IllustrationWHEN MAKE TURNS IN MOVING(BACKWARD OR FORWARD), THERE IS NOISY(CLICK) IN FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION
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
670–25K
7325–50K
7250–75K
4475–100K
36100–150K
6150K+
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
Suspension complaints
94 reportsREAR COIL SPRING FAILED AFTER 56,000 MILES. IT WAS NOT A RESULT OF ANY INCIDENT. CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND NOT DRIVEN OFF ROAD, MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES.
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN AT THE BOTTOM COIL THAT RESTS IN THE BOTTOM SPRING BASE OF THE STRUT ASSEMBLY. MECHANIC FOUND CRACKS DURING SAFETY INSPECTION DURING BRAKE REPLACEMENT. AS TECHNICIAN WAS BACKING VEHICLE OUT OF THE BAY A PIECE OF THE RIGHT HAND COIL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. PHOTO ATT…
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BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN AT THE BOTTOM COIL THAT RESTS IN THE BOTTOM SPRING BASE OF THE STRUT ASSEMBLY. MECHANIC FOUND CRACKS DURING SAFETY INSPECTION DURING BRAKE REPLACEMENT. AS TECHNICIAN WAS BACKING VEHICLE OUT OF THE BAY A PIECE OF THE RIGHT HAND COIL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. PHOTO ATTACHED. LH COIL STILL IN THE VEHICLE.
AC COMPRESSOR WENT AFTER 3 YEARS (WENT AT THE END OF SUMMER LAST YEAR 2017) AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH EAST WHERE WE ONLY USE AC LESS THAN HALF OF THE YEAR. ALSO REAR SUSPENSION SPRING WENT THIS YEAR. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE EXTREMELY PREMATURE ON A 2014 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO GOOD AFTER MARKET OPTIONS FOR EITHER OF T…
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AC COMPRESSOR WENT AFTER 3 YEARS (WENT AT THE END OF SUMMER LAST YEAR 2017) AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH EAST WHERE WE ONLY USE AC LESS THAN HALF OF THE YEAR. ALSO REAR SUSPENSION SPRING WENT THIS YEAR. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE EXTREMELY PREMATURE ON A 2014 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO GOOD AFTER MARKET OPTIONS FOR EITHER OF THESE PARTS SO HAD TO USE OEM (SUBARU) PARTS. THE SPRINGS HAVE BEEN RE-ENFORCED WITH A WHITE COATING THAT IS NOT ON THE ORIGINAL AND THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER FOR 3 WEEKS (THAT'S AFTER CALLING ABOUT THE DELAY AND GETTING THEM EXPEDITED) SHOWING THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS PART. THE SPRINGS BROKE WHILE DRIVING MAKING A VERY LOUD BANG THEN FEELING VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
MY LEFT REAR SPRING LET GO. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS NOW. THE SUBURU DEALER STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE. I ASKED THEM TO REPAIR THE RIGHT REAR SPRING AS WELL BECAUSE I WANT BOTH SPRINGS REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME SO THE CAR WILL NOT BE HARM…
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MY LEFT REAR SPRING LET GO. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS NOW. THE SUBURU DEALER STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE. I ASKED THEM TO REPAIR THE RIGHT REAR SPRING AS WELL BECAUSE I WANT BOTH SPRINGS REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME SO THE CAR WILL NOT BE HARMED. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND AM DISAPPOINTED IT HAS TAKEN THIS LONG SO FAR. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE DEALER AND AM CONCERNED AT HOW LONG THIS IS GOING TO TAKE TO REPAIR. THEY CANNOT TELL ME ANYTHING. I FEEL THE SPRINGS ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT SAFE AND THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. SUBURU SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRINGS AND NOT CHARGE ME. I DID NOT GO OVER ANY POT HOLES. I HAVE VERY LOW MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY WITH SUBURU CARS (THIS WAS MY THIRD PURCHASE) BUT AFTER THIS INCIDENT, I AM NOT CERTAIN I WILL PURCHASE A NEW SUBURU VEHICLE AGAIN.
AT 60,000 MILES,WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN A LEVEL PARKING LOT, THE REAR PASSENGER SPRING BROKE CAUSING THE CAR TO SAG AND SHIMMY. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL OF THE BROKEN SPRING THROWING OFF A PIECE AND THAT PIECE RUPTURING THE TIRE. MY DRIVING DOES NOT INVOLVE ROUGH ROADS.
I FOUND A METAL PIECE IN MY DRIVEWAY, IT IS A PIECE OF THE REAR COIL SPRING. A REPAIR SHOP ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE PART IS REPLACED, AS IT IS UNSAFE.. THE SHOP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE THE REPLACEMENT PART. SO I AM WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION BUSHING COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED. THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 55,000 MILES. DRIVER SIDE BUSHING STILL INTACT BUT SHOWING SIGNIFICANT SIGNS OF WEAR. THE MISSING BUSHING IS CAUSING SEVER VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.
DISCOVERED AT ROUTINE SERVICING AT JUST OVER 34K. THE FRONT AXEL SEAL IS LEAKING. THE REAR SHOCKS ARE FAILING AND NEED REPLACING. NO OFF ROAD OR OVER BUMPY STREETS DRIVING. THIS MUCH TOO EARLY FOR BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS TO OCCUR WITHOUT HEAVY DRIVING OR ON UNEVEN SURFACES.
DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND CAR STARTING VIBRATING VIOLENTLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. CONTINUED DRIVING AND 10 MINUTES LATER SAME THING FOR SAME LENGTH OF TIME HAPPENED AGAIN.
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.