Subaru Forester problems

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 402 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 Subaru Forester is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

On the NHTSA data, the 2014 Subaru Forester is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: Powertrain: 37 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 16,320–86,000 mi; Electrical system: 35 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 25,000–109,000 mi; Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is suspension, with 91 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 57,730 miles. Average repair cost runs about $900 at an independent shop.

The suspension is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $900 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 57,730 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 402 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $900, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.