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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

Traction Control System complaints

1 reports
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11,200 miles · Apr 28, 2014
Traction Control System

THIS INCIDENT IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO AN EARLIER COMPLAINT: NHTSA ID NUMBER 10574697. I WAS TRAVELLING ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF INTERSTATE AT REDUCED HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO COLD WEATHER AND LIGHT SNOW WHEN I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A WIGGLING SENSATION IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. LIKE DESCRIBED IN THE EARLIER COMPLAINT IT FELT…

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THIS INCIDENT IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO AN EARLIER COMPLAINT: NHTSA ID NUMBER 10574697. I WAS TRAVELLING ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF INTERSTATE AT REDUCED HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO COLD WEATHER AND LIGHT SNOW WHEN I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A WIGGLING SENSATION IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. LIKE DESCRIBED IN THE EARLIER COMPLAINT IT FELT LIKE THE REAR END WANTED TO STEP OUT, FIRST ONE WAY AND THEN THE OTHER, REPEATING RAPIDLY. I COULD SEE FROM THE REACTIONS OF DRIVERS BEHIND ME THEY WERE GIVING ME A WIDE BERTH AND COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS VISIBLY HAPPENING WITH MY VEHICLE. THE FRONT END DID NOT APPEAR TO BE AFFECTED NOR WAS THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. ONCE I DECELERATED TO 45-50 THE WIGGLING ABATED. IT WAS SNOWING AT THE TIME BUT THERE WAS NO MORE THAN A TRACE ON THE ROADWAY. NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME SEEMED TO BE HAVING ANY DIFFICULTIES WITH TRACTION AND MOST WERE TRAVELING AT FULL HIGHWAY SPEED (70). MY ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE, EVEN MODERATELY, WASN'T AFFECTED AS I COULD SLOW IMMEDIATELY AND CHANGE LANES AND THE FRONT END DID NOT SKID. I TRAVELLED AT NO FASTER THAN 50 MPH FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 5 MILES AT WHICH TIME I SLOWLY ACCELERATED AND WAITED FOR THE WIGGING TO RESUME BUT IT DID NOT. I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY JOURNEY (ANOTHER 40 MILES) WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I'M VERY EXPERIENCED IN WINTER DRIVING BUT THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WITH AN AWD VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE AND IT WAS QUITE UNNERVING. I DON'T KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS INDEED STEPPING OUT DUE TO SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS (ALTHOUGH NOBODY ELSE SEEMED TO BE HAVING ANY DIFFICULTY) AND THE AWD SYSTEM WAS CORRECTING (OR OVERCORRECTING?) AS DESIGNED AND THAT WAS THE WIGGLING I FELT. IT'S NOT OCCURRED AGAIN . . . BUT I'VE BEEN CAREFUL TO AVOID SIMILAR WEATHER CONDITIONS (DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF OWNING A SUBARU) AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED IT IN DRY WEATHER. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585358

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