CarBrief

NHTSA has 403 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Forester, and suspension, engine and air bag reports lead the list[1][2][3][4]. It also earned 5 stars overall in NHTSA crash testing[5].

403owner complaints[1]
2recalls[6]
24–27MPG combined (EPA)[7]
5★NHTSA overall rating[5]

Most reported problems

Owners filed 403 complaints with NHTSA[1]. Of those, 48 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 28 an injury[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, one complaint can name several parts, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Component group Complaints Crashes Injuries Median miles at failure
Suspension[2] 94 1 0 55,282
Engine[3] 72 4 1 35,821
Air bags[4] 57 9 6 85,500
Unknown or other[8] 44 5 2 48,000
Speed control[9] 42 25 13 27,500
Electrical system[10] 42 4 1 61,222
Power train[11] 41 7 3 64,611
Brakes[12] 31 11 9 41,870

We also read a small sample of the complaint texts. The themes below come from that sample only, so they show what owners describe and not how common a problem is.

Suspension[2]. In the sample, owners describe a rear coil spring breaking in 4 of 12 texts. Another 3 of 12 describe the rear end swaying or veering at highway speed, though two of those texts look identical[2]. The group has the most complaints but only 1 crash[2].

Engine[3]. Owners describe stalling or a sudden loss of power with warning lights in 5 of 12 sampled texts. Long cranking or hard starting, mostly when cold, appears in 3 of 12[3]. Oil running low, or being overfilled and then topped up between changes, appears in 2 of 12[3]. The engine group has 2 fires, the most of any group[3].

Air bags[4]. In 8 of 12 sampled texts, owners describe the passenger air bag being switched off or a warning light coming on, as if the seat sensor does not detect a passenger. Three of those texts look identical. In 3 of 12, owners say the air bags did not deploy in a crash[4]. This group has 9 crashes and 6 injuries[4].

Speed control[9]. The group has 42 complaints but 25 crashes and 13 injuries. In 7 of 12 sampled texts, owners describe the car lurching or surging forward at low speed, often while parking, and sometimes hitting something[9]. Two of 12 describe a driver-assist cruise or braking system that did not slow for stopped traffic or braked too abruptly[9].

Owners in several texts say the dealer could not find a fault. We cannot judge that from this data.

Recalls

NHTSA lists two recalls for this model year, newest first.

Fuel economy

The EPA lists three versions of the 2014 Forester AWD. The estimated annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Version City / highway / combined MPG Fuel Est. annual fuel cost
2.5L 4-cylinder, Manual 6-spd[15] 22 / 28 / 24 Regular $2,800
2.5L 4-cylinder, Automatic (variable gear ratios)[7] 24 / 31 / 27 Regular $2,500
2.0L 4-cylinder turbo, Automatic (variable gear ratios)[16] 23 / 27 / 25 Premium $3,300

The 2.5L automatic has the best combined rating of the three[7]. The turbo uses premium fuel and has the highest estimated annual cost of the three[16].

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the 2014 Forester 5 stars overall[5]. Frontal crash is 4 stars, side crash is 5 stars and rollover is 4 stars[5]. The rollover risk is 16.9%[5].

Engine and size

The EPA test car list rates the 2.5L 4-cylinder at 170 hp[17] and the 2.0L 4-cylinder at 250 hp[18].

Size comes from Transport Canada specifications, so these are Canadian-market figures and can differ slightly from US models[19][20].

Measure 2.5i 2.0XT
Length[20][19] 181 in 181 in
Width 71 in 71 in
Height 69 in 69 in
Wheelbase 104 in 104 in
Curb weight 3,417 lb 3,677 lb

How 2014 compares with other years

1998: 101 complaints, 1 recalls19981999: 131 complaints, 1 recalls2000: 75 complaints, 0 recalls2001: 139 complaints, 0 recalls20012002: 88 complaints, 1 recalls2003: 189 complaints, 3 recalls2004: 219 complaints, 2 recalls20042005: 93 complaints, 1 recalls2006: 88 complaints, 2 recalls2007: 74 complaints, 1 recalls20072008: 50 complaints, 1 recalls2009: 178 complaints, 17 recalls2010: 262 complaints, 17 recalls20102011: 147 complaints, 16 recalls2012: 105 complaints, 15 recalls2013: 78 complaints, 12 recalls20132014: 403 complaints, 2 recalls40320142015: 615 complaints, 3 recalls2016: 415 complaints, 3 recalls20162017: 592 complaints, 1 recalls2018: 498 complaints, 3 recalls2019: 834 complaints, 3 recalls20192020: 603 complaints, 0 recalls2021: 210 complaints, 0 recalls2022: 100 complaints, 1 recalls20222023: 74 complaints, 1 recalls2024: 31 complaints, 2 recalls2025: 98 complaints, 4 recalls20252026: 29 complaints, 4 recalls
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Forester model year. The 2014 is highlighted[6].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19981011
19991311
2000750
20011390
2002881
20031893
20042192
2005931
2006882
2007741
2008501
200917817
201026217
201114716
201210515
20137812
20144032
20156153
20164153
20175921
20184983
20198343
20206030
20212100
20221001
2023741
2024312
2025984
2026294

NHTSA has 403 complaints for 2014[1]. Every earlier model year has fewer, and the highest of those is 262 for 2010[6]. Six later years have more: 2015 (615), 2016 (415), 2017 (592), 2018 (498), 2019 (834) and 2020 (603)[6].

Recalls go the other way. The 2014 model year has 2, while 2009 to 2013 have 17, 17, 16, 15 and 12[6]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat these as a rough guide within the same model.

Should you buy a used 2014 Forester?

The record is mixed. The 5-star overall rating and the two recalls with free fixes are reassuring points[5][13][14]. On the other side, complaints are higher than for any earlier year, with suspension, engine and air bag reports leading[6][2][3][4]. Speed control complaints are fewer in number but carry 25 crashes[9]. Before buying, check the VIN for open recalls, ask whether the brake light switch and floor mat work were done, and have a mechanic look at the rear springs and the passenger air bag warning light, though our data cannot say how any one car has been treated or maintained.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Subaru Forester?
Suspension has the most NHTSA complaints at 94, followed by engine at 72 and air bags at 57[2][3][4]. In the complaint texts we read, owners describe rear spring breaks, stalling, and a passenger air bag that switches off[2][3][4].
Does the 2014 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes, two. One covers a brake light switch that can fail, and the other covers floor mats that can curl and reach the pedals. Dealers replace the part free in both cases[13][14].
What is the gas mileage of the 2014 Subaru Forester?
The EPA combined rating is 24 MPG for the 2.5L manual, 27 MPG for the 2.5L automatic and 25 MPG for the 2.0L turbo automatic[15][7][16].
How safe is the 2014 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA rates it 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for frontal crash and rollover and 5 stars for side crash[5].
Is 2014 a bad year for the Subaru Forester?
It has 403 complaints, more than any earlier year but fewer than six later years, and only 2 recalls[6]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so they are only a rough guide[6].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 403 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Subaru Forester (48 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 28 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 94 complaints name the suspension component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 55,282). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. 72 complaints name the engine component group (4 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 35,821). NHTSA vehicle records
  4. 57 complaints name the air bags component group (9 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 85,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  5. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  6. Owner complaints and recalls for every Subaru Forester model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  7. EPA rating for Forester AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 31 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  8. 44 complaints name the unknown or other component group (5 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 48,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 42 complaints name the speed control component group (25 crashes, 0 fires, 13 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 42 complaints name the electrical system component group (4 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 61,222). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 41 complaints name the power train component group (7 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 64,611). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 31 complaints name the brakes component group (11 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, median mileage at failure 41,870). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 19V149, filed February 28, 2019: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 13V159, filed April 24, 2013: Equipment. NHTSA recall database
  15. EPA rating for Forester AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 28 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. EPA rating for Forester AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 27 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA Test Car List, 2014 Subaru Forester with 2.5L 4-cylinder: rated 170 hp. www.epa.gov
  18. EPA Test Car List, 2014 Subaru Forester with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 250 hp. www.epa.gov
  19. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FORESTER 4DR SUV 2.0XT: length 181 in, width 71 in, height 69 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,677 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  20. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FORESTER 4DR SUV 2.5i: length 181 in, width 71 in, height 69 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,417 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.