NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
403 reports54,432 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…
Read full complaint
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
112,000 miles · Apr 19, 2019
Exterior Lighting
MY HIGH BEAM/DAYTIME RUNNING BULB BLEW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN REPLACING THE BULB I FOUND IT HAD ACTUALLY MELTED, AND HAD A LARGE BUBBLE IN THE GLASS. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR PREVIOUS THE DRIVERS SIDE BULB HAD BLOWN AND I HAD FOUND THE SAME BUBBLE, BUT DIDN'T REPORT IT AT THAT TIME, ASSUMING IT WAS JUST SOMETHING WEIRD THAT HA…
Read full complaint
MY HIGH BEAM/DAYTIME RUNNING BULB BLEW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN REPLACING THE BULB I FOUND IT HAD ACTUALLY MELTED, AND HAD A LARGE BUBBLE IN THE GLASS. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR PREVIOUS THE DRIVERS SIDE BULB HAD BLOWN AND I HAD FOUND THE SAME BUBBLE, BUT DIDN'T REPORT IT AT THAT TIME, ASSUMING IT WAS JUST SOMETHING WEIRD THAT HAPPENED ONCE. NOW THAT IT'S HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE ON EACH SIDE, I'M MORE CONCERNED THERE'S A LARGER ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR THE BLURB TO GET SO HOT THAT IT ACTUALLY MELTED THE GLASS.
NHTSA ODI #11202596
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…
Read full complaint
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
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2019
Air Bags
VEHICLE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FIRST CAME ON AND IT HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR/PASSENGER SEAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE (WATER OR BLUNT FORCE) THAT OCCURRED TO THE FEATURE …
Read full complaint
VEHICLE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FIRST CAME ON AND IT HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR/PASSENGER SEAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE (WATER OR BLUNT FORCE) THAT OCCURRED TO THE FEATURE AND THAT IT WAS NOTHING WE HAD DONE; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT BE REPLACED UNDER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY. SINCE SUBARU PRIDES THEMSELVES IN SAFETY, IT SEEMS ODD THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THIS COMPLAINT THAT HAS BEEN CITED REPEATEDLY, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS NO FAULT TO THE OWNER BUT RATHER A MANUFACTURING ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11193432
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 …
Read full complaint
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…
Read full complaint
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 · Mar 6, 2019
StructureInjury
I OPENED THE TRUNK OF MY SUBARU FORESTER LIMITED EDITION WITH THE REMOTE. WHILE I WAS REMOVING THE LUGGAGE FROM THE TRUNK, I HEARD A NOISE AS THE LIFTGATE WAS CLOSING. BEFORE I TURNED TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE LIFTGATE LANDED ON MY LOWER BACK. I REALIZED THAT THE RIGHT SUPPORT OF THE LIFTGATE WAS BROKEN.
NHTSA ODI #11184740
106,663 miles · Mar 5, 2019
Engine
AT 106,000 MILES THE CHECK OIL LEVEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3/22/2017. AT THAT TIME AFTER CHECKING I ADDED 1 AT OF OIL. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AFTER READING ONLINE THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF MY VEHICLE MODEL HAVING OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEMS. AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PERFORMED WHICH WAS NEGATIVE. …
Read full complaint
AT 106,000 MILES THE CHECK OIL LEVEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3/22/2017. AT THAT TIME AFTER CHECKING I ADDED 1 AT OF OIL. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AFTER READING ONLINE THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF MY VEHICLE MODEL HAVING OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEMS. AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PERFORMED WHICH WAS NEGATIVE. IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME BY THE DEALER THAT I COULD CONTACT SUBARU DIRECTLY IF I STILL HAD CONCERNS WHICH I DID. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL FOR CARS TO USE EXTRA OIL AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. SINCE THEN THE CHECK OIL LIGHT HAS REGULARLY ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO MY NEXT OIL CHANGE AND HAS REQUIRED THE ADDITION OF 1 QT OF OIL AT DECREASING MILEAGE INTERVALS. I AM NOW DOWN TO SEEING THE CHECK OIL ILLUMINATE AND ADDING OIL AT 3000 MILES. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE SUBARU RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SERVICE. I HAVE OWNED CARS MADE BY TOYOTA, NISSAN, HONDA, FORD, JEEP, CHEVROLET, VOLKSWAGON, MAZDA AND SUBARU OVER THE LAST 45 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR REQUIRE OIL ADDITIONS. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 2013 SUBARU FORESTER THAT WAS TOLD AT HER LAST SERVICE THAT THERE WAS NO OIL REGISTERING ON THE DIPSTICK. THAT YEAR MODEL HAS NO CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT WHEN 1 QT DOWN. FOR MY YEAR MODEL THE VEHICLE WAS REDESIGNED AND A CHECK OIL LIGHT WAS ADDED WHICH MAY SUGGEST THERE WAS A PROBLEM DEVELOPING.
NHTSA ODI #11184309
66,000 miles · Feb 27, 2019
Electrical SystemStructure
WHEN TRYING TO CLOSE SUNROOF, NORMALLY THE ROOF WINDOW WOULD SLIDE BACK AND A SET OF PIN WILL PUSH THE REAR SIDE OF THE WINDOW UP TO SEAL THE GAP BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND ROOFTOP. HOWEVER THE DEVICE IS DEFECTIVE AND THE WINDOW WILL NOT GO BACK TO ITS SUPPOSED LOCATION. WATER MAY LEAK IN TO WIRING AND CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE.
NHTSA ODI #11182899
110,000 miles · Feb 21, 2019
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY IN JULY, 2018. I CONTACTED A SUBARU DEALER ON JULY 30 FOR SERVICE, BUT THE FIRST APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE WAS ON AUGUST 1ST. I FOUND OUT THAT SUBARU HAD BEEN HAVING SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS AND EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTIES. BECAUSE MY ACTUAL SERVICE WAS ON AUGUST 1ST, SUBARU SAID I MISSED THE EXTEND…
Read full complaint
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY IN JULY, 2018. I CONTACTED A SUBARU DEALER ON JULY 30 FOR SERVICE, BUT THE FIRST APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE WAS ON AUGUST 1ST. I FOUND OUT THAT SUBARU HAD BEEN HAVING SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS AND EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTIES. BECAUSE MY ACTUAL SERVICE WAS ON AUGUST 1ST, SUBARU SAID I MISSED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BY ONE DAY! CORPORATE SUBARU OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE $7,500 COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT I WAS LEFT TO PAY THE REST. THEY SAID IF I HAD BEEN A "MORE LOYAL" CUSTOMER THEY WOULD HAVE PAID MORE THAN HALF. I LEFT THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 3 MONTHS TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THE PRICE DOWN. EVENTUALLY I HAD TO PAY FOR $2,000 OF THE REPAIR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SUBARU HAS NOT HAD TO RECALL THE VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THESE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, OR AT LEAST PAY FOR REPAIRS ONCE IT FAILS. WHEN WE FIRST FELT THE VEHICLE NOT RESPONDING NORMALLY, WE STOOPED DRIVING. IT WAS NOT SAFE.
NHTSA ODI #11181703