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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.

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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

44 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2021
Unknown Or Other

Hello, my name is [XXX], I am disabled (ADA) following brain surgery at Mass General Hospital (December, 2005, [XXX], MD). I have since walked with a cane, was required to retire approx 10 years ago, and have routine seizures. I apologize for this, but I feel the air conditioning should be covered, as in many situations (espe…

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Hello, my name is [XXX], I am disabled (ADA) following brain surgery at Mass General Hospital (December, 2005, [XXX], MD). I have since walked with a cane, was required to retire approx 10 years ago, and have routine seizures. I apologize for this, but I feel the air conditioning should be covered, as in many situations (especially with global warming), the cooling is required for the elderly and for people with medical conditions. Please reconsider allowing the faulty air conditioning systems in 2014 Subaru Foresters to be covered under payment by Subaru. The car referenced belongs to my sister Nancy English, who commonly drives me to places I need to go. The cost is not expected to be too overwhelming, but I feel the Air Conditioning is more important to (many) people, than was established some years ago. Thank you sincerely.[XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11425280

80,000 miles · Jan 17, 2021
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

WARNING LIGHTS KEEP GOING ON WHILE DRIVING INCLUDING THE "ABS WARNING LIGHT", "HILL ASSIST" AND "VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL" . THIS ALWAYS DISENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL AND OFTEN HAPPENS AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE. THIS DIDN'T START HAPPENING UNTIL I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING DUE TO NON WORKING HORN AND CRUISE CONTRO…

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WARNING LIGHTS KEEP GOING ON WHILE DRIVING INCLUDING THE "ABS WARNING LIGHT", "HILL ASSIST" AND "VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL" . THIS ALWAYS DISENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL AND OFTEN HAPPENS AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE. THIS DIDN'T START HAPPENING UNTIL I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING DUE TO NON WORKING HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL AND TROUBLE WITH STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR. THEY ALSO REPLACED REAR COIL SPRINGS AND REAR LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND BACKING PLATE.

NHTSA ODI #11388599

64,000 miles · Jan 1, 2021
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiperWheels

WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE

NHTSA ODI #11386022

32,000 miles · Dec 1, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER'S ENGINE AT TIMES ACTS AS IF IT IS GOING TO STALL. IT ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS GETTING NO FUEL. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL FILTER/FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND IT SEEMED TO RUN OK FOR A SHORT TIME. THE STALLING ACTION DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN. SOMETIMES IT RUNS SMOOTHLY. THEN IT STARTS THE SPUTTERING/STALL ACTI…

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MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER'S ENGINE AT TIMES ACTS AS IF IT IS GOING TO STALL. IT ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS GETTING NO FUEL. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL FILTER/FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND IT SEEMED TO RUN OK FOR A SHORT TIME. THE STALLING ACTION DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN. SOMETIMES IT RUNS SMOOTHLY. THEN IT STARTS THE SPUTTERING/STALL ACTION AGAIN.THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THEM IN AN EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT ELSE COULD BE CAUSING IT. MY VEHICLE GETS 93 OCTANE GAS AND ONLY HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #11377359

25,000 miles · Nov 16, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

MY BACKUP CAMERA ONLY WORKS PERIODICALLY. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THE DASHBOARD SCREEN SOMETIMES JUST SHOWS A BLACK SCREEN WITH THE DISTANCE LINES DISPLAYED. OTHER TIMES IT WORKS FINE. DOESNT SEEM TO BE A PATTERN. MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN POSTED MESSAGE BOARDS AND IT SEEMS LIKE CERTAIN OTHER SUBARUS WE…

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MY BACKUP CAMERA ONLY WORKS PERIODICALLY. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THE DASHBOARD SCREEN SOMETIMES JUST SHOWS A BLACK SCREEN WITH THE DISTANCE LINES DISPLAYED. OTHER TIMES IT WORKS FINE. DOESNT SEEM TO BE A PATTERN. MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN POSTED MESSAGE BOARDS AND IT SEEMS LIKE CERTAIN OTHER SUBARUS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11374869

61,000 miles · Nov 11, 2020
Unknown Or OtherCrash

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT AN INCIDENT OF SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION MALFUNCTION. DRIVING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR, I TURNED LEFT FROM THE STREET INTO A SLIGHTLY UPHILL DRIVEWAY ABOUT 16 FEET LONG. THE SUBARU SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SELF ACCELERATED OVER THE ENTRY WAY TO THE GARAGE AND RUN INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. W…

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I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT AN INCIDENT OF SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION MALFUNCTION. DRIVING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR, I TURNED LEFT FROM THE STREET INTO A SLIGHTLY UPHILL DRIVEWAY ABOUT 16 FEET LONG. THE SUBARU SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SELF ACCELERATED OVER THE ENTRY WAY TO THE GARAGE AND RUN INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. WHEN THE CAR STARTED SELF-ACCELERATING I SWITCHED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN I SHIFTED GEARS, WHICH EVENTUALLY MADE THE CAR STOP. BUT THE GARAGE DOOR WAS SMASHED, THE CAR PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE WAS HIT AND IN TURN HIT THE WASHING MACHINE BEHIND IT, WHICH AND ENDED UP SMASHED AND LODGED HALFWAY INTO THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE. I HAVE ALSO PROVIDED MY INSURANCE COMPANY WITH INFORMATION WIDELY AVAILABLE ABOUT RECENT CLASS LAWSUITS FOR SIMILAR ISSUES IN NEW JERSEY (WESTON, ET AL., V. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC., ET AL.) AND CALIFORNIA (BARE ET AL. V. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.), BUT IT SEEMS THAT THIS ISSUE WITH THIS BRAND AND MODEL HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE MANY TIMES, STARTING MORE THAN TEN YEARS AGO (HTTPS://WWW.SAFETYRESEARCH.NET/BLOG/ARTICLES/AUTOMAKERS-BLAME-DRIVERS-SETTLE-UNINTENDED-ACCELERATION-CASES). FROM THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE, SUBARU REPEATEDLY BLAMES THIS ON THE DRIVERS, BUT THE ISSUE SEEMS TO ORIGINATE FROM A FAILURE OF A CAR'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL, ALLOWING THE THROTTLE TO EXPAND WIDE OPEN TO AN APPARENT SOFTWARE DEFECT PLAGUING THE CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK AND A FLAW HAMPERING THE BRAKE OVERRIDE SYSTEM FOUND IN AFFECTED VEHICLES (HTTPS://WWW.CLASSACTION.ORG/NEWS/SUBARU-FACES-ANOTHER-CLASS-ACTION-ALLEGING-DEFECTS-TO-BLAME-FOR-SUDDEN-UNINTENDED-ACCELERATION-PROBLEMS)

NHTSA ODI #11374206

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA ODI #11372853

42,000 miles · Oct 28, 2020
Unknown Or Other

MY FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A SPONTANEOUS CRACK. IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE AND THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IN THE EVENING, I NOTICED A HORIZONTAL CRACK ABOUT 24" LONG, NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEFROSTER WAS NOT ON. THIS IS MY SECOND FORESTER AND BOTH WINDSHIELDS HAVE DEVELOPED THE SAME SP…

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MY FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A SPONTANEOUS CRACK. IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE AND THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IN THE EVENING, I NOTICED A HORIZONTAL CRACK ABOUT 24" LONG, NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEFROSTER WAS NOT ON. THIS IS MY SECOND FORESTER AND BOTH WINDSHIELDS HAVE DEVELOPED THE SAME SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN THE SAME PLACE.

NHTSA ODI #11366928

90,000 miles · Sep 14, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE HORN STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ODI #11355019

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2020
Unknown Or Other

HORN DOESN'T WORK. ONLY WORKS WHEN I LOCK THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11353738

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