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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

Suspension complaints

94 reports
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58,000 miles · Jun 5, 2019
Suspension

LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR SAT IN DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11218040

72,342 miles · May 28, 2019
Suspension

THE RIGHT REAR SPRING RUSTED OUT, BROKE AND ULTIMATELY DROPPED DOWN SO IT WAS HANGING BELOW THE SUSPENSION MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS HANGING LOW ON THE RIGHT REAR QUADRANT. A BODY SHOP TECHNICIAN NOTICED THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE SPRING BROKE OR DROPPED DOWN. ONCE THIS WAS DETECTED, I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO MY MEC…

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THE RIGHT REAR SPRING RUSTED OUT, BROKE AND ULTIMATELY DROPPED DOWN SO IT WAS HANGING BELOW THE SUSPENSION MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS HANGING LOW ON THE RIGHT REAR QUADRANT. A BODY SHOP TECHNICIAN NOTICED THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE SPRING BROKE OR DROPPED DOWN. ONCE THIS WAS DETECTED, I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO MY MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE IMMEDIATELY AT THE NON-SUBARU SHOP THAT I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS NEW TO THE 2014 FORESTER MODELS AND APPEARS TO BE FAULTY TO CAUSE THE SPRING TO RUST DUE TO THE DESIGN. HE INDICATED IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, SO WE BELIEVE IT DROPPED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. MY VEHICLE IS AT ONLY 72K MILES, AND IS 5 YEARS OLD. I HAVE POSSESSION OF THE RUSTED SPRING, BUT AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD PICTURES AT THIS TIME. I CAN EMAIL THEM IF YOU PROVIDE ME AN ADDRESS TO SEND TO.

NHTSA ODI #11210369

17,667 miles · May 21, 2019
Suspension

GARAGE KEPT AUTOMOBILE WITH LESS THAN 18,000 MILES, NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD. THE BOTTOM OF BOTH REAR STRUT SPRINGS UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING VEHICLE TO DROP AFFECTING STEERING AND STABILITY. APPARENT CAUSE: DEFECTIVE PART FAILED DUE TO PREMATURE RUSTING CAUSING

NHTSA ODI #11209124

69,000 miles · May 17, 2019
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

THE STEERING WHEEL "LEATHER" COATING HAS BEEN DISINTEGRATING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. THE SUBARU SERVICE SAID IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2014 SUBARU FOREST. & SHOULD BE RECALLED. EVENTUALLY, THE UNDERCOAT FOAM MATERIAL WILL ALSO DISINTEGRATE, HE SAID. ALSO, BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUSHINGS,BAND DRIVE, (SOMETHING LIKE A DRIVE…

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THE STEERING WHEEL "LEATHER" COATING HAS BEEN DISINTEGRATING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. THE SUBARU SERVICE SAID IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2014 SUBARU FOREST. & SHOULD BE RECALLED. EVENTUALLY, THE UNDERCOAT FOAM MATERIAL WILL ALSO DISINTEGRATE, HE SAID. ALSO, BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUSHINGS,BAND DRIVE, (SOMETHING LIKE A DRIVE SHAFT), STRUT & AXEL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 69K MILES. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT OR HIT ANYTHING. SUBARU PAID FOR FAILED CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CAR!

NHTSA ODI #11208277

36,400 miles · May 15, 2019
Suspension

ON MAY 13,2019 I PULLED THE CAR INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PARKED THE CAR BEHIND THE HOUSE. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS A BANG ON THE RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) OF THE CAR. UPON INSPECTION ON THE GROUND WERE TWO PIECES OF THE COIL SPRING. THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE HEIGHT OF THE CAR. THE FOLLOWING DAY I TO…

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ON MAY 13,2019 I PULLED THE CAR INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PARKED THE CAR BEHIND THE HOUSE. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS A BANG ON THE RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) OF THE CAR. UPON INSPECTION ON THE GROUND WERE TWO PIECES OF THE COIL SPRING. THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE HEIGHT OF THE CAR. THE FOLLOWING DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP. THEY ARE REPLACING BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS.

NHTSA ODI #11207852

135,000 miles · May 13, 2019
Suspension

THE BOTTOM COIL OF THE REAR SPRING BROKE. THE METAL SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON A DRIVEWAY AND WE HEARD A POP. WE STOPPED AND FOUND THE BROKEN COIL ON THE GROUND.

NHTSA ODI #11207378

69,235 miles · May 10, 2019
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING HOISTED ON THE LIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MITCHELL SUBARU (71 ALBANY TURNPIKE, CANTON, CT 06019 (860) 693-7723) WHERE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING HOISTED ON THE LIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MITCHELL SUBARU (71 ALBANY TURNPIKE, CANTON, CT 06019 (860) 693-7723) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,235.

NHTSA ODI #11206825

42,879 miles · May 9, 2019
Suspension

MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 42,879 MILES WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. I NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LOOKED VERY LOW OVER THE TIRE. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, THERE WAS A SEMI-CIRCLE PIECE OF METAL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD LAST BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT TWO DAYS BEFORE. I JUST HAD THE FORESTER IN MY LOCAL S…

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MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 42,879 MILES WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. I NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LOOKED VERY LOW OVER THE TIRE. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, THERE WAS A SEMI-CIRCLE PIECE OF METAL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD LAST BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT TWO DAYS BEFORE. I JUST HAD THE FORESTER IN MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A NYS INSPECTION AND TO REMEDY ONE RECALL REGARDING BRAKE LIGHTS ONE WEEK PRIOR. UPON A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY, MANY OWNERS REPORTING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON 2014-2015 SUBARU FORESTERS. THE CAR IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN AROUND TOWN IN A SUBURBAN, PAVED AREA AND PARKED IN A PAVED DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11206603

43,000 miles · May 9, 2019
Suspension

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS PREMATURELY FAIL IN THE 2014 AND 2015 MODELS. THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND IS NOW IN A NATIONAL SHORTAGE. THIS SPRING CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND PUNCTURE A TIRE. MY INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY WITHOUT TIRE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11206391

55,565 miles · May 6, 2019
Suspension

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN . THE LOWEST COIL HAS SNAPPED OFF EACH SPRING AND THE LEFT REAR SPRING HAS FALLEN OUT OF THE LOWER PAD SO IT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL AT ALL ONE SPRING MAY HAVE FAILED EARLIER, BUT THE LEFT FAILURE MADE THE PROBLEM APPARENT.

NHTSA ODI #11205701

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.

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