This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers). (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Subaru Forester engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2014 Subaru Forester have filed 41 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 40,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Forester | 29 |
| 2011 Forester | 50 |
| 2012 Forester | 22 |
| 2013 Forester | 22 |
| 2014 Forester (this page) | 41 |
| 2015 Forester | 72 |
| 2016 Forester | 32 |
| 2017 Forester | 23 |
| 2018 Forester | 14 |
1crash
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 41 engine complaints filed for the 2014 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 41 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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 updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2014 Subaru Forester engine generates two distinct clusters of complaints. The dominant issue is excessive oil consumption affecting multiple vehicles across their service life. Owners report needing to add oil every 1,200 to 3,000 miles despite following scheduled maintenance; many pass Subaru's official 1,200-mile oil consumption test yet continue burning oil at higher intervals. Subaru invoked a prior class-action settlement with an oil consumption test protocol, but owners say the test window is too short to catch their actual problem. Dealers and Subaru corporate have repeatedly told owners that consuming one quart per 1,200 miles is "normal," conflicting with owners' prior experience in other vehicles and inflating their out-of-pocket oil costs ($9–$12 per quart).
The second issue involves unexplained engine stalling and loss of power at highway speed—sometimes with warning lights, sometimes without. Owners describe the engine suddenly quitting at 35–70 mph with no check-engine code or sputtering, forcing them to coast to the shoulder. Mechanics find no diagnostic codes and cannot reproduce the stalls. A separate group reports hard starting in cold weather despite adequate battery charge and cranking voltage, and rough idles acknowledged by dealers but blamed on design. Other failures include detonation under load, post-repair performance degradation after catalyst replacement, cylinder misfires that persist through coil, fuel injector, and even full engine replacement, and occasional limp-mode hesitation without warning lights.
Same Subaru Forester engine reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive oil consumption
Engine burns oil at rates significantly above typical wear, requiring frequent top-offs between scheduled oil changes. Owners consistently report needing to add oil every 1,200 to 3,000 miles despite Subaru claiming up to 1 quart per 1,200 miles is normal. Many vehicles pass Subaru's official oil consumption test (measured at 1,200 miles post-service) yet continue losing oil at accelerating intervals, suggesting a test window too narrow to detect the actual problem.
When: Begins early in vehicle life (within first few thousand miles for some); worsens over time. Affects vehicles from 2014 model year manufactured in 2013–2014.
Symptoms owners cite: Check oil light illuminates well before next scheduled oil change; Oil level drops 0.75 quart to 1.5 quarts or more between checks; No visible smoke from exhaust in most cases; Requires carrying spare quarts of oil while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report Subaru offered engine replacement under class-action settlement only if vehicles failed 1,200-mile consumption test; most owners' vehicles passed that test but failed in real-world use. Some dealers replaced PCV valves without resolving the issue. Cost of replacement oil $9–$12 per quart; owners spending $140+ annually on supplemental oil.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America denied warranty coverage, citing normal consumption threshold of 1 quart per 1,200 miles. TSB 02-157-14R addressed piston-ring surface treatment; prior TSBs instructed piston-ring replacement. Class-action settlement required oil consumption testing at 1,200-mile intervals; Subaru stopped repairing the condition approximately three years prior to some complaint dates. Piston design changed in later 2014 model-year production (cars manufactured mid-2014 onward), but early 2014 models (manufactured 2013) remain affected.
Engine stalling and loss of power at highway speed
Engine suddenly stops running while driving at highway speeds (35–70 mph) with little or no warning. Owners report hard downshifts prior to stall in some cases, and all warning lights illuminating only after the vehicle has already lost power. The stall occurs without check-engine code in several cases and cannot be reproduced by mechanics, making diagnosis difficult.
When: Occurs at varying mileages, from 33,000 to 176,000+ miles. Multiple stalls have been reported in a single vehicle over years of ownership, particularly during uphill highway driving in hot weather or after sustained driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly stops while driving at highway speed; Hard downshift followed by engine stall (reported in some cases); No check-engine code or sputtering before failure; All warning lights illuminate after stall, not before; Engine restarts after attempts; mechanics cannot reproduce or diagnose; Transmission oil temperature warning or transmission hot light (in at least one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers and independent mechanics unable to identify root cause in multiple cases despite full electrical and fuel-system checks. One owner reported six-hour tow to dealership; vehicle started normally after towing and all diagnostics showed no failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru contacted in several cases but offered no explanation or assistance. One owner reported Subaru Advocacy agreed to pay $3,500 toward engine replacement out of warranty, with owner paying $1,500, after a serious accident caused by stalling.
Hard cold starts
Vehicle fails to start or requires multiple cranking attempts in cold weather despite adequate battery charge and cranking voltage. Problem persists even in temperatures warmer than prior winters when the vehicle started normally.
When: Reported in cold-weather conditions (around -10°F) on at least one 2014 Turbo XT model.
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple cranking attempts over 20+ minutes required to start; Adequate battery voltage and cranking amperage confirmed; No diagnostic trouble codes; Vehicle has rough idles on and off (acknowledged by dealer; TSB may address this)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer and Subaru of America offered little help; Subaru blamed battery despite owner's confirmation of adequate charge.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America dismissed the issue as a bad battery without further investigation.
Engine detonation under load and cylinder misfires
Engine detonates (spark knock) and stumbles under acceleration at highway speeds in warm weather, particularly uphill. In some cases, spark plugs burn out and damage the cylinder. Misfires in cylinder #3 or #4 persist through replacement of ignition coils, fuel injectors, and in one case a complete engine replacement.
When: Occurs during acceleration at highway speeds in temperatures around 85–90°F or higher. Burned spark plugs observed at 40,000 miles in one case.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stumbles, detonates, and hesitates under acceleration; Vehicle will not allow power application without hesitation; Problem can be recreated at will but does not always throw check-engine code; Burned spark-plug electrodes; Cylinder misfires (particularly #3 or #4) that persist across multiple repair attempts
Codes mentioned: P0301 (Cylinder 3 misfire detected) or P0304 (Cylinder 4 misfire detected)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported coil, fuel injector, O-rings, engine cleaning, and ultimately full engine replacement—all without resolving cylinder #4 misfire. Vehicle spent 34+ days in shop. Another reported $4k engine removal and resealing of camshaft carrier covers to address oil leakage affecting air-fuel sensor (code P0171); warranty did not cover repair after nine years.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru aware of detonation issue per TSB; treated problem as normal. One vehicle was reprogrammed via engine control module recall but burned plugs reappeared a year later without dealer diagnosis.
Post-warranty engine performance degradation after catalyst replacement
After dealer replaces catalytic converter under warranty, engine performance deteriorates significantly. Turbo boost activation becomes sluggish, unusual humming noise appears, CVT transmission shifts irregularly and at much higher RPMs than before.
When: Immediately after catalytic-converter replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Turbo boost does not activate until over 20% throttle (previously activated at 8%); Negative boost reading on electronic gauge; Humming sound resembling alternator-belt noise; CVT shifts irregularly and stays in one gear until 2,000 RPM (previously 1,500 RPM max in normal modes); Reduced engine responsiveness
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle returned to dealership for further investigation the following Monday.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America notified of the issue by owner.
Unexplained loss of power and electrical shutdown at low speed
While driving at low speed (parking lot turns, regular street driving), multiple warning systems shut down simultaneously—A/C stops, power steering fails, or engine appears to quit—then restore themselves after seconds. Occurs with increasing frequency.
When: Started a couple of years prior to complaint; happening more frequently at time of reporting.
Symptoms owners cite: A/C stops during low-speed left turns; Power steering shuts down during turns or while driving; Engine appears to quit with systems going dark, then restore; Multiple occurrences within short distance (4–5 times in 7 miles); No warning lights on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer service writer claimed unfamiliarity with issue despite it being reported across the internet.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Engine temperature and fuel starvation symptoms
Engine runs out of power while driving as if fuel supply has been cut, with RPMs remaining high but vehicle coasting without forward power.
When: Occurred at 70 mph on interstate highway.
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs remain high as if engine is running; No forward power; vehicle coasts; No check-engine light before failure; No sputtering; No fuel starvation confirmed by mechanics
Repairs/costs cited: Towed to mechanic; started normally on flat-bed truck with all systems checked and no failure found. Diagnostics ran no active codes. Three mechanics examined it; no issue identified. Owner remains fearful of highway driving.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not documented.
Acceleration hesitation and stumbling
Vehicle hesitates upon acceleration from a stop with slight shuttering, acknowledged as design flaw by dealer.
When: Present from early in vehicle life (reported at 6,600 miles on a new vehicle).
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when accelerating from stop; Slight shuttering during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: None; dealer acknowledged but attributed to design.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claims this is the way the car was designed.
Limp mode and loss of acceleration without warning
Vehicle enters limp mode and fails to accelerate in response to depressed accelerator pedal without illuminating a warning light.
When: Reported at 67,574 miles while driving 60 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle goes into limp mode; No acceleration despite pedal depression; No warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; not diagnosed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not informed.
CVT valve body failure
Transmission valve body failure requiring replacement after vehicle exhibits multiple warning lights.
When: Reported after 4 years of ongoing oil consumption issues and 67,000 miles of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple warning lights illuminate; CVT transmission malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: CVT Valve Body replacement required; significant repair cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented; issue attributed to oil consumption problems.
Synthesized from 41 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I have had ignition problems turning off the engine after stopping also I have to keep putting a quart of oil in when the oil light comes on while driving
During an oil change this week. I was told that I was down 1.5 quarts. I called the dealer and requested an oil consumption test. They denied my appointment and told me that this"was the new normal". I do not accept that my 2014 Subaru should be using this much oil. I checked the class action Subaru oil consumption lawsuit, but my VIN number is not included in the action. I believe there is…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2014 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 41 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 31 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 25,000 and 85,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 85,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.