBARU SUGGESTED FUEL OCTANE LEVEL, HAS TURBO BOOST PIPING LEAKS ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS.

NHTSA ODI #10906947

12,800 miles · Aug 6, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemCrashInjury

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AS THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN FLOORED. THIS OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE TO LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY WITHOUT MY THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESPOND TO BRAKING. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOING INTO T…

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SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AS THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN FLOORED. THIS OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE TO LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY WITHOUT MY THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESPOND TO BRAKING. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOING INTO THE CULVERT DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM MY DRIVEWAY. THE ROAD THEN IS AN IMMEDIATE RIGHT-HAND TURN BUT THE CAR WAS ALREADY GOING TOO FAST FOR ME TO SUCCESSFULLY STAY ON THE ROAD. THE CAR WENT INTO THE CULVERT ACROSS THAT ROAD, DEPLOYING ALL THE AIRBAGS, AND ESSENTIALLY DEMOLISHING THE CAR (>$20K TO REPAIR). MY WIFE AND I WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE FOR VARIOUS TESTS AND CT SCANS; FORTUNATELY, NOT TOO MUCH DAMAGE BEYOND WHAT THE SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAGS DID TO US....UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF *CN

NHTSA ODI #10746870

200 miles · Jun 3, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System

VEHICLE HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP WITH SLIGHT SHUTTERING. CAR NOW HAS 6,600 MILE AND STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT CLAIMS THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED.

NHTSA ODI #10723218

7,600 miles · Sep 29, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

IN OCTOBER OF 2013, I PURCHASED BY WAY OF LEASE, A BRAND NEW 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION IN MY VEHICLE. IN EXAMPLE, BEFORE MY FIRST OIL CHANGE OF 3,000 MILES, I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR ASSESSED BY THE OIL TECHNICIANS AS THE OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING…

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IN OCTOBER OF 2013, I PURCHASED BY WAY OF LEASE, A BRAND NEW 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION IN MY VEHICLE. IN EXAMPLE, BEFORE MY FIRST OIL CHANGE OF 3,000 MILES, I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR ASSESSED BY THE OIL TECHNICIANS AS THE OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. THE OIL TECHNICIANS WOULD ?TOP? OFF MY FLUIDS AND ALONG I WENT. SADLY, AFTER HAVING MY 3,000 MILE OIL CHANGE, I CONTINUED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH OIL CONSUMPTION. I THINK I PAID A VISIT TO THE OIL TECHNICIANS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 6 WEEKS OR SO; SO MUCH SO THAT THE OIL TECHNICIANS WERE TIRED OF SEEING MY VEHICLE. I PRACTICALLY DEVELOPED A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OIL TECHNICIANS. IF THEY DID NOT KNOW ME BY NAME, THEY WERE AT LEAST FAMILIAR WITH MY VEHICLE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY LONGER, THIS MONTH (SEPTEMBER) OR BETTER STATED LESS THAN A YEAR OF HAVING A 2014 IN MY POSSESSION, WHILE STILL BEING IN THE YEAR 2014 WITH 3 MONTHS LEFT TO GO IN THIS YEAR, I HAD SOME MAJOR WORK DONE TO MY VEHICLE. UP TO AND INCLUDING A REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED INVOICE TO SEE ALL THE ITEMS THAT WERE REPLACED. NOW YOU ARE PROBLEM ASKING WELL HOW MANY MILES ARE ON THE CAR? THERE ARE ONLY 7,600 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IN OTHER WORDS I PUT MAYBE 760 MILES ON MY VEHICLE PER MONTH IN LESS THAN A YEAR.OPPORTUNITY: CLEARLY, I WAS SOLD A HIGH PRICED LEMON; A DUD. IN ORDER TO IMPROVE ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, IT IS IN MY OPINION THAT SUBARU SHOULD PROVIDE ME WITH A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER THAT IS NOT DEFECTIVE OR ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE DESIGN FLAWS. NO VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 8,000 MILES AND LESS THAN A YEAR OLD SHOULD REQUIRE AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE NOW THE CAR HAS A VIBRATION AND FEELS AS IF IT IS GOING TO SHUT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639847

6,800 miles · Sep 7, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORST. THE CAR HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLES TURNING OVER ON COLD STARTS, AND HAS EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF PROPULSION AND STALL GOING UP HILL INCLUDING A LOSS OF BRAKES SINCE I BOUGHT IT A YEAR AGO. ON 9/6/2014 THE CAR WAS STARTED AND WAS IDLING HIGH (APPROXIMATELY 4000RPM), CHECK ENGINE LIGH…

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THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORST. THE CAR HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLES TURNING OVER ON COLD STARTS, AND HAS EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF PROPULSION AND STALL GOING UP HILL INCLUDING A LOSS OF BRAKES SINCE I BOUGHT IT A YEAR AGO. ON 9/6/2014 THE CAR WAS STARTED AND WAS IDLING HIGH (APPROXIMATELY 4000RPM), CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, SPEED CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON, INCLINE ALERT LIGHT ON, SPORT MODE LIGHT WAS ON AND CHECK EMISSIONS SYSTEM LIGHT WAS ON. HAD TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND IT BARELY MADE IT UP THE INCLINE IN THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE AS IT WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR, CALLED FOR A TOW WHICH NEVER ARRIVED AND TRIED TO RESTART OUT OF FRUSTRATION ALL LIGHTS WERE OFF AND CAR I MADE IT TO THE DEALER WHICH WAS NOT FAR AWAY. HAVE ALREADY HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE CAR ONCE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY REPORTED THEIR DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THAT CAR ELECTRICAL\COMPUTER PROBLEMS CANNOT BE FIXED UNTIL THEY BREAK COMPLETELY (OR SOMEONE IS HURT OR INJURED PERHAPS). THERE WAS ONE MORE REPORT SIMILAR TO THIS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THAT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED. SEEMS TO ME THAT CAR IS NOT SAFE AT THIS POINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631329

Official recalls

2

19V149000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 28, 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.

13V159000 · Equipment

Apr 24, 2013

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2014 Forester vehicles manufactured from January 2013 through March 2013. The backing for the carpeted floor mats was not manufactured to specification. As a result, the floor mats may curl when exposed to heat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Curling of the driver side floor mat could distract the driver and/or interfere with proper operation of one or a combination of, the vehicle's clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals. Brake or accelerator pedal interference may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace each of the vehicle's four (4) carpeted floor mats with new ones. These services will be performed free of charge. Subaru issued an interim notification during April 2013. Notification that the remedy is now available was mailed to owners on June 5, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQH-44.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems