DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT STAY UP/CLOSED WHEN USING AUTO UP SWITCH. MUST CLOSE WINDOW USING MULTIPLE START STOP ENGAGEMENTS OF WINDOW CONTROL. DEALER TRIED MULTIPLE TO REPAIR MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, NOT UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER BLAMED DIRT OR TEMPERATURE BUT NEVER CONVINCED OF EXACT CAUSE AND NEVER OFFERED TO REPLACE SWITCH.
2014 Subaru Forester complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2014 record →
MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER SEEMED LOW IN THE REAR. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THE SPRING ON THE REAR STRUT IS BROKEN. I LOOKED UP SUBARU ISSUES WITH STRUTS AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. ALSO RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE LIKE THIS AS IT TAKES LONGER TO BRAKE. WHY HASNT NHTSA BEEN A CONSUMER ADVOCATE FOR THIS? THIS LETTER SERVES AS NOTIFICATION THAT I HAVE INFORMED NHTSA OF THIS DANGEROUS PART ISSUE AS IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT METAL WEAKNESS/FAILURE IS THE CAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION.
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, BOTH THE SPRINGS AROUND THE BACK SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE BROKEN. THIS VEHICLE WE DRIVE VERY LIGHTLY, MOSTLY FOR 6 MILES (TO AND FRO) WORK AND DON'T CARRY ANY LUGGAGE OR MORE THAN ALLOWED PASSENGERS. VERY STRANGE TO SEE THIS HAPPENING. WILL NEVER BUY OR RECOMMEND SUBARU TO ANYONE, I HAVE OWNED TOYOTA AND NEVER THIS TYPE OF SERIOUS FAILURE OCCURRED.
AS I WAS TURNING RIGHT, TO PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD NOICE LIKE HEAVY CLANGING SOUND AND FELT MY CAR DROP. I STOPPED AND WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I FOUND A CIRCULAR SHAPED PIECE OF METAL IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE CAR, THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS NEARLY TOUCHING THE TIRE ON THAT SIDE. I PICKED UP THE METAL AND TOOK PHOTOS. THE PART WAS RUSTED ON THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 39000 MILES AND WAS JUST INSPECTED THREE MONTHS AGO (9/2019). I MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SERVICE CENTER BECAUSE I HAD SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55-65MPH AND COULD'VE CAUSED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE SERVICE CENTER CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE SUSPENSION (SPRING COIL AND STRUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED). REPAIRS COST APPROX $1400.
TAILGATE LIFT SUPPORT FAILURES- ON NOV 3, 2019, MY 2014 FORESTER WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I OPENED THE TAILGATE AND ALLOWED MY DOG TO JUMP INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. WHEN I CLOSED THE TAILGATE THERE WAS A LOUD METAL-ON-METAL CRUNCHING NOISE. I CAREFULLY OPENED THE TAILGATE AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAILGATE LIFT SUPPORT WAS HANGING DOWN BECAUSE IT HAD SNAPPED OFF FROM WHERE IT CONNECTED TO THE TAILGATE. THE CRUNCHING METAL SOUND WAS CAUSED BY THE TAILGATE BEING CLOSED ON TOP OF THE BROKEN LIFT SUPPORT. THE TAILGATE DOOR WOULD NOT REMAIN OPEN ON ITS OWN WHICH MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO LOAD OR UNLOAD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANOTHER PERSON TO ASSIST. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A NEW LIFT SUPPORT ONLINE AND HE REPLACED THE PART HIMSELF. ON DEC 28, 2019, MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND WE HAD JUST PLACED SOME PACKAGES IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. WHEN MY HUSBAND CLOSED THE TAILGATE WE HEARD THE SAME AWFUL NOISE. THIS TIME IT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE LIFT SUPPORT WHICH HAD FAILED. BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, AS THE TAILGATE CLOSED ON TOP OF THE BROKEN LIFT SUPPORT, IT BROKE THE TAILLIGHT.
A PIECE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FELL OUT ONTO THE ROAD WHEN I WAS DRIVING, AND CAME TO A HALT BEHIND ME ON THE STREET. IT IS SIMILAR TO A PIECE I FOUND IN MY DRIVEWAY A YEAR AGO (WHICH I DID NOT RECOGNIZE OR KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM. THE CAR'S HANDLING HAS BEEN 'DIFFERENT' BUT CAN'T TELL IF IT WILL BECOME UNSAFE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED METAL ON THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPRING FRACTURED. THE CONTACT CALLED CAPITALAND MOTORS (37 SARATOGA RD, SCHENECTADY, NY 12302, (518) 631-5792) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
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
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR COIL SPRING COLLAPSED. WE HEARD A LOUD METAL BANG AND WHEN WE GOT HOME I NOTICED THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
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.
2014 SUBARU FORESTER STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 MILES AN HOUR. ENGINE JUST QUITE RUNNING. LOST POWER. HAD TO PULL OVER IN MEDIAN. VERY SCARY. THIS IS SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. DID NOT THROW A CODE MESSAGE. DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DETECT PROBLEM. FIRST TIME WAS 4 YEARS AGO WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON CITY STREET COMING INTO TOWN. DID NOT THROW ERROR MESSAGE AT THAT TIME WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT DID IT AGAIN.
AT/ABOUT 1230 CENTRAL TIME ON 31 OCT 2019, MY WIFE [XXX] EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION EVENT IN OUR 2014 SUBARU FORESTER AND NARROWLY ESCAPED BEING KILLED. CONTEXT: MY WIFE WAS TAKING THE CAR THROUGH AN AUTOMATED CARWASH AT THE CASEYS GAS STATION AT 9911 S. 71ST ST IN PAPILLION NE. WHEN SHE REACHED THE END OF THE CONVEYOR BELT AND WHEN SIGNALLED BY THE ATTENDANT TO MOVE FORWARD, SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM N (NEUTRAL) TO D (DRIVE). SHE ENCOUNTERED RESISTANCE MOVING THE GEAR LEVER BUT WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT TO D. UPON DOING SO, THE CAR ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD DESPITE HER FOOT REMAINING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND TORE THROUGH THE CLOSED GARAGE DOOR AT THE END OF THE CARWASH AND CONTINUED OUTSIDE, ACROSS AN ACCESS ROAD AND UP A SMALL HILL, BEFORE LOSING POWER AND ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL TO STOP IN THE ACCESS ROAD. NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PERSONS WERE INVOLVED OR INJURED. MY WIFE WAS UNINJURED OTHER THAN BEING SPRAYED BY GLASS FRAGMENTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD AS IT WAS PUNCTURED BY THE GARAGE DOOR AS THE CAR TORE THROUGH IT. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY (USAA) DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I HAD EVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS INCIDENT BEFORE; WE BOTH HAVE EXCELLENT DRIVING RECORDS. WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT WAS CLEAR, DRY AND SUNNY. THE CAR TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE WAS IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION. THE PAPILLION NE POLICE DEPT RESPONDED AND FILED
MY SUBARU FORESTOR FROM 2014 HAS A FAULTY AIRBAG SYSTEM FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT SAYS THAT IT IS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AND GIVES THE WARNING LIGHT. WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT IT STILL BEEPS SOMETIMES AND I CAN ONLY STOP IT BY BUCKLING THE SEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS SUBARU'S FAULT. I HAVE NEVER SPILLED ANYTHING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT JUST FAILED. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT AND IS RANDOM IN THE CAR.I TOOK IT TO SUBARU AND THEY SAID THAT I SPILLED SOMETHING ON THE SEAT AND WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SENSOR FOR OVER $1200. I HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS FROM SUBARU MODELS OF ALL KINDS WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES. IT IS IN A VARIETY OF MODELS AND DIFFERENT YEAR CARS.
REAR SPRINGS BROKE. CAR NEVER OVERLOADED OR DRIVEN OFF ROAD
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON CITY STREET WHEN A CAR DROVE OUT OF A PARKING LOT, ACROSS AND IN FRONT OF HER, SHE HAD HARDLY ANY TIME TO APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE OTHER CAR, MY CAR SUFFERED EXTENDED DAMAGE AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOYED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE SUBARU.
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.
AT 56,000 MILES HIT A MODERATE SIZE POT HOLE RESULTING IN BROKEN REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING REQUIRING NEW SPRING, SHOCK AND ALIGNMENT. AT 67,000 MILES HEARD LOUD BANG COMING FROM CAR WHILE PARKED. FOUND WHAT APPEARS TO BE PIECE OF BROKEN COIL SPRING UNDER CAR. REQUIRED NEW REAR DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING AND STRUT. APPEARS LARGE NUMBER OF SIMILAR VINTAGE FORESTERS HAVE EXPERIENCED BROKEN COIL SPRINGS WITH SPRINGS FOUND WITH BREAKS IN SIMILAR SPOTS.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
BROKEN RIGHT REAR COIL DISCOVERED DURING OIL CHANGE, NO KNOWN CAUSE
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
WE HAVE HAD TWO ONGOING ISSUES WITH OUR 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WE PURCHASED OUR CAR WHEN IT WAS TWO YEARS OLD HAVE HAD OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES AND A HARD TIME GETTING OUR KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AFTER DRIVING. ON OUR LAST TRIP TO FLORIDA FROM NY AND BACK WE HAD TO PURCHASE AND USE TWO QUARTS OF OIL. WE HAD A OIL CHANGE JUST BEFORE WE LEFT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. IN 2019 I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER TO CHECK AND ADD OIL TO A CAR. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. WE HAD AT LEAST THREE CONSUMPTION TESTS DONE AND THEY CAME BACK NEGATIVE. I'M CURRENTLY AFRAID TO TAKE MY CAR ANYWHERE SINCE THE KEY AND IGNITION ARE UNPREDICTABLE. I NEVER KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH OUR SUBARU. IT IS OUR SECOND SUBARU. WE HAD NO ISSUES WITH OUR LAST CAR.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION, WONT COME OUT! THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY
THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SPRING ON MY 2014 FORESTER WITH 39,500 MILES BROKE SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED ON A LIFT AND RAISED UP AT THE REPAIR SHOP THE SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SPRING BROKE AS WELL. I HAVE NEVER GONE OFF ROAD, TOWED, OR CARRIED HEAVY LOADS. LOOKING AROUND ONLINE, MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME THING OCCUR. THE REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WERE BACK-ORDERED FROM SUBARU FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, INDICATING THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND A NATIONWIDE RECALL SHOULD OCCUR. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN MY SPRING BROKE BUT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS.
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.
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 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
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.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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