CarComplaints.com Notes: Is burning a quart of oil every 1,000 miles normal? Depends on who you ask. While Subaru says it's within "normal specifications," owners wonder why they need to top off their oil reservoir 4 times between every 5,000 mile oil change.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,117 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Subaru Forester body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2014 Subaru Forester Owner Comments

problem #17

Aug 212021

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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://

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #16

May 052021

Forester

  • miles
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.

- Gahanna, OH, USA

problem #15

Apr 012020

Forester

  • 75,000 miles
Oil is constantly having to be checked because this vehicle goes through lots of oil. I've put a newer engine in the car due to the first one doing this. Also the front right cv joint is about to need replacement and is loud. Both of these issues have happened as soon as I bought the car April 2020.also, cruise control works on and off literally back windows won't come down, horn won't honk and bluetooth is horrible.

- Sonoma, CA, USA

problem #14

Feb 042017

Forester

  • 34,069 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Rancho Cordova, CA, USA

problem #13

Aug 082020

Forester

  • 125,500 miles
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.

- Kerhonkson, NY, USA

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problem #12

Jul 212019

Forester 4-cyl

  • 109,000 miles
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. 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.

- Perryopolis, PA, USA

problem #11

Jul 162019

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2014 Subaru accelerated as I pulled into a parking spot hitting a tree. My foot was on the brake when this happened.my air bags did not deploy.

- Santa Cruz, CA, USA

problem #10

Jul 162019

Forester

  • miles
My 2014 Subaru forrester accelerated and hit a tree as I pulled into a parking space. It tboned the front end and and the air bags did not deploy..I was going into the space very slowly and it was when it accelerated.

- Santa Cruz, CA, USA

problem #9

May 232017

Forester

  • 41,000 miles
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.

- La Guna, CA, USA

problem #8

Feb 092019

Forester

  • miles
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.

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #7

Feb 252019

Forester

  • 66,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Rego Park, NY, USA

problem #6

Jul 252015

Forester

  • 11,335 miles
I had just gassed up at bj's in farmingdale and was pulling into a parking spot adjacent to and facing the pump area I had just left. Separating my parking space and the pump I just left was a curb and a short uphill embankment of about 45 degrees, and 20 feet to the roadwaway in front of the pump I had just left. As I "stopped" the car, it instead lurched forward, up and over the embankment, ripping out the undercarriage protective shield. This was all a distance of about 30 feet. With my braking it, the car stopped and I was able to drive to a safe area and inspect the damage. There was no leakage, but scraping on the underside of the front bumper, and I then realized the protective plastic shroud had remained at the embankment scene, so I retrieved it. The speed I noted is a guess, but the car had to climb a height of perhaps 8 feet in a 20 foot distance! very fortunately, there were no injuries, but, my "landing spot" was 20 feet in front of the car gassing up in the spot I had just left, adjacent to 6 double rows of gas pumps! had I selected 1 or 2 parking spots adjacent, my car would have crashed into them all! I have brought the car to hicksville NY suburu this am and they found no problem with the car, other than to reattach the shroud. I and they have no explanation, other than possibly the driver floor mat, which had a recall but appears to be in its proper place, and I have pictures of same which I took upon retiring home after the incident.

- N. Massapequa, NY, USA

problem #5

May 182014

Forester

  • 6,091 miles
In parking spot, foot on brake, car suddenly surged.

- Pomona, NY, USA

problem #4

Aug 172014

Forester 4-cyl

  • 7,000 miles
Just pulled into a parking spot, foot on brake, car surged.

- Pomona, NY, USA

problem #3

Jun 192014

Forester 4-cyl

  • 14,000 miles
I was turning left on an arrow and a car ran the red light resulting in a head on collision with me, I was driving about 3mph and he was driving 45mph. His car was totalled, airbags deployed and on fire. I had front end damage and my airbags did not deploy nor did the seat belt lock up. As a result I hit the steering wheel with my knee and my ankle got lacerated and blunt trauma from the brake/accelartation pedal.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #2

Jun 062014

Forester 4-cyl

  • 2,500 miles
I slowly pulled into a parking space at walmart and the vehicle suddenly accelerated violently and jumped the median. The car crashed into metal racks with plants on them. The car was suspended on the median. Witnesses saw that the car surged forward while my brakes lights were on as I slowed to enter the parking space. Earlier on the day of the accident and the day before I noticed that the car hesitated (chugging while I was driving about 20 mph), but that stopped when I entered the highway. I now think this is somehow related to the acceleration surge.

- Seymour, CT, USA

problem #1

Jun 052014

Forester 4-cyl

  • 3,500 miles
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.

- Avon Lake, OH, USA

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