A piece of the rear suspension coil spring fell out onto the road when I was driving, and came to a halt behind me on the street. It is similar to a piece I found in my driveway a year ago (which I did not recognize or know where it came from. The car's handling has been 'different' but can't tell if it will become unsafe.
2014 Subaru Forester suspension problems
moderate 91 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
91
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 91 suspension 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
Of the 12 model years of Subaru Forester we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 91.
Owners have filed 91 suspension 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.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Subaru forester. While driving into the garage, the contact noticed metal on the ground. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed that the rear passenger side spring fractured. The contact called capitaland motors (37 saratoga rd, schenectady, ny 12302, (518) 631-5792) and informed them of the failure.…
Rear coil springs broken right and left 01/07/2019 - 27811 miles on car, replaced by dealer during state inspection I did not know they were broken until told by service advisor
Bottom of both left and right rear coil springs broke - at the point where they sit on the lower spring seat of the strut. They both fractured at exactly the same spot on the coil - at the first 1/2 loop of the coil (about 4 inches) and in the same diagonal type of shear. Pictures attached of the pieces that broke off each coil. Car has only 58,000 miles and never driven off road or…
Driving down the highway at approximately 70 MPH and the drivers side rear coil spring collapsed. We heard a loud metal bang and when we got home I noticed the coil spring was broken.
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2014 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 91 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 77 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 43,000 and 72,000 miles, with the median around 55,565. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,000; a quarter make it past 72,000. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.