This bulletin provides information on paint codes for vehicles in the 2026 line up.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Subaru Forester body problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Subaru Forester have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 41,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Forester | 6 |
| 2011 Forester | 5 |
| 2012 Forester | 3 |
| 2014 Forester (this page) | 17 |
| 2015 Forester | 17 |
| 2016 Forester | 6 |
| 2017 Forester | 12 |
| 2018 Forester | 10 |
6crashes
7injuries
What stands out
Among the 12 model years of Subaru Forester in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides a procedure for replacement of the black foam rubber insulating cushions for the roof spoiler.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗We recently informed retailers and customers of an extension to the New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 2014-2018 Forester Rear Gate Stays.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty for the rear gate stays on the listed models and model years.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty for the rear gate stays on the listed models and model years. This will apply to Forester models with or without the power rear gate (PRG).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Liftgate strut failure dominates this complaint set. Owners describe gas-lift support arms breaking or corroding at the ball joint, causing the hatch to drop violently from the open position with force enough to injure bystanders and family members. Several report rust visible on the ball joints before failure. Failures occur across the mileage range (18k–88.5k miles). Two owners say adjusting the liftgate height setting prevents full opening; one replaced the liftgate and strut out-of-pocket after a dealer didn't complete repairs.
Other structural failures include a hood latch and strap that gave way at 18k miles while driving 20 mph, forcing the owner off the road into a tree. The same vehicle had a transmission shift lever detach, trapping the ignition key—a dealer repair attempt failed to fix it.
Water intrusion through the hatchback has caused mold and electrical damage (inoperable lights, smoking mirror) at 100k miles. Door seals on both sides separate repeatedly in temperature extremes. The passenger door corner is reported as a sharp edge without rubber protection—one owner needed 11 stitches after the door caught her leg during closure.
Three separate incidents describe unexpected acceleration while braking to park, though diagnostics and repair details are sparse. One owner references TSB 12-204-16R for a rear rattle. Dealer responses have been inconsistent; manufacturer assistance is rarely documented.
Same Subaru Forester body reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Liftgate/tailgate strut failure
Gas lift support arms (struts) on the powered liftgate fracture or break, typically at the ball joint connector. Owners report the struts corroding and the ball joint shearing off. When a strut fails, the liftgate suddenly drops with force instead of being held open, creating a hazard.
When: Between 18,000 and 88,500 miles; failures reported on parked vehicles during normal use
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate slams down abruptly when opening or while raised; Loud crash or noise as liftgate drops; Visible rust and corrosion on strut ball joints; Liftgate does not hold open position
Repairs/costs cited: Liftgate replacement and strut replacement. One owner replaced the entire liftgate and one strut online out-of-pocket; another was charged by dealer (Ruges Subaru in Rhinebeck, NY) but repair was not completed. Some owners adjust liftgate maximum height setting to prevent full opening.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 12-204-16R referenced by one owner. No recall or warranty coverage mentioned by complainants.
Hood latch and strap failure
Hood latch and strap fail suddenly while driving, allowing the hood to fly open and obstruct driver vision.
When: At approximately 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hood suddenly opens while driving; Impaired vision during driving; Hood latch failed; Hood strap failed
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic diagnosed latch and strap replacement needed; owner did not complete repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified; no response recorded.
Transmission shift lever detachment
The lever within the transmission shift stick detaches internally, preventing the vehicle from shifting gears and trapping the ignition key.
When: At approximately 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to shift gears; Unable to remove ignition key; Shift release lever failed
Repairs/costs cited: Certified mechanic repaired the vehicle but the failure persisted after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified; no warranty or recall mentioned.
Hatchback water leak and electrical damage
Water leaks through the hatchback seal onto interior, causing mold growth on rear passenger side roof and resulting in inoperable interior lights. Moisture also caused smoke to emit from driver's side mirror.
When: At approximately 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rain leaking through hatchback; Mold forming on rear passenger side roof interior; Interior lights inoperable; Smoke coming from driver's side mirror
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis or repair attempted by owner.
Door corner sharp edge design hazard
The upper corner of the passenger door has a sharp edge with no rubber bumper protection. When the door closes, the unpadded corner can catch and lacerate the leg of a person standing near it.
When: Reported at vehicle parked on driveway, no mileage stated
Symptoms owners cite: Sharp corner on door with no rubber protection; Door corner catches leg when door closes; Laceration requiring medical attention
Repairs/costs cited: Manufacturer suggested filling or cutting off the corner; owner did not pursue repair. No other assistance offered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer inspected the door after notification; suggested filling/cutting corner but offered no other assistance.
Door seal separation
The door seals on both driver and passenger doors repeatedly separate from the door frame, particularly in hot or cold weather conditions.
When: No specific mileage reported; occurs in temperature extremes
Symptoms owners cite: Driver side door seal comes loose from door; Passenger side door seal comes loose from door; Seal resistant to reinsertion; Problem occurs intermittently in extreme temperatures
Repairs/costs cited: Owner repeatedly pushes seal back into place; no permanent repair attempted.
Unexpected acceleration event
Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly when the brake pedal is applied, resulting in collision with fixed object.
When: Incident 1: while parking in lot; Incident 2: while driving up driveway at low speed; Incident 3: while braking to park on driveway
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges or jerks forward despite brake application; Unintended acceleration while attempting to brake and park
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; damage to vehicle and surroundings (restaurant wall, garage door, bumper, grill, wheel/tire).
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2014 Subaru Forester?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2014 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 7,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 41,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Subaru/Forester.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.