2014 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

69Engine complaints

17.1%Of all 403 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION93 · 23.1%

ENGINE69 · 17.1%

AIR BAGS55 · 13.6%

Unspecified / other44 · 10.9%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL41 · 10.2%

Share of the 403 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2014 Subaru Forester overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE PARKING THIS VEHICLE ON THE STREET, IN FRONT OF OUR APT., SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, ONCE PARKED AND HOOD OPENED, ENGINE CAUGHT…”NHTSA complaint 11093272 — filed 05/10/2018

“MY 2014 FORESTER HAS STALLED ON ME 5 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 YEARS WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND EL PASO TX. WHILE TRAVELING…”NHTSA complaint 11043768 — filed 11/06/2017

“I HAVE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2013, IN WHICH THE CHECK OIL LIGHT ROUTINELY GOES ON APPROXIMATELY…”NHTSA complaint 11022339 — filed 09/08/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2014 Subaru Forester have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2014 Subaru Forester: 69 of 403 complaints on file (17.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2014 Subaru Forester have in total?

403 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 48 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 28 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.