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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

42 reports
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36,000 miles · May 10, 2017
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHEN SLOWLY ENTERING HOME GARAGE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED & DESPITE STANDING ON THE BREAK PEDAL & PULLING THE EMERGENCY BREAK IT CRASHED INTO TABLE & WORK BENCHES AT FRONT OF AREA CAUSING DAMAGE TO FURNITURE & DAMAGING FRONT OF VEHICLE. PREVIOUSLY IN NOVEMBER 2016 WHEN PULLING INTO HIGHWAY REST AREA PARKING PLACE THE CAR …

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WHEN SLOWLY ENTERING HOME GARAGE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED & DESPITE STANDING ON THE BREAK PEDAL & PULLING THE EMERGENCY BREAK IT CRASHED INTO TABLE & WORK BENCHES AT FRONT OF AREA CAUSING DAMAGE TO FURNITURE & DAMAGING FRONT OF VEHICLE. PREVIOUSLY IN NOVEMBER 2016 WHEN PULLING INTO HIGHWAY REST AREA PARKING PLACE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB A & TRAVELED 15' ONTO A GRASSY EMBANKMENT BEFORE STOPPING WITH MAXIMUM BREAKING APPLIED.

NHTSA ODI #10984702

35,000 miles · May 6, 2017
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPING CURB, CROSSING SIDEWALK AND IMPACTED A BUILDING. CAR WAS THEN PUT INTO REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND IMPACTED AN ADJOINING PARKED CAR. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE AREA AROUND THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE WERE INSPECTED AND NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT MIGHT HA…

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VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPING CURB, CROSSING SIDEWALK AND IMPACTED A BUILDING. CAR WAS THEN PUT INTO REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND IMPACTED AN ADJOINING PARKED CAR. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE AREA AROUND THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE WERE INSPECTED AND NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR TO STICK OR MALFUNCTION. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE CLAIMS THAT HER FOOT WAS NOT CAUGHT ON THE ACCELERATOR NOR DID HER FOOT SLIP OFF THE BRAKE AND ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR.

NHTSA ODI #10983813

63,113 miles · Feb 20, 2017
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE COMING TO A STOP IN A PARKING SPACE. THE FORCE OF THE ACCELERATION THREW THE CAR OVER A CURB AND SEVERAL FEET INTO A HEAVY DUTY IRON FENCE, WHICH SNAPPED. THE CAR WAS COMING TO A STOP.

NHTSA ODI #10955705

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2016
Air BagsVehicle Speed Control

2014 SUBARU FORESTER. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION COLLISION. *SMD AS THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A HANDICAP SPACE, HE SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MPH AND WHEN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND STRUCK …

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2014 SUBARU FORESTER. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION COLLISION. *SMD AS THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A HANDICAP SPACE, HE SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MPH AND WHEN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND STRUCK TWO PARKED VEHICLES AND THEN CAME TO A STOP, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10925779

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2016
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE DUE TO STALLING AND LURCHING FORWARD UNDER ALL THROTTLE RANGES. VEHICLE MAY "CHUG" AT VARIABLE DRIVING SPEEDS. THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND VARIES FROM SUBTLE TO HEAVY EFFECTS. SEVERE EFFECTS CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHUDDER AND/OR STALL THEN ABRUPTLY ACCELERATE. ISSUE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO "TURBO L…

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VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE DUE TO STALLING AND LURCHING FORWARD UNDER ALL THROTTLE RANGES. VEHICLE MAY "CHUG" AT VARIABLE DRIVING SPEEDS. THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND VARIES FROM SUBTLE TO HEAVY EFFECTS. SEVERE EFFECTS CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHUDDER AND/OR STALL THEN ABRUPTLY ACCELERATE. ISSUE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO "TURBO LAG" AS IT OCCURS UNDER LOW BOOST CONDITIONS. TRANSMISSION ALSO PRODUCES "CLICKING" SOUND WHEN ENGAGING FROM NEUTRAL OR UNDER CHANGES IN SPEED. CONDITION OCCURS THROUGHOUT ALL DRIVING MODES (I, S, S#). CONDITION OCCURS MOSTLY UNDER ACCELERATION FROM DEAD STOP, BUT MAY ALSO OCCUR UNDER "PICK UP" ACCELERATION, IE OFF THROTTLE TO DECELERATE (55MPH-45MPH) THEN LIGHT THROTTLE TO RESUME DRIVING SPEED. VEHICLE MAY ALSO BACKFIRE UNDER ACCELERATION. VEHICLE MAY HESITATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR AT HIGHWAY SPEED THAN UPON RESUMING ACCELERATION VEHICLE MAY HAVE A FLAT/SLOW ACCELERATION IN SPITE OF HEAVY THROTTLE. FACTORY AUTHORIZED REPAIRS ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY CONDITION BY CLEANING THROTTLE BODY AND "UPPER ENGINE" CLEANSE AND STATES UNABLE TO REPLICATE FAILURE. CONDITION HAS BEEN ON-GOING FROM PURCHASE WITH APPROXIMATELY 30K MILE TO CURRENT WITH 74K MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10904751

64,000 miles · Apr 25, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE HESITATES FOR 3+ SECONDS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. BROUGHT IN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM "CANNOT BE DUPLICATED." DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED WHETHER IT'S ENTERING A LOCAL ROADWAY OR A HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10861244

20,400 miles · Apr 19, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN SWITCHING FROM THE BRAKE TO THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS AFTER COMING TO A FULL STOP AND WHEN SWITCHING FROM BRAKING TO ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS IN CITY TRAFFIC. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS RANDOMLY. DRIVER HAS BEEN VERY AWARE OF THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR AND SURGING CAN…

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WHEN SWITCHING FROM THE BRAKE TO THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS AFTER COMING TO A FULL STOP AND WHEN SWITCHING FROM BRAKING TO ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS IN CITY TRAFFIC. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS RANDOMLY. DRIVER HAS BEEN VERY AWARE OF THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR AND SURGING CAN OCCUR WITH VERY LITTLE PRESSURE. BECAUSE THIS OCCURS WHEN MOVING FORWARD AT INTERSECTIONS, MOVING FORWARD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND WHILE PARKING OR LEAVING A PARKING SLOT, THE CHANCE OF A COLLISION IS GREAT. THE MOST DANGEROUS IS TO SURGE SUDDENLY INTO AN INTERSECTION WHEN MOVING FORWARD TO SEE AROUND OBSTACLES BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #10860235

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE (FOOT ON BRAKE) THE VEHICLE HESITATES VERY BADLY ESPECIALLY ON A HILL- PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN IN DRIVE DOES NOT MOVE IT FORWARD UNTIL THE HESITATION IS OVER - VERY SCARY. DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THIS SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IN DEC 2013 - HE SAID SUBARU WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WERE …

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WHILE CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE (FOOT ON BRAKE) THE VEHICLE HESITATES VERY BADLY ESPECIALLY ON A HILL- PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN IN DRIVE DOES NOT MOVE IT FORWARD UNTIL THE HESITATION IS OVER - VERY SCARY. DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THIS SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IN DEC 2013 - HE SAID SUBARU WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WERE WORKING ON A FIX - IS THIS TRUE?

NHTSA ODI #10840101

12,000 miles · Apr 24, 2015
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SPECIFY IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE BODY WORK REPAIRED. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SPECIFY IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE BODY WORK REPAIRED. THE DEALER HAD NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10712644

98 miles · Dec 10, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF HAVING THE CAR, I NOTED THAT IT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD SMOOTHLY FROM A DEAD STOP BUT SURGED AHEAD. I HAD NOT DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL VERY FAR. THERE AFTER I AM VERY CAREFUL TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL VERY CAREFULLY UNTIL THE ENGINE RESPONDS SMOOTHLY TO A NORMAL SPEED. I NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN IN ANY OTHER C…

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WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF HAVING THE CAR, I NOTED THAT IT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD SMOOTHLY FROM A DEAD STOP BUT SURGED AHEAD. I HAD NOT DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL VERY FAR. THERE AFTER I AM VERY CAREFUL TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL VERY CAREFULLY UNTIL THE ENGINE RESPONDS SMOOTHLY TO A NORMAL SPEED. I NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED AND I NOTED AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER OWNERS THAT OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A BIG ISSUE BUT NOW I WONDER IF THIS COULD EVENTUALLY BECOME A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS THE CAR GETS OLDER. I ALSO NOTED A COMPLAINT BY ANOTHER PERSON, ABOUT THE LINES ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL KNOB THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE WHICH SHE SOLVED BY MARKING THEM WITH WHITE NAIL POLISH. PERHAPS SUBARU DESIGNERS WILL HEAR ABOUT THIS AND HAVE THOSE LINES PAINTED A COLOR THAT IS EASIER TO SEE THEN THE YELLOW THEY ARE USING . ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON THE DASH BOARD SOMETHING THAT TELLS ONE WHAT POSITION THE LIGHTS ARE IN, RUNNING? NIGHT TIME? OR HIGH BEAM? AS THE LEVER IS SHIELDED BY THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10663427

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