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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

What owners actually said

403 reports
103,739 miles · Aug 21, 2019
Suspension

BACKING UP IN DRIVE WAY HEARD A CLUNCK NOISE SO BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BOTH COIL SPRINGS ON MY CAR WERE BROKE THE BOTH BROKE IN ABOUT THE SAME SPOT ABOUT3/4 OF A COIL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL THEY BOTH LOOK RUSTED WERE THEY WERE BROKE UNDER THE RUBBER SLEAVE AT THE BOTTOM AND GAVE ME THE 2 PRICES OF COIL S…

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BACKING UP IN DRIVE WAY HEARD A CLUNCK NOISE SO BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BOTH COIL SPRINGS ON MY CAR WERE BROKE THE BOTH BROKE IN ABOUT THE SAME SPOT ABOUT3/4 OF A COIL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL THEY BOTH LOOK RUSTED WERE THEY WERE BROKE UNDER THE RUBBER SLEAVE AT THE BOTTOM AND GAVE ME THE 2 PRICES OF COIL SPRING

NHTSA ODI #11245526

100,000 miles · Aug 18, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats

2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THE CAUSE IS A SENSOR WITHIN THE PASSENGER SEAT BEING BROKEN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED.

NHTSA ODI #11244791

70,000 miles · Aug 16, 2019
Electrical System

TAKATA RECALL: THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT RELEASE THE KEY WHEN I TURN OFF THE MOTOR AND PUSH IT IN TO RELEASE THE KEY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I PARK THE CAR, HAVE TURNED OFF THE MOTOR AND PREPARE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11244417

35,000 miles · Aug 14, 2019
Unknown Or Other

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION, WONT COME OUT! THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY

NHTSA ODI #11243909

40,000 miles · Aug 13, 2019
Air Bags

AIR BAG SOMETIMES DOES NOT DETECT PASSENGER IN SEAT. DEALER HAD FOR THREE DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. BEVAN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO BUT LAST HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

NHTSA ODI #11243737

37,561 miles · Aug 13, 2019
Air Bags

OUR FORESTER HAS A PROBLEM WITH ITS AIRBAG SYSTEM. IT WOULD ALERT US ON THE DASHBOARD THAT 'SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED' AND A RED WARNING SYMBOL OF THE AIRBAG BEING INFLATED. IN ADDITION, IT WOULD SHOW MY PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF EVEN WHEN SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAPPENED ONE TIME WHEN WE WERE…

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OUR FORESTER HAS A PROBLEM WITH ITS AIRBAG SYSTEM. IT WOULD ALERT US ON THE DASHBOARD THAT 'SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED' AND A RED WARNING SYMBOL OF THE AIRBAG BEING INFLATED. IN ADDITION, IT WOULD SHOW MY PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF EVEN WHEN SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAPPENED ONE TIME WHEN WE WERE ON OUR DRIVEWAY JUST STARTING TO LEAVE; OTHER TIMES WHILE WE WERE DRIVING DOWN LOCAL STREETS; MAYBE ONE TIME ON A HIGHWAY TOO. IT SEEMS TO BE MORE FREQUENT IN RECENT MONTHS. NOW NO ONE SITS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT UPFRONT WHILE WE TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE AIRBAG PROBLEM THAT OUR SUBARU DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO BE CLUELESS. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE, JUST BASED ON THE FACT THAT SUBARU DEALERSHIP MECHANIC COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR ITS CAUSE. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS SOMEHOW DEFECTIVE AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SUBARU SHOULD HAVE IT RECTIFIED REAL FAST BEFORE ANY LIFE IS LOST.

NHTSA ODI #11243484

39,500 miles · Aug 13, 2019
Suspension

THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SPRING ON MY 2014 FORESTER WITH 39,500 MILES BROKE SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED ON A LIFT AND RAISED UP AT THE REPAIR SHOP THE SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SPRING BROKE AS WELL. I HAVE NEVER GONE OFF ROAD, TOWED, OR CARRIED HEAVY LOADS.…

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THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SPRING ON MY 2014 FORESTER WITH 39,500 MILES BROKE SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED ON A LIFT AND RAISED UP AT THE REPAIR SHOP THE SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SPRING BROKE AS WELL. I HAVE NEVER GONE OFF ROAD, TOWED, OR CARRIED HEAVY LOADS. LOOKING AROUND ONLINE, MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME THING OCCUR. THE REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WERE BACK-ORDERED FROM SUBARU FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, INDICATING THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND A NATIONWIDE RECALL SHOULD OCCUR. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN MY SPRING BROKE BUT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #11243477

51,000 miles · Aug 10, 2019
Suspension

BROKEN REAR STRUT SPRING WITH ONLY 51K MILES ON CAR. UNKNOWN EXACTLY WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT WAS DISCOVERED ON 8/8. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR ROUGH ROAD AREAS.

NHTSA ODI #11242945

30,000 miles · Aug 9, 2019
Suspension

VEHICLE WAS IN FOR FRONT AND REAR PADS AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT (AT 30K MILES!) MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A BROKEN REAR COIL SPRING AND SENT ME A PICTURE OF THE BROKEN PIECE. IT WAS HALF OF A COIL THAT HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING. CAR NOW SITS UNEVENLY AND HAS COMPROMISED SUSPENSION …

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VEHICLE WAS IN FOR FRONT AND REAR PADS AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT (AT 30K MILES!) MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A BROKEN REAR COIL SPRING AND SENT ME A PICTURE OF THE BROKEN PIECE. IT WAS HALF OF A COIL THAT HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING. CAR NOW SITS UNEVENLY AND HAS COMPROMISED SUSPENSION AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. FURTHER RESEARCH FINDS MANY COMPLAINS OF EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2014-2015 FORESTERS. NO ONE MAKES REPLACEMENT SPRINGS AND SUBARU DEALERS ARE BACKORDERED WITH NATIONWIDE REPAIRS, LEAVING US NO RECOURSE

NHTSA ODI #11242773

45,000 miles · Aug 8, 2019
Suspension

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 6" ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL. BOTH FAILED AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS UP ON JACKS AND AS I WAS REMOVING THE BRAKE ROTORS TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND PADS I HEARD A LOUD CRACK FOLLOWED BY THE METAL PARTS LANDING ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CORROSION AT…

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BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 6" ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL. BOTH FAILED AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS UP ON JACKS AND AS I WAS REMOVING THE BRAKE ROTORS TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND PADS I HEARD A LOUD CRACK FOLLOWED BY THE METAL PARTS LANDING ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CORROSION AT THE BREAK POINTS (SEE PHOTOS). THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11242624

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