Heard deep rumble while driving In May 2021 Thought it may be start of muffler or exhaust problem but Subaru service said it is rear hub bearings. Service says there may be danger of tire falling off while driving.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forester years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
403 reportsThe contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the vehicle went into limp mode and failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was being depressed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. …
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The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the vehicle went into limp mode and failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was being depressed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,574.
left rear suspension coil fractured when car put in reverse
The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph, a small crack appeared on the front windshield without impact. While driving, the crack expanded from the passenger’s side of the windshield to the driver’s side. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and l…
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The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph, a small crack appeared on the front windshield without impact. While driving, the crack expanded from the passenger’s side of the windshield to the driver’s side. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
My drivers side door seal has repeatedly come loose from the door. This usually happens in very hot or cold conditions. I struggle with it on an irregular basis. Recently my passenger's side door is doing the same thing and is more resistant to being put back into place.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HOOD INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED AND OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW MOTORS SUBARU (8670 PEACH ST, ERIE, PA 16509) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC HAD NOT FOUND ANY PART THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HOOD INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED AND OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW MOTORS SUBARU (8670 PEACH ST, ERIE, PA 16509) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC HAD NOT FOUND ANY PART THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND PROMISED TO PROVIDE A CALLBACK WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
THE IGNITION CYCLINDER WILL NOT RELEASE VEHICLE KEY. UPON TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN PAST ON TO THE OFF POSITION. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL TRIES OF CYCLING ON AND OFF BEFORE THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED. ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT, MOVING SHIFTER FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND BACK EVENTUALLY AL…
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THE IGNITION CYCLINDER WILL NOT RELEASE VEHICLE KEY. UPON TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN PAST ON TO THE OFF POSITION. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL TRIES OF CYCLING ON AND OFF BEFORE THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED. ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT, MOVING SHIFTER FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND BACK EVENTUALLY ALLOWS KEY TO BE REMOVED.
THE 12-16 IMPREZA, 13-17 CROSSTREK, AND 14-18 FORESTER HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE OF THE ELECTRIC STEERING RACK BECOMING COMPROMISED, LEADING TO STEERING ISSUES. THE ISSUE IS DESCRIBED IN THE ISSUE BULLETIN AS JUST "UNEVEN STEERING EFFORT" AND THAT IT IS NOT UNSAFE AND SO IS NOT A RECALL ITEM, HOWEVER I CAME TO LEARN ABOUT THIS ISSUE WI…
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THE 12-16 IMPREZA, 13-17 CROSSTREK, AND 14-18 FORESTER HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE OF THE ELECTRIC STEERING RACK BECOMING COMPROMISED, LEADING TO STEERING ISSUES. THE ISSUE IS DESCRIBED IN THE ISSUE BULLETIN AS JUST "UNEVEN STEERING EFFORT" AND THAT IT IS NOT UNSAFE AND SO IS NOT A RECALL ITEM, HOWEVER I CAME TO LEARN ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH MY CAR AFTER IT SUDDENLY STARTING THIS PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ME TO JERK WILDLY TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH ONLY THE SLIGHTEST LEFT TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH COULD HAVE VERY DEFINITELY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT (THIS ALL BEING IN FRONT OF A POLICE OFFICER, OF COURSE). I AM 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE A POSSIBLE DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH MY CAR BUT CANNOT AFFORD THE FIX IMMEDIATELY- I AM HOPING THIS CAN BECOME A RECALL ITEM IN ORDER TO FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR AGAIN.
REAR WHEEL BACKING PLATE DESIGN. NHTSA ID #10185064. OCCURRED ON MY 2014 FORESTER WITH 34,000 MILES (GARAGED). MADE A HOWLING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. REPLACED BY DEALER $700 PARTS AND LABOR. NEVER HAD THIS ON ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. CLEARLY A DESIGN ISSUE. PLEASE SUPPORT A RECALL. NOT SAFE FOR CARS TO BE MAKING THAT KIND OF …
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REAR WHEEL BACKING PLATE DESIGN. NHTSA ID #10185064. OCCURRED ON MY 2014 FORESTER WITH 34,000 MILES (GARAGED). MADE A HOWLING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. REPLACED BY DEALER $700 PARTS AND LABOR. NEVER HAD THIS ON ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. CLEARLY A DESIGN ISSUE. PLEASE SUPPORT A RECALL. NOT SAFE FOR CARS TO BE MAKING THAT KIND OF NOISE, EVEN THOUGH TECHNICALLY PASSED PA STATE INSPECTION. THANKS. .
OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) MALFUNCTIONING. PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETIMES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ON WHILE THERE IS NO ONE (AND NOTHING) ON THE SEAT, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME TO OCCUR UNTIL SEAT BELT IS BUCKLED. SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) LIGHT APPE…
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OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) MALFUNCTIONING. PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETIMES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ON WHILE THERE IS NO ONE (AND NOTHING) ON THE SEAT, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME TO OCCUR UNTIL SEAT BELT IS BUCKLED. SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD AND SHUTS DOWN AIRBAG SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING. THESE THINGS OCCUR SOMEWHAT RANDOMLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR, CONTINUE WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY AND HIGHWAY, AND DON'T GO AWAY UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. SOMETIMES RESTARTING THE CAR WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I BROUGHT MY FORESTER TO THE DEALERSHIP BACK IN 2017 AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE SENSORS OF THE ODS SYSTEM WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACES. COST ESTIMATE IS ABOUT $1,100. THEY SAID THE LIKELY CAUSE IS MOISTURE OR THE SEAT GOT WET. I LIVE IN A DRY CLIMATE AREA AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE SEATS WET AT ALL RECENTLY (AND BARELY EVER IN THE PAST). THROUGH RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN THE 2015-2018 MODELS AND THERE IS A RECALL (WUM-98) FOR THOSE YEARS. MY FORESTER IS A 2014 AND IS OF THE SAME GENERATION BUT ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR SOME REASON. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE 2014 MODEL SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IF THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING? APPRECIATE ANY HELP AND INSIGHT YOU CAN OFFER!
Official recalls
219V149000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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