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2014 Subaru Forester Electrical Problems

35 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

35
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
Feb 2018Dec 2019
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (35)

criticalELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2025

Your car experienced sudden unintended acceleration on two separate occasions (May 2024 and again in late 2024). A mechanic replaced the air-fuel ratio sensor and mass air flow sensor, which temporarily stopped the problem, but the sudden acceleration returned about 6 months later. The issue may require deeper diagnosis of the fuel and engine control systems to find the root cause.

NHTSA #: 11703583
criticalELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
Crash / FireFiled: Mar 2025

After hitting a deer head-on at 65 mph, your car's airbags deployed correctly and the engine shut off, allowing you to brake safely to the shoulder. However, the engine caught fire within 10 minutes of the collision, and the vehicle became completely engulfed in flames. This rapid fire development posed a serious risk, as you had very little time to safely exit the vehicle. The fire may have been caused by fuel or electrical system damage from the collision impact, and will require a complete inspection of the fuel system, battery, and electrical wiring.

NHTSA #: 11651125
highELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2026

You purchased a 2014 Subaru Forester that showed 77,000 miles at the time of sale, but when you went to register it, the odometer reading was found to be 166,000 miles — a discrepancy of 89,000 miles. This suggests the odometer may have been tampered with or rolled back before you bought the vehicle. You'll need to contact your state's motor vehicle department and potentially consult with a lawyer about odometer fraud, as this is a serious issue that affects the vehicle's actual condition and your purchase.

NHTSA #: 11726313
highELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CrashFiled: Oct 2024

Your car's ignition key gets stuck and won't turn smoothly in the ignition switch. This has resulted in a crash. The ignition switch or key cylinder likely needs inspection and may require replacement or cleaning to restore proper function.

NHTSA #: 11618368
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2023

The driver window stopped working approximately November 2022 at about 40,000 miles. I was advised to try a reset procedure, which did not work. If there is flooding or any reason the driver needs to escape the vehicle through the window, they will not be able to. I found TSB 07-152-19R for my mom's car, yet the dealer expects us to pay almost $500 to fix this known problem.

NHTSA #: 11543890
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2023

This is one of the emails I sent to Subaru. I had just paid 425 to replace a tail light when the seal failed, the same time the wiper motor went bad 600+ to fix that. This car was in such bad shape they did not even recommend repairing. I had to buy a used car which was a financial hardship. I believe Subaru should reimburse me the cost of the transmission and tail light assembly Gentlemen, I'm writing to you to express my EXTREME regret in buying a Subaru. If I went into all the repair details, it would take forever. My new case number is 2303131700678. I m requesting that this repair be covered and paid for completely by Subaru, as well as the money I paid towards the new transmission be refunded to me. Once you review all the repair records, you will understand my frustration. This whole car is an example of poor engineering and quality control. I held up my end of the deal, I paid off the loan, I maintained the car thru scheduled maintenance at the dealership. Subaru has failed me. Have your team pull all my repair records and read them thoroughly. Note the bad bushings, note the failed back up camera, note how the entire under the hood has failed at only at 120,000 miles. Where is my 200,000 miles that you claim the car should last? Subaru sold a defective car, Subaru knows darn well that this model has transmission and oil issues. I don't care that my systems failed after the 100,000 extended warranty. If you did your job right, you would not have to have extended it. I look forward to my transmission reimbursement and the complete repairs the car requires AT NO COST TO ME. It is your turn to uphold your part of the bargain.

NHTSA #: 11517063
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2021

Several warning messages appeared on the dash at the same time: Check engine, Check emissions control system, Hill start assist system needs to be checked. In addition, the pictures of a car climbing a hill and a car with swerving skid marks behind it lit up. (I don't know the official names of these icons.) The engine then either lost power and would not accelerate when I pressed the gas pedal or would rev and accelerate on its own, even when I had the brake depressed. I have taken my car into the dealership 4 times over the past two years for this same issue. I do not have the exact dates of the first two instances, but the last two were on July 7, 2021, and September 17, 2021. Each time the dealer has been able to verify the warning lights and unintended acceleration. They say the problem is with the brake pedal assembly and have replaced it with a new assembly 3 times. They're working on the 4th one right now.

NHTSA #: 11435778
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2021

I found that the horn did not work while I was driving. Later I found this to be an intermittent problem, which I looked up on line. Someone described turning the wheel to the extreme right or left made the horn work again. I tested this in my car; with the steering wheel straight the horn did not work, then when turned to the extreme in either direction, or using the panic button on the key fob the horn worked. Since I do not use the horn very often, I found out about this problem during a dangerous situation in which I both pressed on the brakes to avoid collision and used my horn to alert the other driver. I reproduced the problem myself, but it is possible that when I take it to the dealer it may not manifest because it is intermittent. The component has not been inspected by anyone, there were no warning lights or indicators of a potential malfunction. The problem first appeared last week. I will get the vehicle repaired and can make the component available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA #: 11427028
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2021

THE IGNITION CYCLINDER WILL NOT RELEASE VEHICLE KEY. UPON TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN PAST ON TO THE OFF POSITION. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL TRIES OF CYCLING ON AND OFF BEFORE THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED. ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT, MOVING SHIFTER FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND BACK EVENTUALLY ALLOWS KEY TO BE REMOVED.

NHTSA #: 11414175
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2021

THE HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY WORK THEN CEASED TO WORK AT ALL. IF YOU TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL THE HORN WOULD WORK BUT NOT WORK IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STATIONARY. THIS SYMPTOM MEANT IT WAS A HIGH PROBABILITY THE CLOCK SPRING/ ROLL CONNECTOR WAS BAD.

NHTSA #: 11405226
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Nov 2020

MY BACKUP CAMERA ONLY WORKS PERIODICALLY. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THE DASHBOARD SCREEN SOMETIMES JUST SHOWS A BLACK SCREEN WITH THE DISTANCE LINES DISPLAYED. OTHER TIMES IT WORKS FINE. DOESNT SEEM TO BE A PATTERN. MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN POSTED MESSAGE BOARDS AND IT SEEMS LIKE CERTAIN OTHER SUBARUS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11374869
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Filed: Oct 2020

MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER HAS RECENTLY STARTED HAVING WARNINGS ABOUT SRS. PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A PASSENGER IS SEATED AND THEREFORE THE AIRBAG IS 'OFF' EVEN IF SEAT IS OCCUPIED. BOTH FRONT SEATS ARE HEATED AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT LEAD TO A RECALL FOR 2015 SUBARU FORESTERS. PLEASE EXTEND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE 2014 MODELS. VERY UNSAFE AND COSTLY ($900-$1,200 ACCORDING TO OTHER COMPLAINTS) TO REPAIR THIS SENSOR IN ORDER TO HAVE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OPERATIONAL. PASSENGER SEATBELT WARNING ALSO OCCASIONALLY COMES ON EVEN IF THERE IS NO ONE SITTING IN SEAT.

NHTSA #: 11362602
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Sep 2020

THE HORN STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA #: 11355019
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2020

I HAVE 2014 SUBARU FORESTER XT AND PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE KEY HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAVE TO PLAY AROUND TURNING THE CAR BACK ON, PUTTING IT IN DRIVE AND THEN BACK TO PARK, SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO MOVE THE CAR IN REVERSE OR DRIVE FORWARD A FEW INCHES AND QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK AND IT RELEASES THE KEY. IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE KEY TO COME OUT AFTER TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS AND/OR ALL OF THEM.

NHTSA #: 11321944
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLOW SUBARU (485 SILAS CREEK PKWY, WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27127), FOR AN INOPERABLE AIR CONDITION SYSTEM. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COMPRESSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 11321114
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2020

THE IGNITION CYCLINDER WILL NOT RELEASE VEHICLE KEY. UPON TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN PAST ON TO THE OFF POSITION. IT CAN TAKE UP TO 30 TRIES OF CYCLING KEY TO REMOVE KEY. MOVING THE SHIFTER AND STARTING THE CAR SEEM TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11315999
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Dec 2019

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.

NHTSA #: 11287842
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2019

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.

NHTSA #: 11252410
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Aug 2019

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.

NHTSA #: 11244791
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2019

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.

NHTSA #: 11244417
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jul 2019

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.

NHTSA #: 11228853
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE
Filed: Feb 2019

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.

NHTSA #: 11182899
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2018

I NOTICED THAT (WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE) THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ACCOUNT OR COMPENSATE FOR DOWNHILL TRAVEL AT ALL. WHILE SET TO ~60MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN A MODERATE DOWNHILL INCLINE TO REACH 70MPH. AS I BEGAN TO NOTICE AND CORRECT THIS TECHNICAL ERROR, I WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER AND WRITTEN A TICKET FOR SPEEDING 70MPH IN A 55MPH ZONE.

NHTSA #: 11122687
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Feb 2018

THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH FAILED WHICH RENDERED THE CAR INOPERABLE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE FROM PARK. THE STABILITY, HILL DECENT AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.

NHTSA #: 11073548
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2017

I HAVE A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER 2.0XT TOURING WITH PUSH START AND EYESIGHT. MY CAR WOULDN'T START WITH THE PUSH START BUTTON AND THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED. I COULDN'T PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN. WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED MONTHS AGO, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY AND THAT WAS REPLACED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AND I HAD THE RADIO ON FOR 30 MINUTES WHILE SITTING IN THE CAR. I COULDN'T START THE CAR AFTERWARDS AND THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP AT THE TIME AS WELL. I COULD NOT PRESS THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE SECOND TIME IT WOULD START WAS LAST SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2017 IN THE MORNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND I HAD TROUBLE STARTING IT IN THE MORNING. AND THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH NO GUARANTEES THIS WILL FIX THE PUSH START ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11039341
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DON MILLER SUBARU (WEST 5822 ODANA RD, MADISON, WI 53719) FOR AN INSPECTION, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT RODENTS HAD CHEWED THE SOY-BASED WIRING IN THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND DAMAGED THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 12/13/2017 *LN CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE REMAINS @ DAN MILLER WEST AS OF 10-30-17 BEING REPAIRED. CONTACTED SUBURU OF AMERICA ON 9-26-17 SERVICE REQUEST #1-26823068140 UPDATED 7/20/18*JB *TR

NHTSA #: 11025368
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2017

FUEL GAUGE REGISTERS 3/4 FULL EVEN WHEN FILLED TO CAPACITY. I DROVE 50 MILES ON MAY 8, 2017 AND IT STILL REGISTERED THE SAME WHEN I RETURNED. I TRIED ADDING ADDITIONAL GAS BUT THE GAS PUMP SHUT OFF AS IT WILL DO AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL.

NHTSA #: 10984934
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2017

WHEN PARKED FOR A TWO WEEK PERIOD, THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. HAS LEFT US STRANDED AT A PARKING GARAGE AT THE AIRPORT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. SUBARU SERVICE CLAIMS THAT IT IS "NORMAL" FOR A CAR BATTERY TO GO DEAD WHEN IT HASN'T BEEN RUN FOR TWO WEEKS.

NHTSA #: 10967424
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2016

LIFT GATE: THE LIFT GATE BUTTON ON THE DASH WHEN DEPRESSED DOES NOT ALWAYS OPEN THE LIFT GATE. SEVERAL PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER, AND IT STILL FAILS OCCASIONALLY. USING THE KEY FOB OPENS THE THE LIFT GATE 100% OF THE TIME, BUT NOT USING THE BUTTON ON THE DASH.

NHTSA #: 10918974
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Sep 2015

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE OR WHILE DRIVING IT THE FOLLOWING WARNING MESSAGES APPEAR (IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TINES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THEY WILL GO AWAY AND TEN REAPPEAR DAYS OR WEEKS LATER): VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED ABS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE IN JULY (BAY RIDGE SUBARU) THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, MESSAGES STARTED REAPPEARING. ISSUE WITH THESES MESSAGES IS CAR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR UPON STARTING UNLESS YOU PUMP BREAKS MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA #: 10766301
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Filed: Apr 2015

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, (APPROXIMATE 65 MPH) I GOT A MESSAGE ON THE CONSOLE THAT INDICATED THAT SRS SYSTEM HAD SHUT DOWN AND THE RED AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON. I DROVE IT HOME AND THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE RED AIR BAG LIGHT WENT AWAY. THE NEXT DAY WHILE I WAS RIDING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND A NOTE ON THE CONSOLE SAID THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SUBARU DEALER WHO COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE AND TURNED THE CAR BACK TO US. *TR

NHTSA #: 10712377
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Nov 2014

THE EYESIGHT, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEMS DO NOT RECOGNIZE STOPPED VEHICLES - HARD BRAKING IS REQUIRED TO STOP VEHICLE IN TIME. WHEN SYSTEMS DO FUNCTION THEY DO NOT GRADUALLY SLOW VEHICLE AND COME TO A STOP, BUT DO SO SUDDENLY AND DANGEROUSLY, CAUSING ME TO BRAKE HARD TO COME TO A STOP AT A SAFE DISTANCE BEHIND STOPPED VEHICLE. SAME SYSTEMS ARE ALSO DANGEROUSLY AFFECTED BY BRIGHT SUNLIGHT AND FAIL TO FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER SAID THEY CHECKED SYSTEMS OUT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. GAVE ME PRINT-OUT FROM OPERATING MANUAL STATING IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DRIVER TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY AT ALL TIMES AND THAT THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM IS NEVER A SUBSTITUTE FOR ACTIVE DRIVER INVOLVEMENT AND MAY NOT OPERATE OPTIMALLY UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS!!!!!!! SUBARU CORPORATE CUSTOMER RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE WAS NO SOFTWARE UPGRADE/FIX AVAILABLE FOR THE FORESTER MODEL. CERTAIN SUBARU 2015 MODELS ARE ADVERTISED TO HAVE AN UPGRADED EYESIGHT SYSTEM THAT RECOGNIZES LIGHTED TAILLIGHTS, AMONG OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. I WAS TOLD THE 2015 SYSTEM WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE 2014 FORESTER. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. A RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10659181
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2014

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORST. THE CAR HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLES TURNING OVER ON COLD STARTS, AND HAS EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF PROPULSION AND STALL GOING UP HILL INCLUDING A LOSS OF BRAKES SINCE I BOUGHT IT A YEAR AGO. ON 9/6/2014 THE CAR WAS STARTED AND WAS IDLING HIGH (APPROXIMATELY 4000RPM), CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, SPEED CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON, INCLINE ALERT LIGHT ON, SPORT MODE LIGHT WAS ON AND CHECK EMISSIONS SYSTEM LIGHT WAS ON. HAD TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND IT BARELY MADE IT UP THE INCLINE IN THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE AS IT WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR, CALLED FOR A TOW WHICH NEVER ARRIVED AND TRIED TO RESTART OUT OF FRUSTRATION ALL LIGHTS WERE OFF AND CAR I MADE IT TO THE DEALER WHICH WAS NOT FAR AWAY. HAVE ALREADY HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE CAR ONCE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY REPORTED THEIR DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THAT CAR ELECTRICAL\COMPUTER PROBLEMS CANNOT BE FIXED UNTIL THEY BREAK COMPLETELY (OR SOMEONE IS HURT OR INJURED PERHAPS). THERE WAS ONE MORE REPORT SIMILAR TO THIS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THAT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED. SEEMS TO ME THAT CAR IS NOT SAFE AT THIS POINT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10631329
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2014

STARTING FROM A COLD OR WARM TEMPERATURE THE VEHICLE CRANKS EXCESSIVELY AND WILL NOT START UNTIL A SECOND OR THIRD ATTEMPT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT RANDOM AND ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10611204
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2014

I WAS DRIVING MY 6 MONTH OLD 2014 SUBARU FORESTER AT ABOUT 50 MPH AT NIGHT AND MY DRIVER'S SEAT BEGAN RECLINING. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE MECHANISM TO STOP IT WAS NOT WORKING. IT HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES AFTER THAT OCCURRENCE. ALSO, THE POWER LIFT GATE WAS INOPERABLE. I HAD TO CRAWL INTO THE BACK CARGO AREA TO TRY TO OPEN THE REAR LIFT GATE. IT WOULD NOT OPEN, EVEN FROM THE INSIDE. IT WAS REINITIALIZED SEVERAL TIMES BY KINGERY RYE SUBARU IN RYE, NY AND THEY FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY THEY REPLACED THE PART BUT THE OPERATION OF LIFT GATE REMAINS UNPREDICTABLE. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE THE POWER LIFT GATE AT ALL TIMES TO PUT A WHEELCHAIR IN THE BACK. I WAS INFORMED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA (IN WRITING) THAT SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT ARE OCCURRING ARE BECAUSE KINGERY RYE SUBARU INSTALLED AN AFTER MARKET REMOTE STARTER INTO MY CAR WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE OR APPROVAL. I HAVE WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA STATING THE DEALERS MUST INSTALL SUBARU PARTS. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR A SUBARU REMOTE STARTER. RYE SUBARU PUT A CHEAP AFTER MARKET STARTER INTO MY CAR. THAT IS FRAUD. MY CAR IS STARTING RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION. A CO-WORKER CAME INTO WORK AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS LOCKED AND RUNNING IN THE PARKING LOT. RECENTLY I CLOSED THE LIFT GATE, USING THE BUTTON ON THE LIFT GATE AND THE CAR STARTED ITSELF AS I WAS WALKING AWAY FROM IT. THE CAR HAS STARTED ON ITS OWN MANY TIMES. THERE ARE MULTIPLE DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT ARE PUTTING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY'S LIVES AT RISK. THE SIDE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S WINDOWS FOG UP WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON. THE DE-FOGGER DOES NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM AT ALL. I AM UNABLE TO SEE ANYTHING OUT THE SIDE WINDOWS WHICH POSES A BIG SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER. I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE IT HAD A HIGH SAFETY RATING. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA #: 10586411

Other 2014 Subaru Forester Issues