UsedScore

2014 Subaru Forester: Solid

Owners filed 128 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Subaru Forester in its first five years on the road, about 85 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Forester year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is speed control (21% of complaints, median 12,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.9×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Forester year
Rank
5th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
128
first five years; 85 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
2
campaigns
4th generation, 2014–2018 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i (U.S.-spec, photographed in the Netherlands)

Photo: 2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i (U.S.-spec, photographed in the Netherlands) · Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Speed control21% · 27 complaints · median 12,000 miles
  2. Engine27% · 35 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  3. Brakes12% · 15 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  4. Body and structure8% · 10 complaints · median 6,000 miles
  5. Fuel and propulsion8% · 10 complaints · median 9,000 miles
  6. Powertrain12% · 15 complaints · median 11,000 miles
  7. Electrical13% · 17 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  8. Air bags7% · 9 complaints · median 26,000 miles
  9. Suspension9% · 12 complaints · median 39,000 miles
  10. Steering5% · 6 complaints · median 21,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Brakes

Owners of this Forester describe brake and related warning-light problems ranging from sudden loss of stopping power to unintended acceleration while braking. Some report rusted or leaking brake lines, pedal switch failures, or persistent ABS/hill-assist warnings that dealers sometimes fixed and sometimes could not reproduce.

Warning signs:
Many mention dashboard warnings (ABS, hill start assist, vehicle dynamics control), a spongy or unresponsive pedal, low brake fluid lights, or a howling noise from the rear wheels before the failure.
What shops did:
Dealers have replaced brake light switches, backing plates, clock springs, or brake lines, though some owners say the issue could not be duplicated or was not repaired.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 70,000 miles, among 24 complaints that give it

“The stop light switch failed which rendered the car inoperable due to not being able to move from park.”

“Made a howling noise at low speeds.”

Engine

Owners describe their Foresters using large amounts of oil between changes and, in some cases, sudden stalling or power loss while driving. Repairs range from oil consumption tests and seal or piston ring replacement to full engine or short block replacement, though many say dealers couldn't fully resolve the issue.

Warning signs:
Many report the low oil or check engine light illuminating, rough idling, hesitation, warning lights on the dash, or sudden loss of acceleration before the failure.
What shops did:
Dealers often ran oil consumption tests, sometimes replaced piston rings, seals, short blocks or entire engines, and in many cases could not duplicate or resolve the problem.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 80,000 miles, among 54 complaints that give it

“Car engine consumes unreasonable amounts of oil during use requiring constant monitoring to avoid engine failure.”

“2014 subaru forester stopped running while driving down the freeway at 70 miles an hour. Engine just quite running.”

Speed control

Owners describe their Foresters suddenly accelerating on their own, often while parking or shifting, sometimes crashing into walls, poles, or other vehicles despite braking. Many say dealers found nothing wrong, leaving them uncertain about what caused the surges.

Warning signs:
Many report the car lurching or surging forward or in reverse right after braking or shifting, sometimes with warning lights, hesitation, or a 'hop' when the brake is applied.
What shops did:
Some owners say dealers could not duplicate or diagnose the problem, while a few report parts were cleaned, connections tightened, or software checked without a clear resolution.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 45,000 miles, among 30 complaints that give it

“As I started to take foot off the brake car sped foward(forcing me to slam on the brakes)”

“When switching from the brake to the accelerator, the vehicle surges forward”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (2)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 19V149000February 20191,303,530 vehicles

    Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

    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.

    Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 13V159000April 201310,137 vehicles

    Equipment

    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.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace each of the vehicle's four (4) carpeted floor mats with new ones.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Subaru sent NHTSA 632 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2014 Forester. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 02-193-24R · June 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g.
  • 15-300-22R · January 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
  • 09-74-21R · December 2025This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g.
  • 18-226-25R · December 2025This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
  • 07-235-25 · September 2025In the interest of customer satisfaction Subaru of America, Inc.
  • Subaru Service Technical · August 2025Subaru Service Technical Support Newsletter special edition.
  • 02-192-24R · April 2025This Bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines.
  • 09-51-08R · March 2025The purpose of this bulletin is to advise of SOA’s revised Catalytic Converter Recycling Program shipping procedure.

All 2014 Forester bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2014 Subaru Forester reliable?
Owners filed 128 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Subaru Forester in its first five years on the road, about 85 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Forester year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Forester years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2014 Forester problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve speed control (21%), the engine (27%) and the brakes (12%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2014 Subaru Forester been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2014 Subaru Forester, the most recent in February 2019 (exterior lighting). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. The 2014 Subaru Forester on NHTSA.gov · How we rate