THE KEY IS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN I GO TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. OF COURSE THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND IN PARK. *TR
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
44 reports14 SUBARU FORESTER AND IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION GETTING STUCK. STARTED WITH MOVING THE STEERING COLUMN AND JIGGLING THE KEY TO NOW IT'S BECOME A HUGE ISSUE. GETS STUCK ALL THE TIME! TAKES UP TO 30 MINUTES TO REMOVE THE KEY! SUBARU NEEDS TO FIX THIS! IT'S BECOMING A COMMON FAULTY IS…
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14 SUBARU FORESTER AND IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION GETTING STUCK. STARTED WITH MOVING THE STEERING COLUMN AND JIGGLING THE KEY TO NOW IT'S BECOME A HUGE ISSUE. GETS STUCK ALL THE TIME! TAKES UP TO 30 MINUTES TO REMOVE THE KEY! SUBARU NEEDS TO FIX THIS! IT'S BECOMING A COMMON FAULTY ISSUE!! *TR
DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT STAY UP/CLOSED WHEN USING AUTO UP SWITCH. MUST CLOSE WINDOW USING MULTIPLE START STOP ENGAGEMENTS OF WINDOW CONTROL. DEALER TRIED MULTIPLE TO REPAIR MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, NOT UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER BLAMED DIRT OR TEMPERATURE BUT NEVER CONVINCED OF EXACT CAUSE AND NEVER OFFERED …
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DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT STAY UP/CLOSED WHEN USING AUTO UP SWITCH. MUST CLOSE WINDOW USING MULTIPLE START STOP ENGAGEMENTS OF WINDOW CONTROL. DEALER TRIED MULTIPLE TO REPAIR MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, NOT UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER BLAMED DIRT OR TEMPERATURE BUT NEVER CONVINCED OF EXACT CAUSE AND NEVER OFFERED TO REPLACE SWITCH.
TAILGATE LIFT SUPPORT FAILURES- ON NOV 3, 2019, MY 2014 FORESTER WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I OPENED THE TAILGATE AND ALLOWED MY DOG TO JUMP INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. WHEN I CLOSED THE TAILGATE THERE WAS A LOUD METAL-ON-METAL CRUNCHING NOISE. I CAREFULLY OPENED THE TAILGATE AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAILGATE LIFT …
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TAILGATE LIFT SUPPORT FAILURES- ON NOV 3, 2019, MY 2014 FORESTER WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I OPENED THE TAILGATE AND ALLOWED MY DOG TO JUMP INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. WHEN I CLOSED THE TAILGATE THERE WAS A LOUD METAL-ON-METAL CRUNCHING NOISE. I CAREFULLY OPENED THE TAILGATE AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAILGATE LIFT SUPPORT WAS HANGING DOWN BECAUSE IT HAD SNAPPED OFF FROM WHERE IT CONNECTED TO THE TAILGATE. THE CRUNCHING METAL SOUND WAS CAUSED BY THE TAILGATE BEING CLOSED ON TOP OF THE BROKEN LIFT SUPPORT. THE TAILGATE DOOR WOULD NOT REMAIN OPEN ON ITS OWN WHICH MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO LOAD OR UNLOAD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANOTHER PERSON TO ASSIST. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A NEW LIFT SUPPORT ONLINE AND HE REPLACED THE PART HIMSELF. ON DEC 28, 2019, MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND WE HAD JUST PLACED SOME PACKAGES IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. WHEN MY HUSBAND CLOSED THE TAILGATE WE HEARD THE SAME AWFUL NOISE. THIS TIME IT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE LIFT SUPPORT WHICH HAD FAILED. BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, AS THE TAILGATE CLOSED ON TOP OF THE BROKEN LIFT SUPPORT, IT BROKE THE TAILLIGHT.
BROKEN RIGHT REAR COIL DISCOVERED DURING OIL CHANGE, NO KNOWN CAUSE
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAILGATE STRUT/SUPPORT FAILED JUST AS AUTOMATED CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING AS OWNER WAS REMOVING AN ITEM FROM THE CARGO AREA. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AS THE CARGO DOOR THAT IT WAS SUPPORTING SUDDENLY FELL DOWN. USER GOT A GLANCING BLOW ON THE TOP OF THE HEAD. NO MEDICAL INTERVENTION REQUIRED…
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VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAILGATE STRUT/SUPPORT FAILED JUST AS AUTOMATED CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING AS OWNER WAS REMOVING AN ITEM FROM THE CARGO AREA. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AS THE CARGO DOOR THAT IT WAS SUPPORTING SUDDENLY FELL DOWN. USER GOT A GLANCING BLOW ON THE TOP OF THE HEAD. NO MEDICAL INTERVENTION REQUIRED, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF PERSON WAS MORE IN THE WAY OF THE FALLING CARGO DOOR. PASSENGER SIDE SRUT SUPPORT WAS STILL INTACT, BUT AS DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE DOOR COULD NOT BE FULLY SUPPORTED. TAILGATE STRUT SWUNG OUT AS IT WAS STILL PARTIALLY ATTACHED AS BOLTS ON ONE END DID NOT BECOME LOOSE, BUT PREVENTED DOOR FROM CLOSING ALL THE WAY, AS STRUT WAS HANGING (STUCK) OUT OF CARGO DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS ALSO CAUSED DOOR OPEN LIGHT AND VEHICLE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ON. INSPECTION OF THE FAILED SHOWA BRAND STRUT NUMBER 13I062C REVEALED CORROSION ON THE BLACK TUBE AS WELL AS ON THE END OF THE STRUT THAT BROKE OFF ON IT'S TOP END FROM THE VEHICLE. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED CORROSION ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE STRUT THAT WAS STILL IN PLACE. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT SAFE TO LEAVE REMAINING STRUT ON CAR, AS IT WOULD LIKELY FAIL AS WELL. ULTIMATELY DEALER ORDERED THE NEW PARTS AND INSTALLED THEM. SUBARU OF AMERICA REIMBURSED OWNER FOR REPAIRS AND DEALER HAD OWNER SIGN WAIVER RELEASING SUBARU OF AMERICA FROM ANY PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS AS A RESULT OF THE STRUT FAILURE. VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND WELL-MAINTAINED.
WE HAVE HAD TWO ONGOING ISSUES WITH OUR 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WE PURCHASED OUR CAR WHEN IT WAS TWO YEARS OLD HAVE HAD OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES AND A HARD TIME GETTING OUR KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AFTER DRIVING. ON OUR LAST TRIP TO FLORIDA FROM NY AND BACK WE HAD TO PURCHASE AND USE TWO QUARTS OF OIL. WE HAD A OIL CHANGE JUST BE…
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WE HAVE HAD TWO ONGOING ISSUES WITH OUR 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WE PURCHASED OUR CAR WHEN IT WAS TWO YEARS OLD HAVE HAD OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES AND A HARD TIME GETTING OUR KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AFTER DRIVING. ON OUR LAST TRIP TO FLORIDA FROM NY AND BACK WE HAD TO PURCHASE AND USE TWO QUARTS OF OIL. WE HAD A OIL CHANGE JUST BEFORE WE LEFT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. IN 2019 I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER TO CHECK AND ADD OIL TO A CAR. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. WE HAD AT LEAST THREE CONSUMPTION TESTS DONE AND THEY CAME BACK NEGATIVE. I'M CURRENTLY AFRAID TO TAKE MY CAR ANYWHERE SINCE THE KEY AND IGNITION ARE UNPREDICTABLE. I NEVER KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH OUR SUBARU. IT IS OUR SECOND SUBARU. WE HAD NO ISSUES WITH OUR LAST CAR.
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION, WONT COME OUT! THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY
VEHICLE STALL ON A FLAT STRAIGHT HIGHWAY WITH SPEED AROUND 40MPH. THE ENGINE THEN SHUTDOWN AFTER THE STALLING. LOW FUEL LIGHT IS ON EVEN GAS IS MORE THAN HALF TANK. THEN THE HILL ASSIST LIGHTS IS ON. I PULLED OVER, RESTART THE ENGINE AND DRIVE HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, THE SAME ISSUE HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY, THIS TIME THE TRAVEL SPEED IS …
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VEHICLE STALL ON A FLAT STRAIGHT HIGHWAY WITH SPEED AROUND 40MPH. THE ENGINE THEN SHUTDOWN AFTER THE STALLING. LOW FUEL LIGHT IS ON EVEN GAS IS MORE THAN HALF TANK. THEN THE HILL ASSIST LIGHTS IS ON. I PULLED OVER, RESTART THE ENGINE AND DRIVE HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, THE SAME ISSUE HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY, THIS TIME THE TRAVEL SPEED IS 55MPH ON A FLAT STRAIGHT HIGHWAY.
BOTH REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AND SO DO THE STRUTS. BOTH BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON A WELL PAVED RODE GOING 35 MPH. I DID NOT HIT OR RUN OVER ANYTHING. THEY COMPLETELY SNAPPED APART. THIS IS CLEARLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART AS THERE ARE 100'S OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS HAPPENING TO 2014-2015 MODEL FORESTER…
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BOTH REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AND SO DO THE STRUTS. BOTH BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON A WELL PAVED RODE GOING 35 MPH. I DID NOT HIT OR RUN OVER ANYTHING. THEY COMPLETELY SNAPPED APART. THIS IS CLEARLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART AS THERE ARE 100'S OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS HAPPENING TO 2014-2015 MODEL FORESTERS AND COMING FROM A FAMILY OF MECHANICS, THIS DOES NOT JUST HAPPEN. THE CAR HAS 50K MILES AND IS ONLY DRIVEN ON WELL PAVED ROADS. SPRINGS BROKE WHILE DRIVING KIDS IN BACK. CAR VERY UNSTABLE AND CANNOT STOP AS QUICKLY. REALLY UNSAFE. THESE NEED TO BE RECALLED.
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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