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Subaru · NHTSA safety record

2014 Subaru Forester

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

403

Complaints

48

Crashes

3

Fires

28

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2014 Subaru Forester have filed 403 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2013 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the suspension, named in 94 of them (23%). The typical failure was reported at 53,500 miles, the median across the 298 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

19V149000 · February 28, 2019

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 1,303,530 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

13V159000 · April 24, 2013

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 10,137 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 403.

SUSPENSION 94 23%
ENGINE 69 17%
AIR BAGS 57 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 44 11%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 42 10%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 42 10%
POWER TRAIN 41 10%
SERVICE BRAKES 31 8%
STRUCTURE 27 7%
STEERING 16 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 15 4%
SEATS 14 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 110.

2013 2019 2026
2013 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

5 injured · crash · towed

I was driving my 2014 Subaru Forester (about 148,000 miles) behind a minivan at a safe distance and speed. Without warning, my vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. Despite applying the brakes, shifting into low gear, and using the emergency brake, I was unable to slow it down. After impact, the car then hit a telephone pole, spun me around and rolled the car over. There is major damage to the car and we looked at it at the tow yard but the salvage adjuster is moving it shortly.

NHTSA complaint 11700275. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

2 injured · crash · towed

September 6,2018 the vehicle suddenly unintentionally accelerated. Came off the highway.Pulled in to a parking lot to turn around. Reaching for the shifter with my foot on the brake. The vehicle went 42mph in less than four feet, a woman was directly in the front center of vehicle when a loud roar happened. The woman jumped out of the way. As the 2014 Subaru Forester shot forward hitting a suburban and then bounced off a fence to stop in the road next to us. Had to fight to get towed to Gresham Subaru. Pulled dtcs and box information.Subaru denies SUA, has a recall on BLS. No airbag deployed, brakes did not work. Skid marks and chunks of tires.

NHTSA complaint 11436859. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 103,000 miles

The contact owned a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, a vehicle coming from oncoming traffic was attempting to make a left, causing the contact to crash into that oncoming vehicle. The contact mentioned that during the impact, the front passenger side wheel was pushed into the radiator. The contact spouse sustained injuries, and medical attention was provided, and the contact was taken to the local emergency room. The contact stated that the steering wheel and the knee air bags were deployed during the incident, which caused the contact to be injured. The contact sustained an upper chest injury and contusions to both of their legs, and the contact's left

NHTSA complaint 11656114, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

2 injured · crash · 7,000 miles

JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT, FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR SURGED. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10626370. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

119,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while his wife was driving and stopped in traffic, the steering wheel locked up. The contact stated the steering wheel warning light illuminated and the vehicle was towed. The dealer was contacted and notified of the failure, and the failure was diagnosed with rack and pinion and electrical power steering failures. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure after the repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

NHTSA complaint 11743796. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

166,000 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Subaru Forester on March 5, 2026. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 77,000. At the time of the registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 166,000.

NHTSA complaint 11726313. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

crash · towed

Unintended acceleration while parking /braking in front of a Verizon store leading to crash into store

NHTSA complaint 11726163. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On 5/15/2024 and 5/21/2024 I had sudden uninteded acceleration. I had a auto shop try to solve the problem by replacing the air fuel ratio sensor and the mass air flow sensor. This seem to fix the issue until 11/27/2025 & 12/7/2025 when the sudden uninteded acceleration returned.

NHTSA complaint 11703583. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
LOW CONTRL ARM BUSHINGS DISTROYED,LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATION UNDER THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint 11696927. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Subaru Forester

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 15 3 —
2025 88 3 1
2024 29 2 —
2023 73 1 —
2022 95 1 —
2021 207 0 —
2020 595 0 —
2019 831 3 1
2018 491 3 —
2017 581 1 —
2016 409 3 —
2015 613 3 —
2013 77 12 —
2012 105 15 —
2011 147 16 —
2010 262 17 —

Other 2014 Subaru models

Outback 208 Impreza 108 XV Crosstrek 81 Legacy 53 Crosstrek 16

Every Subaru on this site — 97 vehicles, 147 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst