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: suspension
94 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Jul 22, 2019
MY 2014 SUBARU FORRESTER WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN A VERY LOUD SOUND OCCURRED. THE REAR, DRIVER COIL SPRING BROKE AND THREE PIECES OF METAL WERE ON THE FLOOR. THE CAR BODY DROPPED AND THE TIRE WAS ALMOST HITTING THE WHEEL WELL. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR THE COIL SPRING BROKE. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 2014 FORRESTER COIL SPRINGS. THEY WERE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE BUT SUBARU WAS NOT HELPFUL IN COVERING ANY OF THE REPLACEMENT COSTS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Suspension, Jul 18, 2019
THE RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION ON THE CAR COLLAPSED SOMETIME BETWEEN 6/29/19 AND 7/4/19. WE DID NOT PUT WEIGHT ON THE CAR. THE COIL SPRING JUST SHEARED SOMEHOW. THE CAR HAS 76K MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN IN MI FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW THIS HAPPENED, AND WE ARE FRANKLY PUZZLED TOO. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T61866_DS789686
Suspension, Jul 16, 2019
REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPRING COIL WAS BROKEN I DON'T KNOW WHEN. MY MECHANIC SAW IT WHEN SHE WAS REPLACING MY BREAKS. EVERY PERSON I SPOKE TO ABOUT THIS SAID IT HAD NEVER HAPPENED TO THEM, EVEN WITH CARS THEY BASICALLY RAN INTO THE GROUND, LET ALONE A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2014 FORESTERS ON NHTSA SEEMED TO BE ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, SINCE MOST GARAGES DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS NEEDED, AND I WAS HOPING THAT SUBARU WOULD PAY SINCE THEY SEEMED TO USE SHODDY STEAL ON THE SPRINGS THAT RUSTED PREMATURELY. SUBARU OF WAKEFIELD IN MA GAVE ME THE BEST DEAL OF ANY IN MA THAT I TALKED TO, I PAY FOR ONE SIDE ($750 FOR WHEEL BEARINGS, STRUT AND COIL) AND SUBARU PAID FOR THE OTHER. MAKE SURE TO MENTION ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON NHSTA THAT SEEMED TO HELP ME GET THIS DEAL.
Suspension, Jul 15, 2019
REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IT BROKE IN THE SAME SPOT AS SO MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED RECENTLY, HAVING COMPLETELY RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT IN A SMALL SPOT ON THE BOTTOM. UNACCEPTABLE TO HAPPEN WITH A 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE AND VERY, VERY DANGEROUS AS THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND/OR A TIRE BLOWOUT FROM THE SPRING BREAKING. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART ON THE 2014 SUBARU FORESTER AND REALLY SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.
Suspension, Jul 9, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. THIS DIDN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AT LEAST NOT IN A WHAT THAT WAS NOTICEABLE. I WALKED OUT OF WORK AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WAS SITTING A COUPLE INCHES LOWER THAN IT SHOULD. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY FOUND THAT ONE OF THE COILS OF THE SPRING HAD SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SAGGING.
Suspension, Jul 9, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT FLAT ROAD, THE TWO REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. THE BROKEN SPRINGS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY LOSE RIDE HEIGHT AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. SEARCHING ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS SHOWED THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS MODEL YEARS 2014-2016 HAVE HAD SIMILAR REAR COIL SPRING FAILURES. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAD SEEN ENOUGH SIMILAR FAILURES THAT HE EXPECTED A RECALL.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Jul 9, 2019
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.
Suspension, Jun 26, 2019
I HAVE KEPT UP WITH MY CAR AND SERVICED IT WHEN SUGGESTED. I TOOK MY 2014 FORRESTER IN FOR A 67.5K MILE CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH REAR SPRING COILS BROKE OFF WHILE ON THE LIFT. WHEN SHOWN THE BROKEN COIL, THE PLASTIC WAS DETERIORATED AND THE COIL RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS MY 5TH SUBARU, THE 4 OLDER MODELS HAVE HAD WELL OVER 150K MILES - TWO ARE STILL ON THE ROAD, AND NONE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. I ALSO FIND IT STRANGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP QUICKLY OFFERED TO REPLACE THEM "UNDER WARRANTY" WHEN MY CAR IS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. ALMOST LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER UP SOMETHING. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS LISTED AND WANTED TO FURTHER VERIFY THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU.
Suspension, Jun 20, 2019
DRIVERS SIDE REAR DAMPER SPRING BROKEN APPROXIMATELY 1/2 COIL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DAMPER. THIS APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 INCH PIECE OF SPRING WAS RUSTED IN THE AREA OF THE BREAK, RESTING ON THE LOWER DAMPER "HAT". THE BREAK WAS COMPLETE. THIS SHARP PIECE WAS EASILY LIFTED OFF THE DAMPER. THE SPRING DISPLAYED PEELED PAINT AN RUST ON SEVERAL LOCATIONS. FOUND AT AROUND 46,000 MILES ONLY UPON INSPECTION WHILE REPLACING BRAKES. UNSURE OF ANY SPECIFIC TIME OF BREAKAGE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT 30,000 MILES. NO REMARKS ABOUT THE DAMPER SPRING. DEALER AND SUBARU CORPORATE REPLACED THE SPRING.
Suspension, Jun 5, 2019
REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, THE OTHER REAR COIL SPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST DAMAGE.
Suspension, Jun 5, 2019
LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR SAT IN DRIVEWAY.
Suspension, May 28, 2019
THE RIGHT REAR SPRING RUSTED OUT, BROKE AND ULTIMATELY DROPPED DOWN SO IT WAS HANGING BELOW THE SUSPENSION MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS HANGING LOW ON THE RIGHT REAR QUADRANT. A BODY SHOP TECHNICIAN NOTICED THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE SPRING BROKE OR DROPPED DOWN. ONCE THIS WAS DETECTED, I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO MY MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE IMMEDIATELY AT THE NON-SUBARU SHOP THAT I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS NEW TO THE 2014 FORESTER MODELS AND APPEARS TO BE FAULTY TO CAUSE THE SPRING TO RUST DUE TO THE DESIGN. HE INDICATED IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, SO WE BELIEVE IT DROPPED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. MY VEHICLE IS AT ONLY 72K MILES, AND IS 5 YEARS OLD. I HAVE POSSESSION OF THE RUSTED SPRING, BUT AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD PICTURES AT THIS TIME. I CAN EMAIL THEM IF YOU PROVIDE ME AN ADDRESS TO SEND TO.
Suspension, May 21, 2019
GARAGE KEPT AUTOMOBILE WITH LESS THAN 18,000 MILES, NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD. THE BOTTOM OF BOTH REAR STRUT SPRINGS UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING VEHICLE TO DROP AFFECTING STEERING AND STABILITY. APPARENT CAUSE: DEFECTIVE PART FAILED DUE TO PREMATURE RUSTING CAUSING
Steering, Suspension, Power train, May 17, 2019
THE STEERING WHEEL "LEATHER" COATING HAS BEEN DISINTEGRATING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. THE SUBARU SERVICE SAID IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2014 SUBARU FOREST. & SHOULD BE RECALLED. EVENTUALLY, THE UNDERCOAT FOAM MATERIAL WILL ALSO DISINTEGRATE, HE SAID. ALSO, BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUSHINGS,BAND DRIVE, (SOMETHING LIKE A DRIVE SHAFT), STRUT & AXEL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 69K MILES. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT OR HIT ANYTHING. SUBARU PAID FOR FAILED CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CAR!
Suspension, May 15, 2019
ON MAY 13,2019 I PULLED THE CAR INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PARKED THE CAR BEHIND THE HOUSE. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS A BANG ON THE RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) OF THE CAR. UPON INSPECTION ON THE GROUND WERE TWO PIECES OF THE COIL SPRING. THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE HEIGHT OF THE CAR. THE FOLLOWING DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP. THEY ARE REPLACING BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS.
Suspension, May 13, 2019
THE BOTTOM COIL OF THE REAR SPRING BROKE. THE METAL SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON A DRIVEWAY AND WE HEARD A POP. WE STOPPED AND FOUND THE BROKEN COIL ON THE GROUND.
Suspension, May 10, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING HOISTED ON THE LIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MITCHELL SUBARU (71 ALBANY TURNPIKE, CANTON, CT 06019 (860) 693-7723) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,235.
Suspension, May 9, 2019
MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 42,879 MILES WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. I NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LOOKED VERY LOW OVER THE TIRE. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, THERE WAS A SEMI-CIRCLE PIECE OF METAL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD LAST BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT TWO DAYS BEFORE. I JUST HAD THE FORESTER IN MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A NYS INSPECTION AND TO REMEDY ONE RECALL REGARDING BRAKE LIGHTS ONE WEEK PRIOR. UPON A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY, MANY OWNERS REPORTING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON 2014-2015 SUBARU FORESTERS. THE CAR IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN AROUND TOWN IN A SUBURBAN, PAVED AREA AND PARKED IN A PAVED DRIVEWAY.
Suspension, May 9, 2019
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS PREMATURELY FAIL IN THE 2014 AND 2015 MODELS. THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND IS NOW IN A NATIONAL SHORTAGE. THIS SPRING CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND PUNCTURE A TIRE. MY INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY WITHOUT TIRE DAMAGE.
Suspension, May 6, 2019
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN . THE LOWEST COIL HAS SNAPPED OFF EACH SPRING AND THE LEFT REAR SPRING HAS FALLEN OUT OF THE LOWER PAD SO IT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL AT ALL ONE SPRING MAY HAVE FAILED EARLIER, BUT THE LEFT FAILURE MADE THE PROBLEM APPARENT.
Suspension, Apr 24, 2019
WENT IN FOR STATE INSPECTION AND MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 28000 MILES WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BROKEN COIL SPRING. GOT IT FIXED, BUT I WAS VERY SURPRISED. MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND I ONLY DRIVE CITY STREETS. GOGGLED THE TOPIC AND FOUND THAT OTHER SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND RELATED EARLY CORROSION. HOPING YOU CAN LOOK INTO THE ISSUE AS THIS COULD HAPPEN ON OTHER WHEELS. THANKS.
Suspension, Apr 22, 2019
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 AROUND 7:00PM. I MADE A LEFT RUN AND HEARD A POP. THE CAR BECAME SQUIRRELLY. I PULLED OVER AT NAPA AND CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND DESCRIBED WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE ASKED ME IF THE CAR WAS LEANING TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I SAID YES. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY A BAD SPRING OR STRUT. WHEN I GOT HOME, I JACKED UP THE CAR AND REMOVED THE TIRE. THE RIGHT SPRING WAS BROKEN AND FELL OFF OF THE STRUT. SATURDAY APRIL 20, 2019 I GOT 4 QUOTES FROM TOM WOOD SUBARU. ONE FOR SPRINGS ($120 X2). ONE FOR THE STRUTS ($191). ONE FOR ALL THE HARDWARE NEEDED ($770). LASTLY, WHAT TOM WOOD SUBARU WOULD CHARGE TO DO THE JOB (AROUND $1100). THE SAID THEY WERE BOOKED FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS WITH AIRBAG RECALLS. I WASN'T SURE IF I LOST ANY PARTS SO I LOOKED AT THE LEFT REAR SIDES A REFERENCE. TO MY SURPRISE, THAT SPRING WAS ALSO COMPLETELY BROKEN BUT HADN'T SNAPPED OFF THE STRUT YET. THIS SEEMS LIKE DEFECTIVE SPRINGS. THE CAR HAS 54,448 MILES AND HAS NOT CARRIED A LOT OF WEIGHT OR BEEN DRIVEN HARD. IN MY 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR BREAK A SPRING, LET ALONE HAVE 2 BROKEN SPRINGS. I WAS REALLY GLAD I WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE BACK END WAS VERY UNSTABLE. IT DRIFTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE ERRATICALLY. THIS DEFECT RISKED MY SAFETY AND THOSE AROUND ME. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I DIDN'T HAVE A CAR AND HAD TO HAVE MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAD TO PICK ME UP TO GO TO EASTER SERVICE. THIS ORDEAL HAS BEEN VERY STRESSFUL.
Suspension, Apr 22, 2019
I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED IN MY PAVED APARTMENT COMPLEX ROAD WHEN I HEARD A LOUD METALLIC PING. I THOUGHT I HAD JUST THROWN A ROCK OR SOMETHING. BUT THE NEXT DAY MY CAR WAS MAKING SQUEAKING NOISES WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROADS AND OVER SPEED BUMPS AND SEEMED MORE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE WHEN DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO FIND THAT THE RIGHT REAR SPRING HAD SHEARED AND THAT BOTH BACK SPRING WERE BADLY RUSTED. I ONLY HAD JUST OVER 21,000 MILES AND DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD OR DO ANY TOWING. BOTH SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED FAR TOO SOON IN THE LIFE OF CAR -- I BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT GIVEN HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE I'VE HEARD HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. REPAIR BILL WAS ~$780. SUBARU DID REIMBURSE A GOOD PORTION AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE - ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE.
Suspension, Apr 21, 2019
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON APRIL 19, 2019. I MADE A LEFT TURN AND HEARD A POP. THE CAR BECAME SQUIRRELLY. I CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND HE ASKED IF THE CAR LEANED TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I SAID YES. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY A BAD SPRING OR STRUT. WHEN I GOT HOME I JACKED UP THE CAR AND THE RIGHT REAR SPRING WAS BROKEN. I GOT 3 QUOTES FROM TOM WOOD SUBARU. ONE FOR SPRINGS. ONE FOR STRUTS AND HARDWARE. THE LAST WAS FOR TOM WOOD TO FIX IT. I WASN'T SURE IF I LOST ANY PARTS SO I LOOKED AT THE LEFT REAR SIDE. TO MY SURPRISE, THAT SPRING WAS ALSO COMPLETELY BROKEN BUT HASN'T SNAPPED OFF THE STRUT YET. THIS SEEMS LIKE DEFECTIVE SPRINGS. THE CAR HAD 54,448 MILES AND HAS NOT CARRIED A LOT OF WEIGHT. IN MY 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR BREAK A SPRING, LET ALONE HAVE 2 BROKEN SPRINGS.
Suspension, Power train, Apr 16, 2019
1) CVT VALVE KIT DAMAGED (3 YEARS OLD) 2) BUT MAIN REASON FOR THIS COMPLIANT IS REAR COILS BREAKING, I DO NOT KNOW BUT THEY HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME CAUSING REAR BEARINGS AND REAR SHOCKS DAMAGE. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND EVERYONE W/ 2014 THRU 2015 FORESTERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AT ANY MILEAGE. TOLD DEALER AND THEY SAID SUBARU KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL? THE AVERAGE PERSON WILL NOT REALIZE THEIR COILS COULD BE BROKEN LIKE ME UNTIL BEARINGS AND SHOCKS FAIL ..... THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR ISSUE TO ME?