NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 403 owner complaints for the 2014 Subaru Forester.
Recalled components: exterior lighting and equipment. Most-described problem: suspension part problems (83 complaints, 21%). Most-reported area: suspension (94 complaints, 23%; median mileage when it happened: 55,600).
Fewer complaints than a typical Forester year
The 2014 drew 80 owner complaints in its first three years, against 164 for a typical Forester year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2019 and 2020; best years: 2016, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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. (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.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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 is recalling certain model year 2014 Forester vehicles manufactured from January 2013 through March 2013.
NHTSA listing: FORESTER. Subaru campaign WQH-44.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2014 Subaru Forester.
What owners report
Owners have filed 403 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Forester. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Suspension parts (struts, ball joints, control arms)83 · 21%
Median 56,100 miles at failure, from 74 reports with mileage
Rust or corrosion32 · 8%
Median 59,500 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Unintended acceleration or surging27 · 7%
Median 34,500 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Excessive oil consumption26 · 6%
Median 40,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Median 55,600 miles at failure, from 81 reports with mileage
Engine69 · 17%
Median 36,600 miles at failure, from 51 reports with mileage
Air bags57 · 14%
Most named: sensor, occupant classification (8); sensor, occupant classification, front passenger (5) · Median 75,000 miles at failure, from 33 reports with mileage
Electrical system42 · 10%
Median 61,200 miles at failure, from 33 reports with mileage
Speed control42 · 10%
Median 27,500 miles at failure, from 30 reports with mileage
Powertrain41 · 10%
Median 64,600 miles at failure, from 24 reports with mileage
Brakes31 · 8%
Median 41,900 miles at failure, from 21 reports with mileage
Unknown or other44 · 11%
Median 48,000 miles at failure, from 29 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Subaru Forester recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2014 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Forester drew the most (525) and the 2014 drew 80.
Owner complaints
2014: 403 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Subaru Forester
Model year
Complaints
2010
262
2011
147
2012
105
2013
77
2014
403
2015
614
2016
414
2017
587
2018
495
2019
833
2020
601
2021
207
2022
98
2023
73
2024
29
2025
95
2026
22
Safety recalls
2014: 2 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Subaru Forester
Model year
Recalls
2010
17
2011
16
2012
15
2013
12
2014
2
2015
3
2016
3
2017
1
2018
3
2019
3
2020
0
2021
0
2022
1
2023
1
2024
2
2025
4
2026
3
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 403 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Subaru Forester, the problems described most are suspension part problems (83), rust or corrosion (32), and unintended acceleration or surging (27). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2014 Subaru Forester safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2014 Subaru Forester earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2014 Subaru Forester?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2014 Subaru Forester.
How do I check if my Forester has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Subaru dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: FORESTER.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.