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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.

About this comparison →

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
40,000 miles · Mar 2, 2018
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR DETONATION OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER (RANDY MARION SUBARU, 301 W PLAZA DR, MOORESVILLE, NC 28117) REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. A YEAR LATER, THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AND THE CONTACT NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR DETONATION OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER (RANDY MARION SUBARU, 301 W PLAZA DR, MOORESVILLE, NC 28117) REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. A YEAR LATER, THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THEY WERE BURNED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #11075834

24,300 miles · Feb 21, 2018
Steering

POWER STEERING FAILED. CAR WAS PARKED IN THE WA STATE FERRY LINE IN ANACORTES, WA. WHEN CAR WAS STARTED, A COMPUTER MESSAGE APPEARED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE SERVICED AND A WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND HE COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR ONTO THE FERRY. HE TOLD ME THAT IT TOOK EVE…

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POWER STEERING FAILED. CAR WAS PARKED IN THE WA STATE FERRY LINE IN ANACORTES, WA. WHEN CAR WAS STARTED, A COMPUTER MESSAGE APPEARED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE SERVICED AND A WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND HE COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR ONTO THE FERRY. HE TOLD ME THAT IT TOOK EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD TO GET IT ONTO THE BOAT. WE PARKED THE CAR. WHEN WE REACHED FRIDAY HARBOR, MY HUSBAND STARTED THE CAR, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT NORMALLY - THE WARNING LIGHT AND MESSAGE WAS NO LONGER DISPLAYED. I TOOK IT TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN BURLINGTON, WA ON 2/20/18. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE AND THE CODE WAS FOUND FOR THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED - $1,000 FOR PART AND AT LEAST $600 FOR LABOR PLUS TAXES. FIRST OF ALL, MY CAR ONLY HAD 30,000 MILES WARRANTY OR 3 YEARS (PAST THAT) AND IT SEEMS LIKE IF A GEAR WAS HAVING ISSUES, WHY WOULD IT WORK AND THEN NOT WORK AND THEN WORK. SAFETY CONCERNS, AND WONDERING WHY IT WOULD FAIL SO SOON. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 24, 500 MILES ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11074134

70,000 miles · Feb 19, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH FAILED WHICH RENDERED THE CAR INOPERABLE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE FROM PARK. THE STABILITY, HILL DECENT AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.

NHTSA ODI #11073548

42,000 miles · Jan 11, 2018
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REVERSED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY QUICKLY. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REVERSED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY QUICKLY. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V159000 (EQUIPMENT). NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #11062180

65,000 miles · Dec 26, 2017
Wheels

FAILED REAR WHEEL BEARINGS TWICE WITHIN 20,000 MILES. INCREASINGLY LOUD NOISE WHEN IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #11056385

25,000 miles · Dec 4, 2017
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE EXITING THE CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE EXITING THE CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED THE COST OF THE RENTAL VEHICLE. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE FLOOR MATS COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. *JS UPDATED 9/13/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #11052164

75,000 miles · Nov 6, 2017
Engine

MY 2014 FORESTER HAS STALLED ON ME 5 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 YEARS WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND EL PASO TX. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (80MPH ON THIS PART OF I-10) WITH AND WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WOULD MAKE A HARD DOWNSHIFT, THEN ANOTHER, AND ALLOWED ME ABOUT 10 SECONDS TO PULL OVER TO RIGHT S…

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MY 2014 FORESTER HAS STALLED ON ME 5 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 YEARS WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND EL PASO TX. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (80MPH ON THIS PART OF I-10) WITH AND WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WOULD MAKE A HARD DOWNSHIFT, THEN ANOTHER, AND ALLOWED ME ABOUT 10 SECONDS TO PULL OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER, THEN STALLED. DURING THE DOWNSHIFT NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON UNTIL I WAS COMPLETELY STALLED AND THEN THEY ALL TURNED ON. ONE TIME IT GAVE ME A WARNING LIGHT THAT MY TRANSMISSION OIL WAS HOT, AFTER IT STALLED. I HAVE TRAVELED TO OTHER PLACES IN TEXAS WITH SAME VARIABLES OTHER THAN THE INCLINES/ DECLINES OF THAT PART OF I-10. THIS VEHICLE CANNOT HANDLE INCLINES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AFTER DRIVING AN HOUR OR TWO. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT THE 5 TIMES MY FORESTER STALLED I WAS NOT SURROUNDED BY HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS IS A VERY BAD SITUATION AND VERY DANGEROUS!! A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I NOTIFIED MY SUBARU DEALER WHEN THEY DID AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST (BECAUSE I HAVE TO ADD A QUART BETWEEN EACH OIL CHANGE) AND THEY DID NOTHING. THE MANAGER SPECULATED SOME WORK THEY COULD DO AT MY COST BUT HAD NO ANSWERS OR SUGGESTIONS. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL BEARINGS IN THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL. THESE THINGS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW CAR WITH HIGH RATINGS. MY 86 HONDA CIVIC COULD GO BETWEEN EL PASO AND SAN ANTONIO WITH NO PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #11043768

80,000 miles · Oct 30, 2017
Wheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL SHOOK SEVERELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COCONUT CREEK SUBARU IN COCONUT CREEK, FL, 888-459-5432, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL SHOOK SEVERELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COCONUT CREEK SUBARU IN COCONUT CREEK, FL, 888-459-5432, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #11041068

87,435 miles · Oct 24, 2017
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11039341

28,800 miles · Oct 9, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE SEVERAL LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ABS, AND A PICTURE OF AN AUTO ON A HILL. I THEN PULLED OVER AND PUT THE AUTO IN PARK. IT LOCKED UP IN PARK AND I COULDN'T GET IT OUT OF PARK. I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY WALKED ME THRU A SERIES OF STEPS TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. NOT AN EASY TASK. I TO…

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WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE SEVERAL LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ABS, AND A PICTURE OF AN AUTO ON A HILL. I THEN PULLED OVER AND PUT THE AUTO IN PARK. IT LOCKED UP IN PARK AND I COULDN'T GET IT OUT OF PARK. I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY WALKED ME THRU A SERIES OF STEPS TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. NOT AN EASY TASK. I TOOK THE AUTO INTO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A SWITCH STOP, I KNEW THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETION PUT OUT ON THIS PROBLEM AND WAS INFORMED THE SWITCH HAD BEEN REDESIGNED. OF COURSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE SWITCH AND LABOR, ALTHOUGH IT WAS ONLY OUT OF WARRANTY FOR A MONTH. I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS! WHAT WOULD I HAVE DONE IF IT HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE OR I WASN'T ABLE TO CONTACT A DEALER. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAD REPLACE MANY OF THESE SWITCHES. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS SWITCH. IT'S DANGEROUS. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS AON A CITY STREET, PULLED OVER AND PUT IT IN PARK. IT WOULD NOT RELEASE AND COME OUT OF PARK

NHTSA ODI #11032312

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