2014 Subaru Forester Reliability
The 2014 Subaru Forester has 403 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and engine. Compared with other Forester model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Forester's typical year, while the 2013 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
403
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
48
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2014 Subaru Forester complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 94 | 23% |
| Engine | 69 | 17% |
| Air bags | 57 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 44 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 42 | 10% |
| Speed control / throttle | 42 | 10% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 41 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 31 | 8% |
2014 Subaru Forester recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2014 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V159000 | Apr 24, 2013 | Equipment | Subaru is recalling certain model year 2014 Forester vehicles manufactured from January 2013 through March 2013. The backing for the carpeted floor mats was not manufactured to specification. As a result, the floor mats may curl when exposed to heat. |
| 19V149000 | Feb 28, 2019 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | 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. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake… |
How the 2014 compares with nearby Forester years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Forester analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 106 | 15 | Engine | Solid |
| 2013 | 78 | 12 | Engine | Solid |
| 2014 (this page) | 403 | 2 | Suspension | Avoid |
| 2015 | 616 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2016 | 416 | 3 | Air bags | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2014 Subaru Forester on the used market
- 43 of 1,084 2014 Subaru Forester listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2014 Subaru Forester
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2014 Subaru Forester can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2014 Subaru Forester reliability FAQ
Is the 2014 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2014 Subaru Forester has 403 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and engine. Compared with other Forester model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Forester's typical year, while the 2013 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2014 Subaru Forester problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Subaru Forester are suspension (94), engine (69), air bags (57), unknown or other (44). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2014 Subaru Forester have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2014 Subaru Forester, including 13V159000 (equipment) and 19V149000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2014 Subaru Forester compare with the 2013 and 2015 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2013 has 78 complaints and 12 recalls (solid); the 2015 has 616 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2014 has 403 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2014 Subaru Forester?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Subaru Forester research
Other Subaru Forester model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2014 Forester, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.