I CANNOT GET THE VEHICLE IN GEAR I.E. FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forester years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
44 reportsREPEATED THUMPING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT AT SPEED APPROX. 25 MPH. NOTICED 2 OR 3 MONTHS AGO. ODOMETER AT ABOUT 79000 MILES.DEALER DIAGNOSED BAD WHEEL BEARINGS AND REPAIRED THEM FOR $700+. NO CHANGE NOTICED. DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED DEFECTIVE AUTO TRANSMISSION AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. (AMAZING!) I STILL HEAR THE NOISE WHEN I TU…
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REPEATED THUMPING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT AT SPEED APPROX. 25 MPH. NOTICED 2 OR 3 MONTHS AGO. ODOMETER AT ABOUT 79000 MILES.DEALER DIAGNOSED BAD WHEEL BEARINGS AND REPAIRED THEM FOR $700+. NO CHANGE NOTICED. DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED DEFECTIVE AUTO TRANSMISSION AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. (AMAZING!) I STILL HEAR THE NOISE WHEN I TURN LEFT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT INDICATE A SAFETY ISSUE. WEB SEARCH "SUBARUFORESTER.ORG" SHOWS SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BUT NO RESOLUTION.
JULY 6, 2018 DRIVING ON CITY STREET WHEN MY FOOT HAD THE BRAKE DEPRESSED AND THE AUTO SUDDENLY ACCELERATED SO MUCH THAT I HAD TO TURN INTO A CURB TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE - I HIT A CURB WITH ONE TIRE TO AVOID ACCIDENT AND HAD TO GET FOUR NEW TIRES BECAUSE IT IS AWD. TODAY MY BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND IT ACCELERATE…
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JULY 6, 2018 DRIVING ON CITY STREET WHEN MY FOOT HAD THE BRAKE DEPRESSED AND THE AUTO SUDDENLY ACCELERATED SO MUCH THAT I HAD TO TURN INTO A CURB TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE - I HIT A CURB WITH ONE TIRE TO AVOID ACCIDENT AND HAD TO GET FOUR NEW TIRES BECAUSE IT IS AWD. TODAY MY BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND IT ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS IN REVERSE THEN ATTEMPTING TO GET SUV INTO DRIVE - DRIVING DOWN MY DAUGHTER'S DRIVEWAY TODAY, IT ACCELERATED SO RAPIDLY UNINTENDED THAT PRESSING THE BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE - ENGAGED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT STILL DID NOT STOP IT - PLACED IT INTO PARK AND PRESSING BRAKE CONTINUOUSLY AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR AT ROADSIDE AFTER TURNING OFF IGNITION - VERY HAZARDOUS SAFETY ISSUE - LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT OR KILLED - THIS SUV IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE - HAVING IT TOWED BY AAA TOMORROW MORNING TO DEALER. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? IT HAS ONLY 41,870 MILES ON IT - BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER IN MAY 2014 AND I AM ONLY DRIVER. HELP!
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I BOUGHT THIS 2014 SUBARU FORESTER SOMETIME IN AUGUST 2013. THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST VEHICLE I EVER BOUGHT, NOT KNOWING ANY FACTS ABOUT LEMON LAWS. I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM SOUTH DAKOTA SOMETIME IN JULY 2014 ON A SUNDAY NIGHT WHEN THE LOW OIL LAMP TURNED ON. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHE…
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EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I BOUGHT THIS 2014 SUBARU FORESTER SOMETIME IN AUGUST 2013. THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST VEHICLE I EVER BOUGHT, NOT KNOWING ANY FACTS ABOUT LEMON LAWS. I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM SOUTH DAKOTA SOMETIME IN JULY 2014 ON A SUNDAY NIGHT WHEN THE LOW OIL LAMP TURNED ON. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, SO I HAD TO DRIVE MAYBE 3-4 HRS MORE TO FIND AN OPEN MECHANIC. MECHANIC CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID THAT WHEN HE DIPPED THE STICK, THE OIL BARELY REGISTERED. I HAD ABOUT 8,000 MILES AT THIS POINT. I SHOULD'VE FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT AT THIS POINT. BUT I WAS TOO YOUNG AND NAIVE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WE DID AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, MAYBE 3-5 MORE TIMES. SOMETIMES THE LAMP WOULDN'T LIGHT UP, SOMETIMES IT LIGHTS UP AT AROUND 1500 MILES OR PAST IT. AROUND DEC 2015, SUBARU FINALLY DECIDED TO CHANGE MY SHORT BLOCK. I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO FULLY DRIVE MY VEHICLE AS I GOT STATIONED OVERSEAS IN MARCH 2016. I CAME BACK FROM OVERSEAS IN APRIL 2017. ISSUE PERSISTED AGAIN IN MARCH 2018. DID ABOUT 2-3 OIL CONSUMPTION TEST UNTIL THE NEW SUBARU DEALERSHIP I WENT TO GOT AN APPROVAL TO CHANGE THE SHORT BLOCK FOR THE SECOND TIME. NOW, A MONTH LATER AFTER SHORT BLOCK OVERHAUL #2, THE LOW OIL LAMP TURNED ON AGAIN. I'VE PRETTY MUCH GOTTEN TO KNOW THE SERVICE REPS AT MY LOCAL SUBARU SHOPS. SUBARU HAS NO RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE. EXCEPT TO TOP MY OIL OFF. WASTE MY TIME EVERYTIME I GO PAST 1000+ MILES AND GIVE ME ANXIETY. I'VE EMAILED SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT THE ISSUE AS WELL. ALL I HAVE IS A COMPLAINT TICKET FROM THEM WITH NO REAL SOLUTION.
AC COMPRESSOR WENT AFTER 3 YEARS (WENT AT THE END OF SUMMER LAST YEAR 2017) AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH EAST WHERE WE ONLY USE AC LESS THAN HALF OF THE YEAR. ALSO REAR SUSPENSION SPRING WENT THIS YEAR. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE EXTREMELY PREMATURE ON A 2014 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO GOOD AFTER MARKET OPTIONS FOR EITHER OF T…
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AC COMPRESSOR WENT AFTER 3 YEARS (WENT AT THE END OF SUMMER LAST YEAR 2017) AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH EAST WHERE WE ONLY USE AC LESS THAN HALF OF THE YEAR. ALSO REAR SUSPENSION SPRING WENT THIS YEAR. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE EXTREMELY PREMATURE ON A 2014 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO GOOD AFTER MARKET OPTIONS FOR EITHER OF THESE PARTS SO HAD TO USE OEM (SUBARU) PARTS. THE SPRINGS HAVE BEEN RE-ENFORCED WITH A WHITE COATING THAT IS NOT ON THE ORIGINAL AND THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER FOR 3 WEEKS (THAT'S AFTER CALLING ABOUT THE DELAY AND GETTING THEM EXPEDITED) SHOWING THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS PART. THE SPRINGS BROKE WHILE DRIVING MAKING A VERY LOUD BANG THEN FEELING VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
ONCE AND A WHILE I CAN,T REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION . THE CAR IS OFF ,I JUST CANT REMOVE THE KEY. AFTER ABOUT 1/2 HOUR I CAN REMOVE THE KEY.
WHILE PARKING THIS VEHICLE ON THE STREET, IN FRONT OF OUR APT., SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, ONCE PARKED AND HOOD OPENED, ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE DEPT. WAS CALLED. THE CAR IS TOTALED.(I DO NOT WANT TO UPLOAD PICTURES, DUE TO IDENTIFIABLE INFO. IN THE PICTURES.)
I HAVE A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER 2.0XT TOURING WITH PUSH START AND EYESIGHT. MY CAR WOULDN'T START WITH THE PUSH START BUTTON AND THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED. I COULDN'T PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN. WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED MONTHS AGO, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY AND THAT WAS REPLACED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016. AT THAT TIME…
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I HAVE A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER 2.0XT TOURING WITH PUSH START AND EYESIGHT. MY CAR WOULDN'T START WITH THE PUSH START BUTTON AND THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED. I COULDN'T PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN. WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED MONTHS AGO, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY AND THAT WAS REPLACED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AND I HAD THE RADIO ON FOR 30 MINUTES WHILE SITTING IN THE CAR. I COULDN'T START THE CAR AFTERWARDS AND THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP AT THE TIME AS WELL. I COULD NOT PRESS THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE SECOND TIME IT WOULD START WAS LAST SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2017 IN THE MORNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND I HAD TROUBLE STARTING IT IN THE MORNING. AND THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH NO GUARANTEES THIS WILL FIX THE PUSH START ISSUE.
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND RESTARTED IT - IT WORKED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, TWO DAYS LATER UNDER THE EXACT SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. IT HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, …
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WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND RESTARTED IT - IT WORKED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, TWO DAYS LATER UNDER THE EXACT SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. IT HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS AT ABOUT 25 MPH, AND THE "ERROR CODE" SAID THAT THE ACCELERATOR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
HORN CEASED TO WORK . STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR REPLACED.
Official recalls
219V149000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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