This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Subaru Forester steering problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Subaru Forester have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 69,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Forester | 5 |
| 2014 Forester (this page) | 16 |
| 2015 Forester | 19 |
| 2016 Forester | 19 |
| 2017 Forester | 24 |
| 2018 Forester | 24 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 16 steering 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
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 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 steering 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.
As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcingan extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) GearBox Assembly for certain 2012-2018 MY vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcing an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for the Electronic Power Steering Gear Box Assembly for certain 2012-2018 MY vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗As part of Subaru of Americaâs dedication to customer satisfaction, this letter is to inform you of an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for your vehicleâs Electronic Power Steering Gear Box Assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides helpful tips to simplify the diagnosis of sound concerns originating in the electronic power steering (EPS) gearbox (steering rack) assembly. If a vehicle presents with a ?rattling?, ?knocking? or possibly a ?clanging? type sound coming from the steering rack and / or a vibration felt through the steering wheel, use the flow chart below to help make diagnosis of the concern easier.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report electric power steering failures happening intermittently, most often in cold weather or on startup. The steering wheel becomes extremely difficult to turn or immovable, forcing owners to apply significant manual force. A warning light and service message appear, sometimes clearing after restart, only to reappear later the same day. One owner at 24,500 miles faced a $1,000+ repair bill for power steering gear replacement; dealers cite control module code 2532 as the culprit but inconsistently acknowledge the issue.
More alarmingly, multiple owners describe sudden, violent steering response where minimal wheel input causes the vehicle to jerk wildly across lanes. This happens unpredictably during normal driving. Subaru's service bulletins classify steering problems as mere "uneven steering effort" and non-safety items—no recall—but owners report these incidents nearly caused accidents.
Secondary issues include steering grinding noise during turns, steering not returning to neutral at speed, and steering wheels with peeling leather coating (acknowledged by Subaru as common but not recalled). One owner reported complete steering seizure combined with brake failure at 25,000 miles, resulting in a crash; the vehicle was totaled.
Subaru corporate has consistently blamed alignment rather than investigating the electric steering system itself, frustrating owners who received lemon law buybacks after the company failed to fix the actual problem.
Same Subaru Forester steering reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Electric Power Steering Module Failure
The steering control module loses power intermittently or completely, forcing owners to apply extreme manual force to turn the wheel. Occurs most commonly in cold weather or on startup. Code 2532 cited in at least one case.
When: Intermittent, particularly cold temperatures or startup; one owner reported failure at 24,500 miles, another at ~78,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering warning light on dashboard; Steering wheel extremely difficult or impossible to turn; Complete loss of power steering assist; Warning message requiring service; Intermittent loss—steering works after car is restarted
Codes mentioned: 2532
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering gear replacement quoted at $1,000 parts + $600+ labor; steering module replacement performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru acknowledges issue in service bulletins as 'uneven steering effort' but classified it as non-safety item and did not issue recall; dealerships sometimes unaware of issue; one owner received lemon law buyback after four documented incidents
Electric Steering Rack Misalignment / Sudden Steering Input Response
Steering input becomes grossly exaggerated—slight wheel rotation causes sudden, violent steering movement. Owners describe jerking wildly across lanes from minimal input. Appears linked to electric steering rack malfunction.
When: Intermittent; one incident occurred at 55 mph during icy conditions, another while executing a left turn
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle veers suddenly out of control from minimal steering input; Entire back-end pulls out of control; Jerking wildly to opposite side of road from slight steering input; Occurs inconsistently, difficult to replicate
Repairs/costs cited: Rear wheel alignment found out of spec in one case; one owner received lemon law buyback; repair attempts at alignment did not fully resolve underlying issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru corporate attributed issue to misalignment and did not investigate deeper steering system malfunction; owner reported concern was dismissed; no recall issued
Steering Wheel Stiffness / Grinding Noise
Grinding noise occurs when turning the wheel while the vehicle is in motion. In some cases, steering does not return to neutral smoothly at speed.
When: During active steering maneuvers while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise when steering during motion; Steering does not return to neutral state when turning at speed; Audible grinding on frequent basis
Steering Wheel Leather Coating Degradation
Steering wheel leather coating disintegrates, exposing foam undercoat material which also begins to deteriorate. Subaru acknowledged this as a common issue for 2014 Foresters but did not recall.
When: Disintegration observed after over one year of ownership; present at 69,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Leather coating peeling and disintegrating; Foam undercoat exposed and degrading
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru dealership acknowledged as common 2014 Forester issue but did not offer recall or warranty coverage; owner stated it should be recalled
Key Stuck in Ignition with Steering Column Lock
Key becomes stuck in the ignition, requiring up to 30 minutes to remove. Issue started with needing to jiggle the key and move the steering column, now occurring frequently.
When: Intermittent, becoming more frequent over time
Symptoms owners cite: Key stuck in ignition; Steering column movement needed to free key; Extended time required to remove key (up to 30 minutes)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes this is becoming a common faulty issue
Complete Steering Loss and Brake Failure
Vehicle experienced simultaneous steering wheel seizure and brake pedal failure while exiting a car wash. Vehicle accelerated independently and crashed into a pole. Airbags did not deploy.
When: Approximately 25,000 miles; while exiting car wash
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerated independently without warning; Brake pedal failed to operate; Steering wheel seized completely; Airbags did not deploy
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle deemed total loss; not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer reimbursed rental vehicle cost but did not investigate failure
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Subaru forester. While exiting the car wash, the vehicle accelerated independently without warning and crashed into a pole. When the brake pedal was depressed, it failed to operate and the steering wheel seized. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was not notified and the…
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2014 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 24,000 and 78,000 miles, with the median around 69,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,000; a quarter make it past 78,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.