2014 Subaru Forester Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER, I RAN OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND HEARD A LOUD 'BANG'. I STOPPED TO CHECK IF I HAPPENED TO HIT SOMETHING AND THE REAR OF MY FORESTER WAS COMPLETELY BOTTOMED OUT AS IF IT WAS OVERLOADED. WHILE AT THE GARAGE, THE MECHANIC RAISED MY CAR UP ON THE LIFT AND PULLED OUT PIECES OF THE COIL SPRINGS THAT SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY. THE COST OF TWO NEW COIL SPRINGS WAS $160.00 AND IT TOOK THE GARAGE 3 HOURS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. MY CAR DOES HAVE 126K MILES AND THE SPRINGS HAD SLIGHT CORROSION BUT WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY RUSTED. HOWEVER, WHILE LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR FORESTERS AND A LOT WITH SIGNIFICANTLY LESS MILES THAN MINE. I DO NOT HAVE PHOTOS OF THE COIL SPRINGS I WILL ATTACH THE TWO PHOTOS I TOOK BEFORE THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE GARAGE.

AT APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES, ON MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY SECOND REAR COIL SPRING FAILURE. THE FIRST, ON THE RIGHT REAR, OCCURRED AS I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE A PIECE OF THIS COIL SPRING IN MY POSSESSION AND CLEARLY SHOWS METAL FATIGUE/STRESS FAILURE. THE SECOND, ON THE LEFT REAR, I BELIEVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. AS I NOTICE THE CAR TILTING AGAIN AS I WENT TO REENTER IT AND LOOKED UNDER AND COULD SEE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SPRING. IT WAS TOWED TO STOHLMAN SUBARU OF TYSONS AT 8435 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THE LEFT REAR SPRING IS BROKEN AND THEY ARE REPLACING IT. I HAVE CALLED SUBARU AND UP RECEIVING DOCUMENTATION OF REPAIRS, THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME. HOWEVER, I NOTICE FROM DOING A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM AND OFTEN LEADS TO FAILED REAR STRUTS. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THE FORESTERS TO REPLACE THE COIL SPRINGS, REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS, AND PROVIDE US WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES FOR THE FULL REAR SUSPENSION.

DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY. CAR SUDDENLY NO LONGER RESPONSIVE TO ACCELERATOR AND SPEED DROPS. RECOVERED IN A FEW SECONDS. DEALER EXAMINED AND STATES IT WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE CONDITION IN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED 6 MONTHS EARLIER DUE TO RECALL. DEALER STATES CAR WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE. SWITCH CONDITION RESOLVED WITHOUT REPLACEMENT ACCORDING TO DEALER.

2014 SUBARU FORESTER WITH DEFECTIVE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WITH WARNING SIGN "SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED". THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL SHOW THAT IT IS "OFF" WITH A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHILE THE CAR IS IN PARK AND IN MOTION. SOMETIMES, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL SHOW THAT IT IS "ON" WITH NO ONE OR NOTHING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST MONTH, BUT HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT PROBLEM FOR THE PAST WEEK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEIR SCAN TOOL SHOWS A CODE FOR "OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR MATT" FAILURE. THEY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BOTTOM FOR $900. THEY REPORTED THAT "A LOT OF FORESTERS" HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE. THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR THIS, BUT IS CLEARLY A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. ALL OTHER SAFETY RECALLS ARE UP TO DATE WITH MY VEHICLE, AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS OR ISSUES WITH MY CAR. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CONCERN JUST RANDOMLY BEGAN RECENTLY.

BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. WENT TO MECHANIC TO FIX BOTH REAR BEARINGS , MECHANIC DISCOVERED BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE CRACKED.

FIRST NOTICE THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BUT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY NOW. STARTED WHEN YOU WOULD HAVE A LOW SPEED HARD LEFT TURN SUCH AS IN A PARKING LOT A/C WOULD STOP WORKING, POWER STEERING WOULD SHUT DOWN AND THEN EVERYTHING WOULD COME BACK TO NORMAL. MORE RECENTLY IT'S BEEN HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE ENGINE QUITS AND USUALLY AFTER A FEW SECONDS EVERYTHING COMES BACK ON. THE OTHER DAY I HAD 4 OR 5 OCCURRENCES WITH IN 7 MILES, THE LAST TIME WAS TURNING ONTO THE STREET I LIVE ON AND IT WAS MID LEFT TURN ALMOST RAN INTO THE STREET SIGN POLE WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I STOP BY A SUBURU DEALER AND THE SERVICE WRITER ACTED AS THOUGH HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT. IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND I HAVE HAD TO MANY ISSUES WITH MY SUBURU.

ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS "THERE'S AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT MAY LOOSEN OVER TIME, ACCORDING TO SUBARU. THAT CONNECTION IS NECESSARY FOR THE DETECTION SYSTEM TO FUNCTION. SUBARU SAYS THAT ONLY CARS EQUIPPED WITH HEATED FRONT SEATS ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL, AS THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES EQUIPPED WITH THE SPECIFIC HARNESS WHERE THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE." THE RECALL IN QUESTION APPLIES TO 2015 SUBARU FORESTERS. HOWEVER,MY 2014 FORESTER IA A MID YEAR MODEL THAT HAS FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS AND SEAT HEATERS.THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDEDED TO THE 2014 MODEL.

PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAULTY. WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER PRESENT IN THE SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL FREQUENTLY TURN OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS CAN SOMETIMES BE RESOLVED BY PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE DOES NOR RELIABLY RESOLVE THE ERROR.

SEPTEMBER, 2019 - I DETECTED A NEW AND DISTINCT SOUND, ALONG WITH AN ODD VIBRATION FEELING IN MY VEHICLE. IT WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE, WITH THE VIBRATION SEEMING TO COME FROM THE AREA UNDER MY FEET AS I DRIVE. IT STARTED AT ABOUT 30- 40 MPH AND DID NOT SUBSIDE, EVEN WHEN I WAS NOT ACCELERATING, OR IF I USED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN SOME. BOTH THE SOUND AND VIBRATION MAINTAINED WHILE I WAS CRUISING AT THAT SPEED OR HIGHER. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HUB WAS BAD. I HAD IT REPLACE IMMEDIATELY. MY VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND THE MILEAGE WAS 79364. ADDITIONAL ON THIS VEHICLE, I JUST RECEIVED SUBARU SERVICE PROGRAM WUT-05, A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR COIL SPRINGS, WHICH I ALSO EXPERIENCED IN MAY, 2019. THIS VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING AT THIS AGE/MILEAGE. THESES ARE SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU.

REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND ACTUALLY SNAPPED. SPRING APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY SO THAT STRESS CRACKS ULTIMATELY RESULT IN FAILURE. MINE BROKE AT THE BOTTOM AND THE PIECE FELL OFF. THIS COULD REALLY BE A PROBLEM TRAVELLING ON THE HIGHWAY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE "SYSTEM OFF" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED WHEN A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MESSAGE INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT ACTIVATED. IN ORDER FOR THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE AND PERFORM AS NEEDED, AN OCCUPANT WOULD HAVE TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH WITHIN THE SEAT AND RESTART THE VEHICLE FOR THE "SYSTEM ON" WARNING MESSAGE TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. LESTER GLENN SUBARU (1501 NJ-37, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08755, (888) 785-0675) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MATTER AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE DISCOVERED A PIECE OF METAL ON GARAGE FLOOR WHICH LOOKED LIKE A PIECE OF A COIL SPRING. LATER FOUND VEHICLE TO HANDLE POORLY. FELT UNSTABLE AND SLAMMED HARD OVER SMALL BUMPS. LATER FIGURED OUT WHAT HAPPENED - REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPRING FAILED. THAT CORNER NOW SITS 2+ INCHES LOWER THAN OPPOSITE SIDE. NOW SITTING ON STRUT BUMP STOPS WITH NO SUSPENSION. VEHICLE FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY OFFERED TO HELP WITH REPAIRS ON A "GOOD WILL" BASIS BUT REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS A KNOWN ISSUE. FOUND INTERNET FORUM WITH DOZENS OF REPORTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SEE: HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T61866_DS789686

BROKEN RIGHT REAR COIL DISCOVERED DURING OIL CHANGE, NO KNOWN CAUSE

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE LEAVING SEVERAL PIECES LYING UNDER THE CAR AND LEAVING THE LEFT REAR END SAGGING SO THAT THE WHEEL WELL BARELY CLEARS THE TIRE. THERE WAS SOME VERY MILD SURFACE RUST ONLY. APPEARS TO BE POOR QUALITY METAL THAT SIMPLY FATIGUED AND BROKE. VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED A TRAILER, CARRIED HEAVY LOADS, DRIVEN OVER ROUGH TERRAIN, ETC. HAS ONLY ABOUT 77K MILES ON IT. QUICK SEARCH ON GOOGLE SHOWS THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON FAILURE ON 2014 AND 2015 SUBARU FORESTERS. DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. IF HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED COULD HAVE HAD DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES. I'VE INCLUDED A PICTURE OF THE PIECES OF THE SPRING THAT WERE LAYING IN MY DRIVEWAY UNDER THE PARKED CAR, AS WELL AS A HORIZONTAL PICK OF THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL DEMONSTRATING THE DIFFERENCE IN CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TIRE AND WHEEL-WELL.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAILGATE STRUT/SUPPORT FAILED JUST AS AUTOMATED CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING AS OWNER WAS REMOVING AN ITEM FROM THE CARGO AREA. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AS THE CARGO DOOR THAT IT WAS SUPPORTING SUDDENLY FELL DOWN. USER GOT A GLANCING BLOW ON THE TOP OF THE HEAD. NO MEDICAL INTERVENTION REQUIRED, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF PERSON WAS MORE IN THE WAY OF THE FALLING CARGO DOOR. PASSENGER SIDE SRUT SUPPORT WAS STILL INTACT, BUT AS DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE DOOR COULD NOT BE FULLY SUPPORTED. TAILGATE STRUT SWUNG OUT AS IT WAS STILL PARTIALLY ATTACHED AS BOLTS ON ONE END DID NOT BECOME LOOSE, BUT PREVENTED DOOR FROM CLOSING ALL THE WAY, AS STRUT WAS HANGING (STUCK) OUT OF CARGO DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS ALSO CAUSED DOOR OPEN LIGHT AND VEHICLE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ON. INSPECTION OF THE FAILED SHOWA BRAND STRUT NUMBER 13I062C REVEALED CORROSION ON THE BLACK TUBE AS WELL AS ON THE END OF THE STRUT THAT BROKE OFF ON IT'S TOP END FROM THE VEHICLE. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED CORROSION ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE STRUT THAT WAS STILL IN PLACE. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT SAFE TO LEAVE REMAINING STRUT ON CAR, AS IT WOULD LIKELY FAIL AS WELL. ULTIMATELY DEALER ORDERED THE NEW PARTS AND INSTALLED THEM. SUBARU OF AMERICA REIMBURSED OWNER FOR REPAIRS AND DEALER HAD OWNER SIGN WAIVER RELEASING SUBARU OF AMERICA FROM ANY PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS AS A RESULT OF THE STRUT FAILURE. VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND WELL-MAINTAINED.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNED OFF. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH MY WIFE'S LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GREAT DANGER.

TAKATA RECALL: THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT RELEASE THE KEY WHEN I TURN OFF THE MOTOR AND PUSH IT IN TO RELEASE THE KEY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I PARK THE CAR, HAVE TURNED OFF THE MOTOR AND PREPARE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE.

2014 SUBARU FORESTER WAS IN SHOP TO REPLALCE BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AND MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT ONE OF THE REAR SPRINGS WAS ALSO BROKEN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2014 FORESTERS, AND A PART THAT SHOULD BREAK THIS EASILY

AIR BAG SOMETIMES DOES NOT DETECT PASSENGER IN SEAT. DEALER HAD FOR THREE DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. BEVAN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO BUT LAST HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

BROKEN REAR STRUT SPRING WITH ONLY 51K MILES ON CAR. UNKNOWN EXACTLY WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT WAS DISCOVERED ON 8/8. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR ROUGH ROAD AREAS.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY LAST NIGHT, I HEARD A LOUD METALLIC BANG BUT COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING OUTSIDE. THIS MORNING I FOUND THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE SAGGING AND A PILE OF PIECES OF MY REAR DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION COIL ON THE GROUND UNDER MY CAR. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN TWO DAYS BEFORE BREAKAGE. THE CRACKED EDGES WHERE THE COIL BROKE ARE QUITE RUSTED, SO THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN DEVELOPING FOR SOME TIME.

VEHICLE WAS IN FOR FRONT AND REAR PADS AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT (AT 30K MILES!) MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A BROKEN REAR COIL SPRING AND SENT ME A PICTURE OF THE BROKEN PIECE. IT WAS HALF OF A COIL THAT HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING. CAR NOW SITS UNEVENLY AND HAS COMPROMISED SUSPENSION AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. FURTHER RESEARCH FINDS MANY COMPLAINS OF EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2014-2015 FORESTERS. NO ONE MAKES REPLACEMENT SPRINGS AND SUBARU DEALERS ARE BACKORDERED WITH NATIONWIDE REPAIRS, LEAVING US NO RECOURSE

REAR COIL SPRING BROKE UNDER 40MHP OVER SMALL BUMP.

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 6" ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL. BOTH FAILED AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS UP ON JACKS AND AS I WAS REMOVING THE BRAKE ROTORS TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND PADS I HEARD A LOUD CRACK FOLLOWED BY THE METAL PARTS LANDING ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CORROSION AT THE BREAK POINTS (SEE PHOTOS). THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR.

BACKING UP IN DRIVE WAY HEARD A CLUNCK NOISE SO BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BOTH COIL SPRINGS ON MY CAR WERE BROKE THE BOTH BROKE IN ABOUT THE SAME SPOT ABOUT3/4 OF A COIL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL THEY BOTH LOOK RUSTED WERE THEY WERE BROKE UNDER THE RUBBER SLEAVE AT THE BOTTOM AND GAVE ME THE 2 PRICES OF COIL SPRING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) REGARDING A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT. AFTER THE RECALL WAS SERVICED, WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE HILL ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY SLOWED DOWN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU OF GEORGETOWN (7501 I-35 FRONTAGE RD, GEORGETOWN, TX 78626, 512 930-2111) WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY CLEO BAY SUBARU (2125 E STAN SCHLUETER LOOP, KILLEEN, TX 76542, (254) 634-3175). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INITIAL RECALL, BUT NOT OF THE DEFECTIVE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,032.

AT 67000 MILES REAR DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING IS BROKE. THIS IS A GENTLY USED VEHICLE THAT IS GARAGED ALWAYS, DO NOT BELIEVE CORROSION WAS THE ISSUE. HAVING TO REPLACE WITH SUBARU PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO BE MORE ROBUST, MEANING SUBARU RECOGNIZES AN ISSUE WITH POTENTIALLY SAFETY RELATED PART.

I HAD MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL REPAIR FOR THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT. THEY NOTIFIED ME OF A BROKEN LEFT REAR COIL SPRINGS AND STATED THAT THE "VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE". THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH. IT HAS ABOUT 31,000 MILES ON IT.

CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER TOURING 2.0 TURBO MODEL. WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AFTER DRIVING, IT DID NOT TURN OFF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, THE BELTS WERE STILL SPINNING AND I HAD TO REMOVE THE BATTERY TO SHUT IT OFF. 1 WEEK LATER THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I JUMP STARTED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER ALERTS WERE ALL LIT. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC, HE RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. TOP OF THE LINE SUBARU AND I ONLY HAVE 56,860 MILES ON THE CAR.

2014 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BATTERY BEING DRAINED ABS FAULT LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED MULTIPLE FAILURES BEGAN AFTER HAVING SAFETY RECALL WUE-90 PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY REPEATEDLY WOULD DRAIN DUE TO THE TAIL LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. THE HILL CONTROL WARNING LIGHT, ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND THE ANTI SKID WARNING LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. *JS

VEHICLE STALL ON A FLAT STRAIGHT HIGHWAY WITH SPEED AROUND 40MPH. THE ENGINE THEN SHUTDOWN AFTER THE STALLING. LOW FUEL LIGHT IS ON EVEN GAS IS MORE THAN HALF TANK. THEN THE HILL ASSIST LIGHTS IS ON. I PULLED OVER, RESTART THE ENGINE AND DRIVE HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, THE SAME ISSUE HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY, THIS TIME THE TRAVEL SPEED IS 55MPH ON A FLAT STRAIGHT HIGHWAY.

MY CAR HAS 43K MILES ON IT AND DURING A BRAKES SERVICE AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THEY FOUND THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING SEVERELY CRACKED AND ABOUT TO BREAK. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I HAVE BOTH COIL SPRINGS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, THAT THE CRACKED ONE COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO SINK AND POTENTIALLY PUNCTURE THE TIRE. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I NOT DRIVE THE CAR HOME WHILE AWAITING THIS PART TO COME IN - IT WAS THAT SERIOUS A RISK. THEY QUOTED ALMOST $900 TO REPLACE BOTH COIL SPRINGS PLUS THE COST OF AN ALIGNMENT. WHEN I LOOKED UP MORE ABOUT THIS, I FOUND DISCUSSION BOARDS WHERE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS AND SAID IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH SO FEW MILES ON THE CAR, AND THAT PEOPLE HAD FOUND THESE SPRINGS TO BE RUSTED AND FAULTY, CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. SOME DEALERSHIPS WERE COVERING THIS REPAIR AS "GOODWILL." I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP BACK AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT AS GOODWILL, BUT I COULD ASK SUBARU HEAD OFFICE IF THEY WOULD. I CALLED 1-800-SUBARU-3 AND STARTED A CLAIM. THEY CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEN CALLED ME BACK WITHIN 20 MINUTES AND SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR IN FULL, AND GIVE ME A LOANER CAR WHILE AWAITING THE PART. I WONDER IF THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I ALSO WONDER WHY SUBARU IS NOT BEING UP FRONT ABOUT COVERING THIS REPAIR IF IT IS INDEED A FAULTY PART ON THEIR PART. I WAS QUOTED $900+ FOR THE REPAIR, AND IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF LOOKING UP THE HISTORY OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND ESCALATING THE ISSUE TO THE HEAD OFFICE WAS THIS REPAIR COVERED. MY DEALERSHIP WAS NOT FORTHCOMING THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT 43K MILES AND SEEMED UNUSUAL.

I WALKED BEHIND THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED ON SIDE OF THE STREET, AND PRESSED THE BUTTON THAT ACTIVATES THE POWERED TAILGATE AND CAUSES IT TO OPEN. AS THE TAILGATE WAS OPENING, THE LEFT TAILGATE GAS LIFT SUPPORT BROKE OFF FROM THE TAILGATE. WHEN THE TAILGATE REACHED ITS MAXIMUM HEIGHT, IT SLAMMED DOWN IN AN UNRESTRAINED MANNER. NOW WHENEVER I TRY TO USE THE AUTOMATIC TAILGATE, IT OPENS TO THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT, THEN ABRUPTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SLAMS DOWN WITH GREAT FORCE, WITH A POTENTIAL TO INJURE SOMEONE.*DT CONSUMER STATED PUSHED BUTTON TO RAISE LIFTGATE; APPEARED THAT WHEN LIFTGATE REACHED MAXIMUM HEIGHT, IT CAME CRASHING DOWN. COMPLAINANT WAS STANDING BACK WAITING FOR THE LIFTGATE TO OPEN WHEN INCIDENT HAPPENED. TRIED TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE USING BUTTON AGAIN A COUPLE MORE TIMES; LIFTGATE WOULD OPEN, BUT WOULD COME CRASHING DOWN AGAIN WHEN IT REACHED MAXIMUM HEIGHT. LOOKED TO SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND SAW ON DRIVER'S SIDE THAT THE STRUT WAS BROKEN AT THE SIDE WHERE THE BALL JOINT CONNECTS TO THE VEHICLE. SAW RUST ALL AROUND THE BALL AND THE TOP PART OF THE BALL HAD SHEARED OFF. UNSCREWED THE REMAINDER OF THE STRUT TO REMOVE. USED THE PROGRAM ON THE VEHICLE TO ADJUST THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE LIFTGATE SO THAT IT DIDN'T OPEN AS MUCH (APPROXIMATELY 3-5' LOWER) AND THEN IT WOULD OPEN WITHOUT CRASHING DOWN. ORDERED A LIFTGATE REPLACEMENT PART ONLINE AND REPAIRED HIMSELF. NO PROBLEMS SINCE. DID NOT REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT. CONSUMER WILL SEND PHOTOS OF NEW DRIVER'S SIDE AND ORIGINAL PASSENGER SIDE REAR LIFTGATE STRUTS AT CONNECTOR POINTS. *JB *DT *TR

2014 SUBARU FORESTER WAS PARKED WHEN THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING SHATTERED. MADE A LARGE NOISE AND UPON INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED CAR AT AN ANGLE IN WHEEL BED. CAR UNDRIVEABLE. ON VACATION AT THE TIME AND HAD TO DRIVE 5 HOURS (ROUNDTRIP) TO BUY TWO NEW REAR COIL SPRINGS ON ADVISE OF MECHANIC WHO TOWED CAR TO HIS GARAGE. HE STATED THAT THE RIGHT COIL SPRING WAS VERY RUSTED AND SHOWING SIGNS OF DISINTEGRATION AS WELL. WAS ADVISED THAT THIS PART IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN AS THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT. OUR CAR HAD JUST OVER 41,000 MILES ON IT. DRIVEN PRIMARILY IN THE DC METRO AREA. SINGLE OWNER OF THE CAR. GIVEN THE AMAZED REACTION OF MANY, WE ARE SURPRISED THAT THIS PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I DO NOT HAUL HEAVY LOADS, NOR DO I USE THE CAR TO TOW ANYTHING. THIS IS MY "GRANDMA" MOBILE, CHOSEN BECAUSE OF SUBARU'S SUPPOSED SAFETY AND RELIABILITY RECORD.

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION, WONT COME OUT! THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY

THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE AND A PORTION FELL OFF IN OUR GARAGE. MY WIFE LEFT WITH THE VEHICLE AND I FOUND A PORTION OF THE COIL ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR. WHEN SHE RETURNED, I COULD SEE THAT THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS "SAGGING" LOWER THAN THE LEFT SIDE.

VALVE BODY SOLENOID INSIDE THE CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FULLY LOCKED UP. SUBARU STATES THAT THEIR CVT TRANSMISSION NEVER NEEDS TO BE SERVICED BUT COVERS THE CVT TO 100,000 MILES. SHORTY AFTER A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES, THE VALVE BODY SOLENOID FAILED AND SUBARU OF AMERICA DENIED COVERAGE. HAD A THIRD PARTY MECHANIC REPLACE THE CVT AND UPON INSPECTION, THE CVT FLUID IN THE OLD CVT TRANSMISSION WAS DARK, DIRTY AND THICK. CHUNKY OR GOOEY WHAT DESCRIBE IT. SUBARU STATES THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEVER NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED, YET NO MOTOR OIL OR TRANSMISSION OIL CAN GO ON FOREVER.

MY 2014 SUBARU ACCELERATED AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT HITTING A TREE. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENED.MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY .

MY 2014 SUBARU FORRESTER ACCELERATED AND HIT A TREE AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE. IT TBONED THE FRONT END AND AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY..I WAS GOING INTO THE SPACE VERY SLOWLY AND IT WAS WHEN IT ACCELERATED.

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IT BROKE IN THE SAME SPOT AS SO MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED RECENTLY, HAVING COMPLETELY RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT IN A SMALL SPOT ON THE BOTTOM. UNACCEPTABLE TO HAPPEN WITH A 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE AND VERY, VERY DANGEROUS AS THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND/OR A TIRE BLOWOUT FROM THE SPRING BREAKING. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART ON THE 2014 SUBARU FORESTER AND REALLY SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.

MY 2014 SUBARU FORRESTER WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN A VERY LOUD SOUND OCCURRED. THE REAR, DRIVER COIL SPRING BROKE AND THREE PIECES OF METAL WERE ON THE FLOOR. THE CAR BODY DROPPED AND THE TIRE WAS ALMOST HITTING THE WHEEL WELL. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR THE COIL SPRING BROKE. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 2014 FORRESTER COIL SPRINGS. THEY WERE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE BUT SUBARU WAS NOT HELPFUL IN COVERING ANY OF THE REPLACEMENT COSTS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED.

R REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE TURNING ON A SMOOTH ROAD AT LOW SPEED. SUBARU DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT SEVERAL OTHER FORESTERS WERE AWAITING REPAIR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF THAT PART AND I ENDED UP WAITING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE IT COULD BE FIXED. SUBARU DID END UP PAYING FOR HALF THE COST UPON REQUEST.

REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPRING COIL WAS BROKEN I DON'T KNOW WHEN. MY MECHANIC SAW IT WHEN SHE WAS REPLACING MY BREAKS. EVERY PERSON I SPOKE TO ABOUT THIS SAID IT HAD NEVER HAPPENED TO THEM, EVEN WITH CARS THEY BASICALLY RAN INTO THE GROUND, LET ALONE A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2014 FORESTERS ON NHTSA SEEMED TO BE ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, SINCE MOST GARAGES DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS NEEDED, AND I WAS HOPING THAT SUBARU WOULD PAY SINCE THEY SEEMED TO USE SHODDY STEAL ON THE SPRINGS THAT RUSTED PREMATURELY. SUBARU OF WAKEFIELD IN MA GAVE ME THE BEST DEAL OF ANY IN MA THAT I TALKED TO, I PAY FOR ONE SIDE ($750 FOR WHEEL BEARINGS, STRUT AND COIL) AND SUBARU PAID FOR THE OTHER. MAKE SURE TO MENTION ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON NHSTA THAT SEEMED TO HELP ME GET THIS DEAL.

BOTH REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AND SO DO THE STRUTS. BOTH BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON A WELL PAVED RODE GOING 35 MPH. I DID NOT HIT OR RUN OVER ANYTHING. THEY COMPLETELY SNAPPED APART. THIS IS CLEARLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART AS THERE ARE 100'S OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS HAPPENING TO 2014-2015 MODEL FORESTERS AND COMING FROM A FAMILY OF MECHANICS, THIS DOES NOT JUST HAPPEN. THE CAR HAS 50K MILES AND IS ONLY DRIVEN ON WELL PAVED ROADS. SPRINGS BROKE WHILE DRIVING KIDS IN BACK. CAR VERY UNSTABLE AND CANNOT STOP AS QUICKLY. REALLY UNSAFE. THESE NEED TO BE RECALLED.

WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT FLAT ROAD, THE TWO REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. THE BROKEN SPRINGS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY LOSE RIDE HEIGHT AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. SEARCHING ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS SHOWED THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS MODEL YEARS 2014-2016 HAVE HAD SIMILAR REAR COIL SPRING FAILURES. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAD SEEN ENOUGH SIMILAR FAILURES THAT HE EXPECTED A RECALL.

THE RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION ON THE CAR COLLAPSED SOMETIME BETWEEN 6/29/19 AND 7/4/19. WE DID NOT PUT WEIGHT ON THE CAR. THE COIL SPRING JUST SHEARED SOMEHOW. THE CAR HAS 76K MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN IN MI FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW THIS HAPPENED, AND WE ARE FRANKLY PUZZLED TOO. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T61866_DS789686

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 25-30 MPH AND MAKING TURNS, THE VEHICLE SWAYED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP STRAIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BUDD BAER SUBARU (71 MURTLAND AVE, WASHINGTON, PA 15301, (724) 914-6670) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

REPEATED ISSUE WITH HEADLIGHTS FAILING AFTER VERY SHORTY PERIOD OF TIME FROM INSTALLATION. REPLACED HEADLIGHTS 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 11 MONTHS (HAVE REPLACED AT LEAST 1 ADDITIONAL TIME SINCE MAY 2017). BULBS INSTALLED CORRECTLY WITHOUT MAKING CONTACT WITH ANY PART OF BULB EXCEPT PLASTIC END WITH BULB GREASE APPLIED TO REAR CONNECTOR.

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG COMPUTER, RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, YELLOW PASSENGER AIRBAG "ON/OFF" LIGHT, SEAT BELT WARNING AND CHIME. AIR BAG DISABLED WARNING INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHEN PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED, SEAT BELT FASTENED, CAR OUT OF GEAR, STATIONARY. SOMETIMES STOPPING ENGINE, KEY OFF AND REMOVED, THEN ENGINE RESTARTED WILL RESET THIS WARNING. OTHER TIMES DURING NORMAL DRIVING, PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED, SEAT BELT LATCHED, AIR BAG WARNING (RED) LIGHT WILL OCCURS AND YELLOW PASS AIRBAG ACTIVE LIGHT WILL INDICATE PASSENGER AIR BAG INACTIVE. WHEN FRONT PASS SEAT EMPTY OR WITH WEIGHT AS LIGHT AS 2 POUNDS ON THE SEAT, SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND CHIME COMES ON WHEN SPEED EXCEEDS 5 MPH. SOMETIMES THIS ALARM CAN BE RESET BY SHARPLY STRIKING SEAT, SOMETIMES NOT, AND TRIP MUST BE COMPLETED WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLED. IN THIS CASE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT USUALLY SHOWS INACTIVE. THE SEAT BELT ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS, GETTING MORE FREQUENT. THE AIRBAG ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING DURING THE LAST TWO MONTHS, STARTING JUST AFTER THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH RECALL MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED AT SUBARU DEALER IN LAS VEGAS, NV.

I HAVE KEPT UP WITH MY CAR AND SERVICED IT WHEN SUGGESTED. I TOOK MY 2014 FORRESTER IN FOR A 67.5K MILE CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH REAR SPRING COILS BROKE OFF WHILE ON THE LIFT. WHEN SHOWN THE BROKEN COIL, THE PLASTIC WAS DETERIORATED AND THE COIL RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS MY 5TH SUBARU, THE 4 OLDER MODELS HAVE HAD WELL OVER 150K MILES - TWO ARE STILL ON THE ROAD, AND NONE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. I ALSO FIND IT STRANGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP QUICKLY OFFERED TO REPLACE THEM "UNDER WARRANTY" WHEN MY CAR IS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. ALMOST LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER UP SOMETHING. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS LISTED AND WANTED TO FURTHER VERIFY THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU.