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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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28,123 miles · Apr 24, 2019
Suspension

WENT IN FOR STATE INSPECTION AND MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 28000 MILES WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BROKEN COIL SPRING. GOT IT FIXED, BUT I WAS VERY SURPRISED. MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND I ONLY DRIVE CITY STREETS. GOGGLED THE TOPIC AND FOUND THAT OTHER SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND RELATED EARLY CORROSION. HOPING Y…

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WENT IN FOR STATE INSPECTION AND MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 28000 MILES WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BROKEN COIL SPRING. GOT IT FIXED, BUT I WAS VERY SURPRISED. MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND I ONLY DRIVE CITY STREETS. GOGGLED THE TOPIC AND FOUND THAT OTHER SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND RELATED EARLY CORROSION. HOPING YOU CAN LOOK INTO THE ISSUE AS THIS COULD HAPPEN ON OTHER WHEELS. THANKS.

NHTSA ODI #11203522

54,432 miles · Apr 22, 2019
Suspension

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 AROUND 7:00PM. I MADE A LEFT RUN AND HEARD A POP. THE CAR BECAME SQUIRRELLY. I PULLED OVER AT NAPA AND CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND DESCRIBED WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE ASKED ME IF THE CAR WAS LEANING TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I SAID YES. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY A BAD SPRING OR STR…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 AROUND 7:00PM. I MADE A LEFT RUN AND HEARD A POP. THE CAR BECAME SQUIRRELLY. I PULLED OVER AT NAPA AND CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND DESCRIBED WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE ASKED ME IF THE CAR WAS LEANING TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I SAID YES. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY A BAD SPRING OR STRUT. WHEN I GOT HOME, I JACKED UP THE CAR AND REMOVED THE TIRE. THE RIGHT SPRING WAS BROKEN AND FELL OFF OF THE STRUT. SATURDAY APRIL 20, 2019 I GOT 4 QUOTES FROM TOM WOOD SUBARU. ONE FOR SPRINGS ($120 X2). ONE FOR THE STRUTS ($191). ONE FOR ALL THE HARDWARE NEEDED ($770). LASTLY, WHAT TOM WOOD SUBARU WOULD CHARGE TO DO THE JOB (AROUND $1100). THE SAID THEY WERE BOOKED FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS WITH AIRBAG RECALLS. I WASN'T SURE IF I LOST ANY PARTS SO I LOOKED AT THE LEFT REAR SIDES A REFERENCE. TO MY SURPRISE, THAT SPRING WAS ALSO COMPLETELY BROKEN BUT HADN'T SNAPPED OFF THE STRUT YET. THIS SEEMS LIKE DEFECTIVE SPRINGS. THE CAR HAS 54,448 MILES AND HAS NOT CARRIED A LOT OF WEIGHT OR BEEN DRIVEN HARD. IN MY 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR BREAK A SPRING, LET ALONE HAVE 2 BROKEN SPRINGS. I WAS REALLY GLAD I WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE BACK END WAS VERY UNSTABLE. IT DRIFTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE ERRATICALLY. THIS DEFECT RISKED MY SAFETY AND THOSE AROUND ME. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I DIDN'T HAVE A CAR AND HAD TO HAVE MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAD TO PICK ME UP TO GO TO EASTER SERVICE. THIS ORDEAL HAS BEEN VERY STRESSFUL.

NHTSA ODI #11202996

21,000 miles · Apr 22, 2019
Suspension

I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED IN MY PAVED APARTMENT COMPLEX ROAD WHEN I HEARD A LOUD METALLIC PING. I THOUGHT I HAD JUST THROWN A ROCK OR SOMETHING. BUT THE NEXT DAY MY CAR WAS MAKING SQUEAKING NOISES WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROADS AND OVER SPEED BUMPS AND SEEMED MORE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE WHEN DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO …

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I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED IN MY PAVED APARTMENT COMPLEX ROAD WHEN I HEARD A LOUD METALLIC PING. I THOUGHT I HAD JUST THROWN A ROCK OR SOMETHING. BUT THE NEXT DAY MY CAR WAS MAKING SQUEAKING NOISES WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROADS AND OVER SPEED BUMPS AND SEEMED MORE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE WHEN DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO FIND THAT THE RIGHT REAR SPRING HAD SHEARED AND THAT BOTH BACK SPRING WERE BADLY RUSTED. I ONLY HAD JUST OVER 21,000 MILES AND DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD OR DO ANY TOWING. BOTH SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED FAR TOO SOON IN THE LIFE OF CAR -- I BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT GIVEN HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE I'VE HEARD HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. REPAIR BILL WAS ~$780. SUBARU DID REIMBURSE A GOOD PORTION AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE - ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #11202892

54,432 miles · Apr 21, 2019
Suspension

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON APRIL 19, 2019. I MADE A LEFT TURN AND HEARD A POP. THE CAR BECAME SQUIRRELLY. I CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND HE ASKED IF THE CAR LEANED TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I SAID YES. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY A BAD SPRING OR STRUT. WHEN I GOT HOME I JACKED UP THE CAR AND THE RIGHT REAR SPRING WAS BROKEN. I GOT…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON APRIL 19, 2019. I MADE A LEFT TURN AND HEARD A POP. THE CAR BECAME SQUIRRELLY. I CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND HE ASKED IF THE CAR LEANED TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I SAID YES. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY A BAD SPRING OR STRUT. WHEN I GOT HOME I JACKED UP THE CAR AND THE RIGHT REAR SPRING WAS BROKEN. I GOT 3 QUOTES FROM TOM WOOD SUBARU. ONE FOR SPRINGS. ONE FOR STRUTS AND HARDWARE. THE LAST WAS FOR TOM WOOD TO FIX IT. I WASN'T SURE IF I LOST ANY PARTS SO I LOOKED AT THE LEFT REAR SIDE. TO MY SURPRISE, THAT SPRING WAS ALSO COMPLETELY BROKEN BUT HASN'T SNAPPED OFF THE STRUT YET. THIS SEEMS LIKE DEFECTIVE SPRINGS. THE CAR HAD 54,448 MILES AND HAS NOT CARRIED A LOT OF WEIGHT. IN MY 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR BREAK A SPRING, LET ALONE HAVE 2 BROKEN SPRINGS.

NHTSA ODI #11202773

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2019
Power TrainSuspension

1) CVT VALVE KIT DAMAGED (3 YEARS OLD) 2) BUT MAIN REASON FOR THIS COMPLIANT IS REAR COILS BREAKING, I DO NOT KNOW BUT THEY HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME CAUSING REAR BEARINGS AND REAR SHOCKS DAMAGE. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND EVERYONE W/ 2014 THRU 2015 FORESTERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AT ANY MILEAGE. TOLD DEALER AND THEY…

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1) CVT VALVE KIT DAMAGED (3 YEARS OLD) 2) BUT MAIN REASON FOR THIS COMPLIANT IS REAR COILS BREAKING, I DO NOT KNOW BUT THEY HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME CAUSING REAR BEARINGS AND REAR SHOCKS DAMAGE. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND EVERYONE W/ 2014 THRU 2015 FORESTERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AT ANY MILEAGE. TOLD DEALER AND THEY SAID SUBARU KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL? THE AVERAGE PERSON WILL NOT REALIZE THEIR COILS COULD BE BROKEN LIKE ME UNTIL BEARINGS AND SHOCKS FAIL ..... THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR ISSUE TO ME?

NHTSA ODI #11196666

65,000 miles · Mar 26, 2019
Suspension

PREMATURE REAR SPRING BROKE. CAR IS 65K MILES. REAR SPRING RUSTED AND BROKE; CAUSES THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION TO BREAK. THIS MAKE THE CAR TILTED AND ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ON A LOCAL ROAD TRAVELING AT 25 MPH GOING STRAIGHT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO STAR SUBARU SERVICE AND WAS BEING CHARGED $890.00 TO REPLACE REAR DRIVER …

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PREMATURE REAR SPRING BROKE. CAR IS 65K MILES. REAR SPRING RUSTED AND BROKE; CAUSES THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION TO BREAK. THIS MAKE THE CAR TILTED AND ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ON A LOCAL ROAD TRAVELING AT 25 MPH GOING STRAIGHT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO STAR SUBARU SERVICE AND WAS BEING CHARGED $890.00 TO REPLACE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION. UPON INSPECTION, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPRING ALSO RUSTED.

NHTSA ODI #11191564

68,000 miles · Mar 10, 2019
Suspension

MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE. I HEARD THIS HORRIBLE, ALMOST EXPLOSIVE NOISE AND FOUND THAT MY LEFT COIL SPRING SNAPPED! THIS CAR HAS 68K MILES AND HAS NEVER CARRIER HEAVY LOADS OR TRAVELED ROUGH ROADS. I DRIVE ALL HIGHWAY. SUPER SHOCKING TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHILE IT IS JUST SITTING, BUT I CRINGE TO THINK IF T…

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MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE. I HEARD THIS HORRIBLE, ALMOST EXPLOSIVE NOISE AND FOUND THAT MY LEFT COIL SPRING SNAPPED! THIS CAR HAS 68K MILES AND HAS NEVER CARRIER HEAVY LOADS OR TRAVELED ROUGH ROADS. I DRIVE ALL HIGHWAY. SUPER SHOCKING TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHILE IT IS JUST SITTING, BUT I CRINGE TO THINK IF THIS HAPPENED 1 DAY EARLIER DRIVING 22 MILES FROM WORK OR WITH MY FAMILY. THE COIL WAS JUST COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF. MY CAR IS SITTING ON THE CROSSBAR VERY CLOSE TO SITTING DIRECTLY ON MY TIRE. WAITING FOR THE ASSESSMENT FROM SUBARU TO SEE IF IT CAUSED ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11185643

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2019
Suspension

PIECES OF MY REAR COILS BROKE OFF SHOWING BADLY RUSTED. SOME IN STREET SOME IN MY GARAGE. VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE DIFFERENTLY. TOOK TO FIRESTONE AND BOTH REAR COILS BROKE AND 1 STRUT AS WELL. SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT I DID NOT AND TOOK TO NON SUBARU PLACE FOR REPAIRS. SO THEY REFUSED TO MAKE GOOD OR STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHI…

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PIECES OF MY REAR COILS BROKE OFF SHOWING BADLY RUSTED. SOME IN STREET SOME IN MY GARAGE. VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE DIFFERENTLY. TOOK TO FIRESTONE AND BOTH REAR COILS BROKE AND 1 STRUT AS WELL. SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT I DID NOT AND TOOK TO NON SUBARU PLACE FOR REPAIRS. SO THEY REFUSED TO MAKE GOOD OR STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLE BECAUSE I DIDNT GO TO A SUBARU DEALER AND OFFERED 500 COST ME 1556.00. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL USED METAL THAT RUSTED AND FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #11170602

27,000 miles · Jan 2, 2019
Suspension

LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN NOT DUE TO HEAVY LOAD OR ROUGH TERRAIN DRIVING VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROX. 27,000 MILES ON IT .FROM WHAT I'M SEEING ON LINE AND HEARING FROM OTHER OWNERS AND DEALERS, IT IS A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11164508

58,000 miles · Dec 18, 2018
Suspension

BOTTOM OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE - AT THE POINT WHERE THEY SIT ON THE LOWER SPRING SEAT OF THE STRUT. THEY BOTH FRACTURED AT EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT ON THE COIL - AT THE FIRST 1/2 LOOP OF THE COIL (ABOUT 4 INCHES) AND IN THE SAME DIAGONAL TYPE OF SHEAR. PICTURES ATTACHED OF THE PIECES THAT BROKE OFF EACH COI…

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BOTTOM OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE - AT THE POINT WHERE THEY SIT ON THE LOWER SPRING SEAT OF THE STRUT. THEY BOTH FRACTURED AT EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT ON THE COIL - AT THE FIRST 1/2 LOOP OF THE COIL (ABOUT 4 INCHES) AND IN THE SAME DIAGONAL TYPE OF SHEAR. PICTURES ATTACHED OF THE PIECES THAT BROKE OFF EACH COIL. CAR HAS ONLY 58,000 MILES AND NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR OVERLOADED. NOT EXACTLY SURE WHEN THEY BROKE - WAS DISCOVERED BY MY MECHANIC WHILE DOING OTHER WORK ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11162241

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