2014 Subaru Forester problems and recalls

Owners have filed 403 complaints on the 2014 Subaru Forester, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Suspension (94 complaints).

403
Complaints
2
Recalls
48
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
28
Injuries
98.4
Severity index

Severity index 98.4 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 98.4p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 23 of 139 by severity index among 2014 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 83% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2014 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

SuspensionSuspension: 94 complaints (23.3%)94 23%EngineEngine: 69 complaints (17.1%)69 17%Air BagsAir Bags: 57 complaints (14.1%)57 14%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 44 complaints (10.9%)44 11%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 42 complaints (10.4%)42 10%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 42 complaints (10.4%)42 10%Power TrainPower Train: 41 complaints (10.2%)41 10%Service BrakesService Brakes: 31 complaints (7.7%)31 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
SUSPENSION9423.3%
ENGINE6917.1%
AIR BAGS5714.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4410.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4210.4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4210.4%
POWER TRAIN4110.2%
SERVICE BRAKES317.7%

Complaints filed per year

0551102013: 42014: 352015: 192016: 222017: 292018: 302019: 1102020: 572021: 322022: 142023: 182024: 172025: 132026: 3 (partial year)1314151617181911020212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20134
201435
201519
201622
201729
201830
2019110
202057
202132
202214
202318
202417
202513
2026 (year to date)3
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (48 against 103).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V14900028/02/2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHSubaru 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 malf
13V15900024/04/2013EQUIPMENTSubaru 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.

Other Subaru Forester model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.