2014 Subaru Forester Body & Structure Problems

Liftgate arm (or support) broke while the liftgate was in the raised position, and the liftgate came crashing down to the closed position, while my sister-in-law was very close by. I believe a serious injury could have resulted if someone had been under the liftgate at the time. We also own a 2016 Forester, and I now expect to replace the liftgate supports as a matter of safety and peace of mind. From what I see, checking the liftgate supports is not on the maintenance schedule. I assume other SUVs are also subject to this issue.

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed up an incline, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to TSB: 12-204-16R. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 54,600.

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while parked in the driveway, the contact noticed that rain had leaked through the hatchback which caused mold to form on the rear passenger’s side roof. The interior lights became inoperable. After the vehicle was started, the contact became aware of smoke coming out of the driver’s side mirror. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Tailgate problem - car was in stopped position. I was unloading groceries so opened the tailgate. The tailgate opened and paused in it's highest position for a second and then slammed abruptly with intense speed. The speed of the closure is enough to injure someone or cause death. This is a very serious issue. Others seem to have have reported this for 2014/2015 Forester as well https://www.carproblemzoo.com/subaru/forester/2014/tailgate-problems.php

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. While attempting to open the liftgate, the contact stated that the left strut on the liftgate fractured which caused the liftgate to independently close. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that strut bolt was corroded which led to the liftgate failure. The contact notified the local dealer of the failure and the contact was instructed to take the vehicle into the dealer to be inspected. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 88,500.

My drivers side door seal has repeatedly come loose from the door. This usually happens in very hot or cold conditions. I struggle with it on an irregular basis. Recently my passenger's side door is doing the same thing and is more resistant to being put back into place.

THE TOP NUT OF THE REAR LEFT LIFT GATE PISTON BALL SNAPPED/RUSTED OFF CAUSING THE BACK HATCH TO DROP VIOLENTLY AS WE WERE UNLOADING THE CAR. HITTING MY DAUGHTER ON THE BACK AND MY HUSBAND ON THE HEAD KNOCKING THEM TO THE GROUND. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY ON A FLAT SURFACE. I TOOK IT TO RUGES SUBARU IN RHINEBECK NY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WAS CHARGED FOR IT AND GOT HOME TO FIND OUT THEY NEVER FIXED IT, STATING I DECLINED REPLACEMENT, WHICH I DID NOT, BUT WAS STILL CHARGED FOR IT.

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

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.

I WAS USING MY KEY TO OPEN THE BACK TRUNK WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SLAM DOWN QUICKLY ON MY ARM AS I WENT TO PLACE AN ARTICLE IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. I CALLED THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR AUGUST 8TH 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER XT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER FRIEND WHO WAS DRIVING, PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLING OVER THE DRIVER'S FOOT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND DAMAGED THE HATCHBACK. UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DRIVER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THEIR INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LAKE FOREST SUBARU (23663 ROCKFIELD BLVD, LAKE FOREST, CA 92630 (949) 837-3500) WHERE IT REMAINED THERE FOR 6 WEEKS AND THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A SPECIALIST AND WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DETECT THE FAILURE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

MY CAR HAD AN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHEN APPLIED THE BREAK TO PARK ON THE PARKING LOT. AS A RESULT VEHICLE WENT AND COLLIDED INTO A RESTAURANT, DAMAGING THE RESTAURANT GLASS WALL AND FRONT BUMPER, PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL/TIRE OF THE VEHICLE.

ON JUNE 22, 2016, MY HUSBAND PARKED THE CAR ON OUR DRIVEWAY, LOCATED AT 1264 HANCOCK PLACE IN POCATELLO, IDAHO. I GOT OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND STEPPED TO THE SIDE AND CLOSED THE DOOR WITH MY LEFT HAND. I WAS NOT FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM DOOR AND THE CORNER CAUGHT MY LEG AND THE CUT REQUIRED 11 STITCHES. THE CORNER HAS NO RUBBER PROTECTION ON IT, I FEEL IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE CONSUMER STATED MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HAD THE DOOR INSPECTED. THE INSPECTOR SUGGESTED HAVING THE DOOR FILLED/CUT OFF. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. UPDATED 08/23/2017 *JS

JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT, FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR SURGED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING UP MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS BRAKING WHEN THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AND HIT THE GARAGE DOOR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE GARAGE DOOR WAS DAMAGED AS WAS THE FRONT BUMPER AND GRILL OF THE CAR. *TR

IN PARKING SPOT, FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR SUDDENLY SURGED. *TR

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle’s hood had suddenly opened impairing the contact’s vision. The contact ended up swerving the vehicle and crashing into a nearby tree. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle had not been towed. There were no injuries and no medical attention needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle had been taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the vehicle’s hood latch and the hood strap had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired for the failure. The vehicle’s shift release lever had failed causing the shifting of gears failing and the contact was unable to remove the key. The contact took the vehicle back to the certified mechanic who repaired the vehicle however the failure persisted. The lever within the transmission stick had detached. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000.