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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
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 29, 2016
Air Bags

2014 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE FRONT PASSENGER AIR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 15V323000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A VIN. HOWEVER, IT IS FOR A 2008 SUBARU FOREST. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10852640

58,000 miles · Mar 29, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE GRINDING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE GRINDING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10852140

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

20,000 miles · Jan 26, 2016
Visibility/wiper

IF IT IS SNOWING AND THE TEMPERATURE IS FREEZING OR BELOW, THE WIPER BLADES ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO GET ICE BUILD-UP AND THE WINDSHIELD ALSO ACCUMULATES ICE. AFTER FURTHER STUDY, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE IS A PLASTIC TRIM, ALMOST LIKE A WATER TROUGH, IMMEDIATELY BELOW AND FORWARD OF THE WIPER BLADES. IT APPEARS THAT AS T…

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IF IT IS SNOWING AND THE TEMPERATURE IS FREEZING OR BELOW, THE WIPER BLADES ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO GET ICE BUILD-UP AND THE WINDSHIELD ALSO ACCUMULATES ICE. AFTER FURTHER STUDY, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE IS A PLASTIC TRIM, ALMOST LIKE A WATER TROUGH, IMMEDIATELY BELOW AND FORWARD OF THE WIPER BLADES. IT APPEARS THAT AS THE DEFROST MELTS THE SNOW, THE WATER IS CAUGHT IN THE TROUGH WITHOUT ADEQUATE DRAINAGE AND THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE CREATES A MIST THAT THEN BLOWS UP ONTO THE WIPER BLADES CAUSING THE ICE BUILD-UP AND ALSO CAN BLOW MIST ONTO THE WINDSHIELD FURTHER COMPLICATING THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THE ONLY OPTION REALLY IS TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND STOP. LOOKING AT EARLIER MODELS, IT APPEARS THAT A REDESIGN MADE THE TRIM DEEPER, AND NARROWER, WHILE THE HOOD WAS LOWERED AND A RIDGE PUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOOD. THIS HAS APPARENTLY CHANGED THE AERODYNAMICS AND CAUSED THIS VERY BAD PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10822310

35,000 miles · Dec 11, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WOULD NOT ACTIVATE AND CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED ISSUES STARTING DUE TO THE BRAKE SWITCH ACTIVATION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WOULD NOT ACTIVATE AND CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED ISSUES STARTING DUE TO THE BRAKE SWITCH ACTIVATION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWITCH THAT ACTIVATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V366000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10809676

27,000 miles · Nov 9, 2015
Air BagsCrash

RECENTLY I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY CAR WAS HIT BY A VAN. MY CAR WAS NOT STATIONARY BUT WAS AT A LESSER SPEED THAN THE CAR WHICH HIT. I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE VAN HIT. THE IMPACT WAS A LOT SUCH THAT THE OTHER CARS AIRBAGS GOT DEPLOYED. MORE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY CAR. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR IS GONE. I WAS SURPRISED…

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RECENTLY I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY CAR WAS HIT BY A VAN. MY CAR WAS NOT STATIONARY BUT WAS AT A LESSER SPEED THAN THE CAR WHICH HIT. I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE VAN HIT. THE IMPACT WAS A LOT SUCH THAT THE OTHER CARS AIRBAGS GOT DEPLOYED. MORE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY CAR. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR IS GONE. I WAS SURPRISED AS TO HOW UNSAFE MY CAR WAS AS THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GET DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #10789425

15,600 miles · Oct 30, 2015
Wheels

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLOWOUT ON INTERSTATE 40 WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. YOKAHAMA TIRE WAS SHREDDED BY TIME I PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. TIRES ONLY HAD 15,600 MILES ON THEM. IF NOT FOR ALL WHEEL DRIVE, I MIGHT NOT BE HERE TO WRITE THIS. AFTER LOOKING AT CONSUMER AFFAIRS SITE WITH MANY PICTURES SIMILAR TO MINE OF SHREDDED YOKAHAMA TIR…

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RIGHT REAR TIRE BLOWOUT ON INTERSTATE 40 WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. YOKAHAMA TIRE WAS SHREDDED BY TIME I PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. TIRES ONLY HAD 15,600 MILES ON THEM. IF NOT FOR ALL WHEEL DRIVE, I MIGHT NOT BE HERE TO WRITE THIS. AFTER LOOKING AT CONSUMER AFFAIRS SITE WITH MANY PICTURES SIMILAR TO MINE OF SHREDDED YOKAHAMA TIRES, I REPLACED ALL WITH MICHELIN. TIRE SIZE WAS 2256017 WHICH HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BUT SHOULD BE. I HAVE PICTURES OF SHREDDED TIRE.

NHTSA ODI #10787360

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2015
Seat BeltsSeatsStructure

2014 SABARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SEAT HEAD REST, SEAT BELT AND REAR VIEW VISIBILITY ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS LIMITED REAR VIEW VISIBILITY WITH TWO LARGE BLIND SPOTS DUE TO A 64 SQUARE INCH HEAD REST. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT ANGLED FROM THE ROOF DIAGONALLY, THEREFORE LIMITING REAR VIEW …

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2014 SABARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SEAT HEAD REST, SEAT BELT AND REAR VIEW VISIBILITY ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS LIMITED REAR VIEW VISIBILITY WITH TWO LARGE BLIND SPOTS DUE TO A 64 SQUARE INCH HEAD REST. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT ANGLED FROM THE ROOF DIAGONALLY, THEREFORE LIMITING REAR VIEW VISION. THE CENTER HEAD REST WAS ONLY TWO INCHES HIGH, RATHER THAN THE LATERAL HEAD REST BEING EIGHT INCHES HIGH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10805816

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2015
Lane Departure

LETTER FROM CONGRESSWOMAN KATHLEEN M. RICE ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE RECALL ON EYESIGHT DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM ON A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SYSTEM DETECTED A CAR SLOWING DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM TO GET ONTO AN EXIT RAMP, IT SLOWS DOWN HIS VEHICLE TO A DANGEROUSLY SLOW SPEED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO SLAM…

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LETTER FROM CONGRESSWOMAN KATHLEEN M. RICE ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE RECALL ON EYESIGHT DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM ON A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SYSTEM DETECTED A CAR SLOWING DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM TO GET ONTO AN EXIT RAMP, IT SLOWS DOWN HIS VEHICLE TO A DANGEROUSLY SLOW SPEED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO SLAM ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10805782

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