2014 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Suspension is the leading concern among 403 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 48 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 28 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 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.
Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
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.
Campaign 19V149000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentApr 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 13V159000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
57 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Jul 22, 2017
WHEN EVER ANY BLUE TOOTH DEVICE OR BATTERY POWERED DEVICE IS HELD BY THE PASSENGER,THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DISABLED. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE AIRBAG CAN NOT BE TURNED ON UTIL AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AND ON > 5 TIMES.
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Nov 15, 2016
2014 SUBARU FORESTER. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION COLLISION. *SMD AS THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A HANDICAP SPACE, HE SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MPH AND WHEN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND STRUCK TWO PARKED VEHICLES AND THEN CAME TO A STOP, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB
Air bags, Mar 29, 2016
2014 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE FRONT PASSENGER AIR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 15V323000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A VIN. HOWEVER, IT IS FOR A 2008 SUBARU FOREST. *JB
Air bags, Nov 9, 2015, crash
RECENTLY I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY CAR WAS HIT BY A VAN. MY CAR WAS NOT STATIONARY BUT WAS AT A LESSER SPEED THAN THE CAR WHICH HIT. I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE VAN HIT. THE IMPACT WAS A LOT SUCH THAT THE OTHER CARS AIRBAGS GOT DEPLOYED. MORE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY CAR. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR IS GONE. I WAS SURPRISED AS TO HOW UNSAFE MY CAR WAS AS THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GET DEPLOYED.
Air bags, Jun 12, 2015
THIS SUBARU OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM IN MY 2014 FORESTER IS DEFECTIVE. IT DOES NOT DETECT MY WIFE AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT TURN ON. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SUBARU THAT THEY HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED TO AN "ELECTROSTATIC CAPACITANCE SENSOR" TO REPLACE THE PREVIOUS "WEIGHT SENSOR". MY WIFE NEEDS TO SIT ON A SEAT CUSHION AS THE SEATS ARE TOO HARD FOR HER MEDICAL CONDITION. SUBARU TOLD US THE SEAT CUSHION WILL NOT ALLOW THE ODS TO VERIFY A PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND WILL NOT TURN ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT WET CLOTHING (WET RAINCOAT) WILL ALSO DEFEAT THE SENSOR AND THE AIRBAG WILL NOT BE TURNED ON. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS TO ALL PASSENGERS. THE ONLY SUGGESTION FROM SUBARU WAS FOR MY WIFE TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISED ME THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS MANDATING THAT ALL VEHICLES USE THIS ELECTROSTATIC CAPACITANCE SENSOR. I STRONGLY URGE YOUR DEPARTMENT TO RECONSIDER MANDATING THIS SENSOR AS THE OLD "WEIGHT SENSOR " IN MY 2011 OUTBACK WORKS JUST FINE WITH A CUSHION.
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Apr 23, 2015
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, (APPROXIMATE 65 MPH) I GOT A MESSAGE ON THE CONSOLE THAT INDICATED THAT SRS SYSTEM HAD SHUT DOWN AND THE RED AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON. I DROVE IT HOME AND THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE RED AIR BAG LIGHT WENT AWAY. THE NEXT DAY WHILE I WAS RIDING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND A NOTE ON THE CONSOLE SAID THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SUBARU DEALER WHO COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE AND TURNED THE CAR BACK TO US. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Structure, Jul 2, 2014, crash
I WAS TURNING LEFT ON AN ARROW AND A CAR RAN THE RED LIGHT RESULTING IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ME, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 3MPH AND HE WAS DRIVING 45MPH. HIS CAR WAS TOTALLED, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND ON FIRE. I HAD FRONT END DAMAGE AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT LOCK UP. AS A RESULT I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY KNEE AND MY ANKLE GOT LACERATED AND BLUNT TRAUMA FROM THE BRAKE/ACCELARTATION PEDAL. *TR