NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Subaru Forester. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
DURING A BRAKE CHECK, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE RIGHT PASS SPRING WAS BROKEN ON MY 48K MILE FORESTER. HE FELT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PART COULD HAVE BROKEN OFF COMPLETELY AND POSSIBLE INJURED SOMEONE ELSE OR CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE PARTS ON OTHERS CARS OF THE SAME MODEL ALL BREAK AT THE SAME POINT, IT SEEMS, AND THE OPINION IS THAT THE SPRINGS ARE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT (SEE ATTACHED IMAGE OF BROKEN SPRING.) ON ONLINE FORUMS, I SEE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND MY MECHANIC HAS SEEN MANY OTHERS WITH THE BROKEN SPRINGS IN FORESTERS OF THE SAME YEAR. I CALLED SUBARU AMERICA, MENTIONED THAT I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN SUCH A NEWISH CAR, AND MORE CONCERNING IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PART ONLY, NOT THE LABOR SINCE IT WAS NOT DONE AT A DEALER. BECAUSE THEY ARE REIMBURSING OWNERS, THEY SEEM TO REALIZE THIS IS AN ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE, AND DESERVES A LOOK BY THE NHTSA. THANKS FOR YOU CONSIDERATION.
A GRINDING NOISE OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS STEERED WHILE IN MOTION.
POWER STEERING APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE. A GRINDING NOISE WILL BE HEARD WHEN STEERING ON A FREQUENT BASIS WHEN MOVING.
OUR FORESTER HAS A PROBLEM WITH ITS AIRBAG SYSTEM. IT WOULD ALERT US ON THE DASHBOARD THAT 'SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED' AND A RED WARNING SYMBOL OF THE AIRBAG BEING INFLATED. IN ADDITION, IT WOULD SHOW MY PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF EVEN WHEN SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAPPENED ONE TIME WHEN WE WERE ON OUR DRIVEWAY JUST STARTING TO LEAVE; OTHER TIMES WHILE WE WERE DRIVING DOWN LOCAL STREETS; MAYBE ONE TIME ON A HIGHWAY TOO. IT SEEMS TO BE MORE FREQUENT IN RECENT MONTHS. NOW NO ONE SITS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT UPFRONT WHILE WE TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE AIRBAG PROBLEM THAT OUR SUBARU DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO BE CLUELESS. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE, JUST BASED ON THE FACT THAT SUBARU DEALERSHIP MECHANIC COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR ITS CAUSE. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS SOMEHOW DEFECTIVE AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SUBARU SHOULD HAVE IT RECTIFIED REAL FAST BEFORE ANY LIFE IS LOST.
LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR SAT IN DRIVEWAY.
I STARTED GETTING SEVERE VIBRATION AND WOBBLING OF FRONT SUSPENSION ON SWEEPING CURVES ON FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH AT ABOUT 33,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. I REPLACED THE TIRES, YET IT CONTINUED. NOW THE MECHANICS SAY BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED OFF ROAD OR EVEN IN SNOW. SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. IT IS LIKE A NEW CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL WITH THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HAD TWO O-RINGS AND CRANK SEAL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. DESPITE THE REPAIRS, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE CHECK OIL LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE AFTER EVERY 1,500 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CENTER SUBARU (45 WINSTED RD, TORRINGTON, CT 06790) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE EXCESSIVE OIL FAILURE DUE TO THE VEHICLE NO LONGER BEING UNDER WARRANTY AND NO OTHER RECALLS BEING PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED AND GAVE HER THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,286.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE DETECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS LEANING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRILLIANCE SUBARU (1500 N RANDALL RD, ELGIN, IL 60123, (224) 281-4300) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AFTER THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS REPAIRED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. *BF CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE REAR COIL SPRINGS BE REPLACED. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PASSENGER REAR COIL SPRING REPAIR, BUT NOT THE DRIVER SIDE. ON 9/15/2019 DRIVER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING FAILED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *DL
REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, THE OTHER REAR COIL SPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST DAMAGE.
IN LATE MAY 2019, I WENT OUTSIDE TO DRIVE MY FORESTER TO THE STORE. UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BUMPER, I FOUND PART OF A COIL SPRING, ROUGHLY A 1/2 TURN. I LOOKED AROUND A BIT, AND FOUND THAT IT HAD COME FROM THE DRIVER SIDE, REAR COIL SPRING, BOTTOM. THE SPRING AT THE BREAK WAS VERY RUSTY - BOTH THE FRAGMENT AND FROM THE BROKEN SPRING STILL IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 14 HOURS BEFORE I NOTICED THE SPRING FRAGMENT ON THE GROUND. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN ADULT DRIVEN AND NEVER ABUSED.
PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. THIS DIDN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AT LEAST NOT IN A WHAT THAT WAS NOTICEABLE. I WALKED OUT OF WORK AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WAS SITTING A COUPLE INCHES LOWER THAN IT SHOULD. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY FOUND THAT ONE OF THE COILS OF THE SPRING HAD SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SAGGING.
DRIVERS SIDE REAR DAMPER SPRING BROKEN APPROXIMATELY 1/2 COIL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DAMPER. THIS APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 INCH PIECE OF SPRING WAS RUSTED IN THE AREA OF THE BREAK, RESTING ON THE LOWER DAMPER "HAT". THE BREAK WAS COMPLETE. THIS SHARP PIECE WAS EASILY LIFTED OFF THE DAMPER. THE SPRING DISPLAYED PEELED PAINT AN RUST ON SEVERAL LOCATIONS. FOUND AT AROUND 46,000 MILES ONLY UPON INSPECTION WHILE REPLACING BRAKES. UNSURE OF ANY SPECIFIC TIME OF BREAKAGE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT 30,000 MILES. NO REMARKS ABOUT THE DAMPER SPRING. DEALER AND SUBARU CORPORATE REPLACED THE SPRING.
THE STEERING WHEEL "LEATHER" COATING HAS BEEN DISINTEGRATING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. THE SUBARU SERVICE SAID IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2014 SUBARU FOREST. & SHOULD BE RECALLED. EVENTUALLY, THE UNDERCOAT FOAM MATERIAL WILL ALSO DISINTEGRATE, HE SAID. ALSO, BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUSHINGS,BAND DRIVE, (SOMETHING LIKE A DRIVE SHAFT), STRUT & AXEL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 69K MILES. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT OR HIT ANYTHING. SUBARU PAID FOR FAILED CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CAR!
SUBARU ENGINES ARE USING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL EVEN WHEN NEW, UP TO 1 QUART PER 1500 MILES. A 2014 LAWSUIT REQUIRED THEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, WHICH THEY ARE ONLY BARELY DOING. HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM ARE BEING REQUIRED TO SIMPLY ADD MORE OIL AT $9 - $12/QUART 3-4 TIMES EACH OIL CHANGE. AS THE CAR AGES, THE CONSUMPTION CAUSES THE CAR ENGINE TO SEIZE WHEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CREATING THE POTENTIAL OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. AGAIN, SUBARU HAS OFFICIALLY ACTED TO NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THEIR TSB 02-157-14R, TITLED SURFACE TREATMENT CHANGE TO OIL CONTROL PISTON RINGS. PRIOR TO THIS, DEALERSHIPS WERE INSTRUCTED TO CHANGE OUT THE PISTON RINGS. THIS TSB STATES: "CONCERNS RELATED TO A POSSIBLE OIL CONSUMPTION CONDITION ARE GENERALLY INITIATED WHEN THE CUSTOMER BELIEVES THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL ON THE DIPSTICK HAS DROPPED SINCE THE LAST TIME IT WAS CHECKED OR WHEN THE LOW OIL LAMP ILLUMINATES. THESE TYPES OF COMPLAINTS BY THEMSELVES DO NOT DIRECTLY INDICATE A CONCERN WITH THE VEHICLE EXISTS."
BOTH COIL SPRINGS ON MY 2014 FORESTER FAILED LOCAL SUBARU DEALER REPLACED BOTH SPRINGS AT A COST TOME OF $561.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. IN ADDITION, I WAS CHARGED 99.95 FOR A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT MANDATED BY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRINGS. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 51,972 ON THE ODOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A SMOOTH STREET WHEN THE SPRINGS SNAPPED. THE RESULT OF THE BROKEN SPRINGS WAS A SAGGING REAR END OF THE VEHICLE MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY FAILURE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE TO ME. I CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION...HOWEVER, THERE SEEM TO BE VERY MANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPORTED ON SUBARU OWNER WEBSITES.
ON MAY 13,2019 I PULLED THE CAR INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PARKED THE CAR BEHIND THE HOUSE. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS A BANG ON THE RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) OF THE CAR. UPON INSPECTION ON THE GROUND WERE TWO PIECES OF THE COIL SPRING. THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE HEIGHT OF THE CAR. THE FOLLOWING DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP. THEY ARE REPLACING BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS.
GARAGE KEPT AUTOMOBILE WITH LESS THAN 18,000 MILES, NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD. THE BOTTOM OF BOTH REAR STRUT SPRINGS UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING VEHICLE TO DROP AFFECTING STEERING AND STABILITY. APPARENT CAUSE: DEFECTIVE PART FAILED DUE TO PREMATURE RUSTING CAUSING
MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 42,879 MILES WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. I NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LOOKED VERY LOW OVER THE TIRE. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, THERE WAS A SEMI-CIRCLE PIECE OF METAL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD LAST BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT TWO DAYS BEFORE. I JUST HAD THE FORESTER IN MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A NYS INSPECTION AND TO REMEDY ONE RECALL REGARDING BRAKE LIGHTS ONE WEEK PRIOR. UPON A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY, MANY OWNERS REPORTING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON 2014-2015 SUBARU FORESTERS. THE CAR IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN AROUND TOWN IN A SUBURBAN, PAVED AREA AND PARKED IN A PAVED DRIVEWAY.
THE BOTTOM COIL OF THE REAR SPRING BROKE. THE METAL SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON A DRIVEWAY AND WE HEARD A POP. WE STOPPED AND FOUND THE BROKEN COIL ON THE GROUND.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BYERS SUBARU ALEXANDRIA (2301, 7416 RICHMOND HWY, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22306, (703) 768-5800) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING HOISTED ON THE LIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MITCHELL SUBARU (71 ALBANY TURNPIKE, CANTON, CT 06019 (860) 693-7723) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,235.
DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY DRY CONDITIONS IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN I HIT A DEER IN THE FRONT, CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
THE RIGHT REAR SPRING RUSTED OUT, BROKE AND ULTIMATELY DROPPED DOWN SO IT WAS HANGING BELOW THE SUSPENSION MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS HANGING LOW ON THE RIGHT REAR QUADRANT. A BODY SHOP TECHNICIAN NOTICED THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE SPRING BROKE OR DROPPED DOWN. ONCE THIS WAS DETECTED, I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO MY MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE IMMEDIATELY AT THE NON-SUBARU SHOP THAT I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS NEW TO THE 2014 FORESTER MODELS AND APPEARS TO BE FAULTY TO CAUSE THE SPRING TO RUST DUE TO THE DESIGN. HE INDICATED IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, SO WE BELIEVE IT DROPPED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. MY VEHICLE IS AT ONLY 72K MILES, AND IS 5 YEARS OLD. I HAVE POSSESSION OF THE RUSTED SPRING, BUT AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD PICTURES AT THIS TIME. I CAN EMAIL THEM IF YOU PROVIDE ME AN ADDRESS TO SEND TO.
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN . THE LOWEST COIL HAS SNAPPED OFF EACH SPRING AND THE LEFT REAR SPRING HAS FALLEN OUT OF THE LOWER PAD SO IT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL AT ALL ONE SPRING MAY HAVE FAILED EARLIER, BUT THE LEFT FAILURE MADE THE PROBLEM APPARENT.
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS PREMATURELY FAIL IN THE 2014 AND 2015 MODELS. THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND IS NOW IN A NATIONAL SHORTAGE. THIS SPRING CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND PUNCTURE A TIRE. MY INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY WITHOUT TIRE DAMAGE.
I CANNOT GET THE VEHICLE IN GEAR I.E. FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 70 MPH, CAR ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, RPM'S WERE STILL UP AS IF CAR ON, COASTED OUT OF TRAFFIC, NO CHECK ENGINE, NO SPUTTERING, HAD GAS, BUT ACTED AS IF I HAD RUN OUT. TURNED IGNITION KEY TO OFF AND REMOVED IT, ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN AN HOURS TIME, IT ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO START BUT DIDN'T. HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC, ON A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK. IT STARTED UP AND ALL SYSTEMS WERE CHECKED WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE. DIAGNOSTICS WERE RUN WITH NO ACTIVE CODES, ELECTRICAL WAS CHECKED, NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE SAFETY EVENT, IF I HAD NOT BEEN IN AN OUTSIDE LANE AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD THREE MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND NO ISSUE FOUND, BUT IN FEAR OF DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. GUESSES HAVE BEEN FUEL PUMP FAULTY? CAM SHAFT SENSOR FAULTY? ELECTRICAL?
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON APRIL 19, 2019. I MADE A LEFT TURN AND HEARD A POP. THE CAR BECAME SQUIRRELLY. I CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND HE ASKED IF THE CAR LEANED TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I SAID YES. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY A BAD SPRING OR STRUT. WHEN I GOT HOME I JACKED UP THE CAR AND THE RIGHT REAR SPRING WAS BROKEN. I GOT 3 QUOTES FROM TOM WOOD SUBARU. ONE FOR SPRINGS. ONE FOR STRUTS AND HARDWARE. THE LAST WAS FOR TOM WOOD TO FIX IT. I WASN'T SURE IF I LOST ANY PARTS SO I LOOKED AT THE LEFT REAR SIDE. TO MY SURPRISE, THAT SPRING WAS ALSO COMPLETELY BROKEN BUT HASN'T SNAPPED OFF THE STRUT YET. THIS SEEMS LIKE DEFECTIVE SPRINGS. THE CAR HAD 54,448 MILES AND HAS NOT CARRIED A LOT OF WEIGHT. IN MY 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR BREAK A SPRING, LET ALONE HAVE 2 BROKEN SPRINGS.
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 AROUND 7:00PM. I MADE A LEFT RUN AND HEARD A POP. THE CAR BECAME SQUIRRELLY. I PULLED OVER AT NAPA AND CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND DESCRIBED WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE ASKED ME IF THE CAR WAS LEANING TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I SAID YES. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY A BAD SPRING OR STRUT. WHEN I GOT HOME, I JACKED UP THE CAR AND REMOVED THE TIRE. THE RIGHT SPRING WAS BROKEN AND FELL OFF OF THE STRUT. SATURDAY APRIL 20, 2019 I GOT 4 QUOTES FROM TOM WOOD SUBARU. ONE FOR SPRINGS ($120 X2). ONE FOR THE STRUTS ($191). ONE FOR ALL THE HARDWARE NEEDED ($770). LASTLY, WHAT TOM WOOD SUBARU WOULD CHARGE TO DO THE JOB (AROUND $1100). THE SAID THEY WERE BOOKED FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS WITH AIRBAG RECALLS. I WASN'T SURE IF I LOST ANY PARTS SO I LOOKED AT THE LEFT REAR SIDES A REFERENCE. TO MY SURPRISE, THAT SPRING WAS ALSO COMPLETELY BROKEN BUT HADN'T SNAPPED OFF THE STRUT YET. THIS SEEMS LIKE DEFECTIVE SPRINGS. THE CAR HAS 54,448 MILES AND HAS NOT CARRIED A LOT OF WEIGHT OR BEEN DRIVEN HARD. IN MY 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR BREAK A SPRING, LET ALONE HAVE 2 BROKEN SPRINGS. I WAS REALLY GLAD I WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE BACK END WAS VERY UNSTABLE. IT DRIFTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE ERRATICALLY. THIS DEFECT RISKED MY SAFETY AND THOSE AROUND ME. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I DIDN'T HAVE A CAR AND HAD TO HAVE MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAD TO PICK ME UP TO GO TO EASTER SERVICE. THIS ORDEAL HAS BEEN VERY STRESSFUL.
WENT IN FOR STATE INSPECTION AND MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 28000 MILES WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BROKEN COIL SPRING. GOT IT FIXED, BUT I WAS VERY SURPRISED. MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND I ONLY DRIVE CITY STREETS. GOGGLED THE TOPIC AND FOUND THAT OTHER SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND RELATED EARLY CORROSION. HOPING YOU CAN LOOK INTO THE ISSUE AS THIS COULD HAPPEN ON OTHER WHEELS. THANKS.
MY HIGH BEAM/DAYTIME RUNNING BULB BLEW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN REPLACING THE BULB I FOUND IT HAD ACTUALLY MELTED, AND HAD A LARGE BUBBLE IN THE GLASS. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR PREVIOUS THE DRIVERS SIDE BULB HAD BLOWN AND I HAD FOUND THE SAME BUBBLE, BUT DIDN'T REPORT IT AT THAT TIME, ASSUMING IT WAS JUST SOMETHING WEIRD THAT HAPPENED ONCE. NOW THAT IT'S HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE ON EACH SIDE, I'M MORE CONCERNED THERE'S A LARGER ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR THE BLURB TO GET SO HOT THAT IT ACTUALLY MELTED THE GLASS.
2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THE CAUSE IS A SENSOR WITHIN THE PASSENGER SEAT BEING BROKEN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED.
1) CVT VALVE KIT DAMAGED (3 YEARS OLD) 2) BUT MAIN REASON FOR THIS COMPLIANT IS REAR COILS BREAKING, I DO NOT KNOW BUT THEY HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME CAUSING REAR BEARINGS AND REAR SHOCKS DAMAGE. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND EVERYONE W/ 2014 THRU 2015 FORESTERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AT ANY MILEAGE. TOLD DEALER AND THEY SAID SUBARU KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL? THE AVERAGE PERSON WILL NOT REALIZE THEIR COILS COULD BE BROKEN LIKE ME UNTIL BEARINGS AND SHOCKS FAIL ..... THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR ISSUE TO ME?
I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED IN MY PAVED APARTMENT COMPLEX ROAD WHEN I HEARD A LOUD METALLIC PING. I THOUGHT I HAD JUST THROWN A ROCK OR SOMETHING. BUT THE NEXT DAY MY CAR WAS MAKING SQUEAKING NOISES WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROADS AND OVER SPEED BUMPS AND SEEMED MORE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE WHEN DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO FIND THAT THE RIGHT REAR SPRING HAD SHEARED AND THAT BOTH BACK SPRING WERE BADLY RUSTED. I ONLY HAD JUST OVER 21,000 MILES AND DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD OR DO ANY TOWING. BOTH SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED FAR TOO SOON IN THE LIFE OF CAR -- I BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT GIVEN HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE I'VE HEARD HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. REPAIR BILL WAS ~$780. SUBARU DID REIMBURSE A GOOD PORTION AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE - ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE.
MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE. I HEARD THIS HORRIBLE, ALMOST EXPLOSIVE NOISE AND FOUND THAT MY LEFT COIL SPRING SNAPPED! THIS CAR HAS 68K MILES AND HAS NEVER CARRIER HEAVY LOADS OR TRAVELED ROUGH ROADS. I DRIVE ALL HIGHWAY. SUPER SHOCKING TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHILE IT IS JUST SITTING, BUT I CRINGE TO THINK IF THIS HAPPENED 1 DAY EARLIER DRIVING 22 MILES FROM WORK OR WITH MY FAMILY. THE COIL WAS JUST COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF. MY CAR IS SITTING ON THE CROSSBAR VERY CLOSE TO SITTING DIRECTLY ON MY TIRE. WAITING FOR THE ASSESSMENT FROM SUBARU TO SEE IF IT CAUSED ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
WHEN TRYING TO CLOSE SUNROOF, NORMALLY THE ROOF WINDOW WOULD SLIDE BACK AND A SET OF PIN WILL PUSH THE REAR SIDE OF THE WINDOW UP TO SEAL THE GAP BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND ROOFTOP. HOWEVER THE DEVICE IS DEFECTIVE AND THE WINDOW WILL NOT GO BACK TO ITS SUPPOSED LOCATION. WATER MAY LEAK IN TO WIRING AND CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE.
I OPENED THE TRUNK OF MY SUBARU FORESTER LIMITED EDITION WITH THE REMOTE. WHILE I WAS REMOVING THE LUGGAGE FROM THE TRUNK, I HEARD A NOISE AS THE LIFTGATE WAS CLOSING. BEFORE I TURNED TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE LIFTGATE LANDED ON MY LOWER BACK. I REALIZED THAT THE RIGHT SUPPORT OF THE LIFTGATE WAS BROKEN.
PREMATURE REAR SPRING BROKE. CAR IS 65K MILES. REAR SPRING RUSTED AND BROKE; CAUSES THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION TO BREAK. THIS MAKE THE CAR TILTED AND ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ON A LOCAL ROAD TRAVELING AT 25 MPH GOING STRAIGHT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO STAR SUBARU SERVICE AND WAS BEING CHARGED $890.00 TO REPLACE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION. UPON INSPECTION, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPRING ALSO RUSTED.
THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED TWICE IN THE LAST 4 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS. THE POWER STEERING IS LOST AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE TWO TIMES THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED HAS BEEN IN COLDER TEMPERATURES AND DURING LOCAL DRIVING. THE CAR BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND FOR A SMALL PERSON IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. THE STEERING MODULE CODE PER THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS 2532. BOTH TIMES WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER, IN 2014 AND 2019, THEY ACTED AS THOUGH THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE. I AM HAVING THE MODULE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME.
ON JANUARY 26, 2019, AT 8:00 PM, IN A PARKING DECK AT A SHOPPING CENTER, I WAS IN A LINE OF CARS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO AN AISLE. I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR VERY LIGHTLY TO MOVE A FEW FEET FORWARD. THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED GREATLY, AND I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE HITTING THE BRAKE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ANYTHING, BUT IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THIS WAS CLEARLY A CASE OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.
JANUARY 2019. THE ISSUE STARTED AS CEL CAME ON. ROUGH IDLE, SURGE OF POWER AND THEN CAM TIMING BECAME ISSUE. WAS AT A STOP SIGN IDLING WHEN SURGE OCCURRED LURCHING VEHICLE FORWARD. TOOK TO DEALER WAITED WEEKS FOR A TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE TO GIVE ADVICE TO DEALERSHIP. TOOK TO OTHER DEALER TO CONFIRM. THEY REPLACED TIMING CHAIN., CAM PHASERS AND OTHER REQUIRED. DIDNT SOLVE ISSUE. NEXT STEP WAS INTERNAL OIL FILTERS THAT SUPPLY AVSC TIMING. NO FIX. REPLACED ECM AS FINAL STEP IN SUBARU MATRIX. RAN FOR 3 WEEKS AND SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. AGAIN CEL, ROUGH IDLE, CAM ISSUES. SUBARU POINTS TO DEALER. DEALER POINTS TO SUBARU. AND I HAVE A INOPERABLE VEHICLE. I REPLACED ALL REQUIRED PARTS AND HAVE ONGOING ISSUE. SOA HAS BEEN INVOLVED BUT NOT RESOLUTION. IT HAS BEEN 8 MONTHS OF DISAPPOINTMENT. GREAT CAR BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH TO CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH. THE XT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE ISSUES, RECALL ON POSSIBLE CYCLINDER CRACKING AND ISSUES RELATING TO ENGINE PERFORMANCE.
THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE CAR TURNS ON. UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL UNLESS A TON OF FORCE IS APPLIED. TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN A FEW TIMES AND MESSAGES GOES AWAY. BUT DOES IT MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.
PIECES OF MY REAR COILS BROKE OFF SHOWING BADLY RUSTED. SOME IN STREET SOME IN MY GARAGE. VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE DIFFERENTLY. TOOK TO FIRESTONE AND BOTH REAR COILS BROKE AND 1 STRUT AS WELL. SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT I DID NOT AND TOOK TO NON SUBARU PLACE FOR REPAIRS. SO THEY REFUSED TO MAKE GOOD OR STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLE BECAUSE I DIDNT GO TO A SUBARU DEALER AND OFFERED 500 COST ME 1556.00. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL USED METAL THAT RUSTED AND FAILED.
REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN RIGHT AND LEFT 01/07/2019 - 27811 MILES ON CAR, REPLACED BY DEALER DURING STATE INSPECTION I DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE BROKEN UNTIL TOLD BY SERVICE ADVISOR
VEHICLE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FIRST CAME ON AND IT HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR/PASSENGER SEAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE (WATER OR BLUNT FORCE) THAT OCCURRED TO THE FEATURE AND THAT IT WAS NOTHING WE HAD DONE; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT BE REPLACED UNDER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY. SINCE SUBARU PRIDES THEMSELVES IN SAFETY, IT SEEMS ODD THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THIS COMPLAINT THAT HAS BEEN CITED REPEATEDLY, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS NO FAULT TO THE OWNER BUT RATHER A MANUFACTURING ISSUE.
LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN NOT DUE TO HEAVY LOAD OR ROUGH TERRAIN DRIVING VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROX. 27,000 MILES ON IT .FROM WHAT I'M SEEING ON LINE AND HEARING FROM OTHER OWNERS AND DEALERS, IT IS A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM.
BOTTOM OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE - AT THE POINT WHERE THEY SIT ON THE LOWER SPRING SEAT OF THE STRUT. THEY BOTH FRACTURED AT EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT ON THE COIL - AT THE FIRST 1/2 LOOP OF THE COIL (ABOUT 4 INCHES) AND IN THE SAME DIAGONAL TYPE OF SHEAR. PICTURES ATTACHED OF THE PIECES THAT BROKE OFF EACH COIL. CAR HAS ONLY 58,000 MILES AND NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR OVERLOADED. NOT EXACTLY SURE WHEN THEY BROKE - WAS DISCOVERED BY MY MECHANIC WHILE DOING OTHER WORK ON THE CAR.
THE CAR COMPLETELY LOOSES POWER AND STUTTERS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT SHUT OFF, BUT THERE IS NO POWER GOING TO THE WHEELS. AT THIS POINT THIS HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIME. IT BEGAN AROUND 20-30,000 MILES, AND CONTINUES INTO 90,000+ MILES. IT CAN HAPPEN GOING 20-40 MILES PER HOUR OR 55 OR 70. IT'S UNDER LOAD USUALLY, AND HAPPENS MORE WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS ONCE, THEN I DON'T HAVE IT FOR MONTHS, AND OTHER TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY FOR MILE AFTER MILE OF DRIVING. I HAVE TO LET MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND RE-APPLY MULTIPLE TIMES TO KEEP THE CAR MOVING. IT'S HAPPENED IN NEIGHBORHOODS, DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND TRYING TO PASS ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY REFUSE TO KEEP IT LONG ENOUGH AND TEST IT ENOUGH TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT IS STILL UNDER THE EXTRA WARRANTY I PAID FOR IT AND SUBARU REFUSES TO HELP AS WELL.
I GOT MY REGULAR OIL CHANGE. ONE MONTH LATER MY INDICATOR CAME IN READING 'SYSTEM DETECTS LOW OIL'. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP WHERE I GOT MY OIL CHANGED, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BONE DRY AND THAT MY CAR IS BURNING OIL. THEY SAID THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY SUBARU OWNER WHO HAS THAT PROBLEM. THEY JUST TOP THEIR OIL OFF EVERY MONTH. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS. FOUND OUT IT'S A DEFECTIVE PISTON RING THAT SUBARU KNEW THEY WERE SELLING. I WAS DRIVING FOR 6 HOURS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS INDICATOR. THE CAR COULD HAVE EXPLODED. BUT I ASSUMED IT WAS JUST REACTING TO MY LONG DRIVE. I HONESTLY COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HURT OR KILLED. I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD SELL THE CAR OR PAY TO TAKE THE ENTIRE ENGINE APART.