NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
31 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Nov 19, 2025
Fuel/propulsion SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
I was driving my 2014 Subaru Forester (about 148,000 miles) behind a minivan at a safe distance and speed. Without warning, my vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. Despite applying the brakes, shifting into low gear, and using the emergency brake, I was unable to slow it down. After impact, the car then hit a telephone pole, s…
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I was driving my 2014 Subaru Forester (about 148,000 miles) behind a minivan at a safe distance and speed. Without warning, my vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. Despite applying the brakes, shifting into low gear, and using the emergency brake, I was unable to slow it down. After impact, the car then hit a telephone pole, spun me around and rolled the car over. There is major damage to the car and we looked at it at the tow yard but the salvage adjuster is moving it shortly.
NHTSA ODI #11700275
Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2024
Service Brakes
Brake line junction, just in front of rear passenger wheel, rusted and failed catastrophically losing all braking while driving. This is similar to the previous recall in 2014 when "more than 600,000 vehicles in the United States due to a potential issue with brake line corrosion" for many Subaru vehicles. "The recall affected …
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Brake line junction, just in front of rear passenger wheel, rusted and failed catastrophically losing all braking while driving. This is similar to the previous recall in 2014 when "more than 600,000 vehicles in the United States due to a potential issue with brake line corrosion" for many Subaru vehicles. "The recall affected vehicles built between 2005 and 2014 that were registered in states that use road salt in cold weather." SOA claims that the 2014 Forrester is not included in the recall and refuse all responsibility for repairs.
NHTSA ODI #11594939
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2024
Service Brakes
Brakes completely failed on the car when driving. Had it towed to the Subaru dealer, which reports that it’s the SAME issue as the recall on the 2008-13 Foresters: rear brake lines rusted completely through. Subaru claims it’s unrelated.
NHTSA ODI #11581971
Mileage unknown · Dec 25, 2023
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury
I had 2 accidents with this car. The first was on October 10, 2023. I pulled into a parking space and braked. I move forward a little more and braked again. The car suddenly accelerated and hit 2 vehicles parking across from me. My car was damaged, and one of the cars I hit was badly damaged, and the other had less damage. My…
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I had 2 accidents with this car. The first was on October 10, 2023. I pulled into a parking space and braked. I move forward a little more and braked again. The car suddenly accelerated and hit 2 vehicles parking across from me. My car was damaged, and one of the cars I hit was badly damaged, and the other had less damage. My 93 year old father was not injured. I had an injury on my hand, where the skin split between my right hand and forefinger. Fortunately there was no one in either of the other cars. I do not know if the vehicle was inspected by anyone. There was no warning light. It all happened in seconds. I had no idea what happened, so I thought my foot must have slipped and hit the gas pedal. I had my car repaired at the Apple Subaru's body shop in York, PA. It was in the shop for about a month. I drove it aroung for a few weeks then started noticing some lurching forward after braking. I still assumed my foot my foot must be slipping. On December 1, 1923, I decided to go to our local farmer's market for apples. The car lurched a few times causing me to run a stop sign. I decided it was unfit to go on to the market and decided to take it to my service station. The service station is located on a ridge. There office and some of the garage bays are on the upper level on the ridge. The property goes downhill around that. There is an entry next to the office that is marked as a handicapped space. I was not thinking clearly when I decided to park there. I pulled partway into the space, braked, and then moved forward a bit. When I braked the car took off at a high speed, through a railing, over the edge, and landed sideways on the ground below. I was trapped in the car and had to be removed by firefighters. When they pulled me out I was taken to the ER. My car was totalled. My son did some research and sent me some links. I am now sure that the cause was the sudden acceleration problem with Subaru. I have reported this to Subaru.
NHTSA ODI #11561752
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2022
Power TrainService Brakes
While driving our 2014 Subaru Forester Inclined Assist, ABS, and maintenance lights and worded warnings came on. I scheduled a repair for asap which was completed on 10/13/2022. The independent shop told me the repair was a known problem and this shop has done 4 of these repairs. Subaru actually sells a kit with the parts …
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While driving our 2014 Subaru Forester Inclined Assist, ABS, and maintenance lights and worded warnings came on. I scheduled a repair for asap which was completed on 10/13/2022. The independent shop told me the repair was a known problem and this shop has done 4 of these repairs. Subaru actually sells a kit with the parts and fluid (?) for the repair. My understanding is inclined assist (when car is on a certain slope0 can apply the breaks to prevent roll back. I do not know how common this failure is, but failure could cause an accident. One report I read on line claimed while driving the car started applying the brakes without the driver doing anything. Is this possible, I do not know.
NHTSA ODI #11489206
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2022
Service Brakes
As I was going into a right turn, the brake line failed and leaked a significant amount of brake fluid making continued driving dangerous. Just before the failure, the light for low break fluid came on but there was very little warning before braking was a problem due to a significant leak. The part is no longer available as i…
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As I was going into a right turn, the brake line failed and leaked a significant amount of brake fluid making continued driving dangerous. Just before the failure, the light for low break fluid came on but there was very little warning before braking was a problem due to a significant leak. The part is no longer available as it has been repaired. I was advised by the non-dealer repair shop that it rusted out where the line comes out from under the floor.
NHTSA ODI #11476564
61,765 miles · Jul 28, 2022
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash
The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while she had the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle suddenly accelerated unintendedly. The vehicle crashed into the garage in front of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact had not received any injuries. There was damage to the garage, itself. The …
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The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while she had the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle suddenly accelerated unintendedly. The vehicle crashed into the garage in front of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact had not received any injuries. There was damage to the garage, itself. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a certified mechanic or dealer as of yet. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 61,765.
NHTSA ODI #11476299
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2021
Air BagsService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
September 6,2018 the vehicle suddenly unintentionally accelerated. Came off the highway.Pulled in to a parking lot to turn around. Reaching for the shifter with my foot on the brake. The vehicle went 42mph in less than four feet, a woman was directly in the front center of vehicle when a loud roar happened. The woman jumped out …
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September 6,2018 the vehicle suddenly unintentionally accelerated. Came off the highway.Pulled in to a parking lot to turn around. Reaching for the shifter with my foot on the brake. The vehicle went 42mph in less than four feet, a woman was directly in the front center of vehicle when a loud roar happened. The woman jumped out of the way. As the 2014 Subaru Forester shot forward hitting a suburban and then bounced off a fence to stop in the road next to us. Had to fight to get towed to Gresham Subaru. Pulled dtcs and box information.Subaru denies SUA, has a recall on BLS. No airbag deployed, brakes did not work. Skid marks and chunks of tires.
NHTSA ODI #11436859
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2021
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other
Several warning messages appeared on the dash at the same time: Check engine, Check emissions control system, Hill start assist system needs to be checked. In addition, the pictures of a car climbing a hill and a car with swerving skid marks behind it lit up. (I don't know the official names of these icons.) The engine then e…
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Several warning messages appeared on the dash at the same time: Check engine, Check emissions control system, Hill start assist system needs to be checked. In addition, the pictures of a car climbing a hill and a car with swerving skid marks behind it lit up. (I don't know the official names of these icons.) The engine then either lost power and would not accelerate when I pressed the gas pedal or would rev and accelerate on its own, even when I had the brake depressed. I have taken my car into the dealership 4 times over the past two years for this same issue. I do not have the exact dates of the first two instances, but the last two were on July 7, 2021, and September 17, 2021. Each time the dealer has been able to verify the warning lights and unintended acceleration. They say the problem is with the brake pedal assembly and have replaced it with a new assembly 3 times. They're working on the 4th one right now.
NHTSA ODI #11435778
34,000 miles · Apr 4, 2021
Service Brakes
REAR WHEEL BACKING PLATE DESIGN. NHTSA ID #10185064. OCCURRED ON MY 2014 FORESTER WITH 34,000 MILES (GARAGED). MADE A HOWLING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. REPLACED BY DEALER $700 PARTS AND LABOR. NEVER HAD THIS ON ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. CLEARLY A DESIGN ISSUE. PLEASE SUPPORT A RECALL. NOT SAFE FOR CARS TO BE MAKING THAT KIND OF …
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REAR WHEEL BACKING PLATE DESIGN. NHTSA ID #10185064. OCCURRED ON MY 2014 FORESTER WITH 34,000 MILES (GARAGED). MADE A HOWLING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. REPLACED BY DEALER $700 PARTS AND LABOR. NEVER HAD THIS ON ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. CLEARLY A DESIGN ISSUE. PLEASE SUPPORT A RECALL. NOT SAFE FOR CARS TO BE MAKING THAT KIND OF NOISE, EVEN THOUGH TECHNICALLY PASSED PA STATE INSPECTION. THANKS. .
NHTSA ODI #11406305