IllustrationFUEL GAUGE REGISTERS 3/4 FULL EVEN WHEN FILLED TO CAPACITY. I DROVE 50 MILES ON MAY 8, 2017 AND IT STILL REGISTERED THE SAME WHEN I RETURNED. I TRIED ADDING ADDITIONAL GAS BUT THE GAS PUMP SHUT OFF AS IT WILL DO AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL.
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
What owners actually said
403 reportsWHEN SLOWLY ENTERING HOME GARAGE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED & DESPITE STANDING ON THE BREAK PEDAL & PULLING THE EMERGENCY BREAK IT CRASHED INTO TABLE & WORK BENCHES AT FRONT OF AREA CAUSING DAMAGE TO FURNITURE & DAMAGING FRONT OF VEHICLE. PREVIOUSLY IN NOVEMBER 2016 WHEN PULLING INTO HIGHWAY REST AREA PARKING PLACE THE CAR …
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WHEN SLOWLY ENTERING HOME GARAGE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED & DESPITE STANDING ON THE BREAK PEDAL & PULLING THE EMERGENCY BREAK IT CRASHED INTO TABLE & WORK BENCHES AT FRONT OF AREA CAUSING DAMAGE TO FURNITURE & DAMAGING FRONT OF VEHICLE. PREVIOUSLY IN NOVEMBER 2016 WHEN PULLING INTO HIGHWAY REST AREA PARKING PLACE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB A & TRAVELED 15' ONTO A GRASSY EMBANKMENT BEFORE STOPPING WITH MAXIMUM BREAKING APPLIED.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. DOWN 2 QUARTS OF OIL BEFORE OIL CHANGE IS DUE.
VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPING CURB, CROSSING SIDEWALK AND IMPACTED A BUILDING. CAR WAS THEN PUT INTO REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND IMPACTED AN ADJOINING PARKED CAR. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE AREA AROUND THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE WERE INSPECTED AND NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT MIGHT HA…
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VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPING CURB, CROSSING SIDEWALK AND IMPACTED A BUILDING. CAR WAS THEN PUT INTO REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND IMPACTED AN ADJOINING PARKED CAR. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE AREA AROUND THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE WERE INSPECTED AND NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR TO STICK OR MALFUNCTION. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE CLAIMS THAT HER FOOT WAS NOT CAUGHT ON THE ACCELERATOR NOR DID HER FOOT SLIP OFF THE BRAKE AND ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR.
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.
CRACKED WINDSHIELD. ON DECEMBER 14, 2016, A 6 DEGREE DAY, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ACROSS HEATER STRIP, SIDE TO SIDE, WHILE PARKED. NO EVIDENCE OF, OR PRIOR DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD. ONLINE REPORTS STATE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH NEWER SUBARU MODELS, BECAUSE OR WEIGHT REDUCTION IN THINNER WINDSHIELDS. WINDSHIELD MANUFACTUE…
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CRACKED WINDSHIELD. ON DECEMBER 14, 2016, A 6 DEGREE DAY, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ACROSS HEATER STRIP, SIDE TO SIDE, WHILE PARKED. NO EVIDENCE OF, OR PRIOR DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD. ONLINE REPORTS STATE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH NEWER SUBARU MODELS, BECAUSE OR WEIGHT REDUCTION IN THINNER WINDSHIELDS. WINDSHIELD MANUFACTUER: AGC AUTOMOTIVE, LAMISAFE.
WHEN PARKED FOR A TWO WEEK PERIOD, THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. HAS LEFT US STRANDED AT A PARKING GARAGE AT THE AIRPORT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. SUBARU SERVICE CLAIMS THAT IT IS "NORMAL" FOR A CAR BATTERY TO GO DEAD WHEN IT HASN'T BEEN RUN FOR TWO WEEKS.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS EXTREMELY WORN DOWN, BUT THE OTHER TIRES HAD NO ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE AND FRONT DRIVER AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS EXTREMELY WORN DOWN, BUT THE OTHER TIRES HAD NO ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE AND FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES WERE REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE RECEIVED AN ALIGNMENT; HOWEVER, THE ISSUE RECURRED SIX MONTHS (APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES) LATER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EQUIPPED WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT NO ISSUES WERE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE COMING TO A STOP IN A PARKING SPACE. THE FORCE OF THE ACCELERATION THREW THE CAR OVER A CURB AND SEVERAL FEET INTO A HEAVY DUTY IRON FENCE, WHICH SNAPPED. THE CAR WAS COMING TO A STOP.
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.