Subaru Forester 2014–2018 problems by year and mileage
4th generation (SJ)
NHTSA data through 18 October 20262,521 complaints, 1,489 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2014 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 54,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 403
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2014
- Suspension94 reports · median 56,000 mi
- Engine69 reports · median 37,000 mi
- Airbag system57 reports · median 75,000 mi
Recall areas Exterior lighting — brake lights · Equipment
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2015 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 44,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 615
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2015
- Engine131 reports · median 46,000 mi
- Airbag system102 reports · median 60,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline95 reports · median 51,000 mi
Recall areas Air bags — sensor · Exterior lighting — brake lights · Engine and engine cooling — engine
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2016 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 39,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 415
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2016
- Airbag system99 reports · median 40,000 mi
- Electrical system93 reports · median 40,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise69 reports · median 40,000 mi
Recall areas Air bags — sensor · Exterior lighting — brake lights · Engine and engine cooling — engine
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2017 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 30,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 590
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2017
- Airbag system165 reports · median 30,000 mi
- Electrical system106 reports · median 38,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper104 reports · median 31,000 mi
Recall areas Air bags — sensor
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2018 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 16,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 498
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2018
- Visibility/wiper135 reports · median 18,000 mi
- Airbag system99 reports · median 13,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise84 reports · median 10,000 mi
Recall areas Fuel system, gasoline — delivery · Air bags — sensor · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. † Median likely runs low (complaints filed after 2020). Latest: the 2014; earliest: the 2018, and the 2014 is 4 years older (part of the gap is age).
The short answer
“Is the 2014–2018 Subaru Forester reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 35,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 88,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,489
- Recalls
- 6
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints came after 2020, so its median likely runs low (why).
Most reported
- Airbag system20.7% of complaints · median 40,000 mi
- Electrical system15.6% of complaints · median 39,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise14.5% of complaints · median 30,000 mi
Documented problems
- Engine (FB25 Oil Consumption)2014–2015
- Transmission (Lineartronic CVT)2014–2018
- Glass2015–2018
- Airbags (Takata Inflator)2014–2018
Owners filed 2,521 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014–2018 Subaru Forester; the airbag system leads with 20.7% of them, and half of the 1,489 that record an odometer reading came by 35,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 15,000 to 59,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2014–2018 Subaru Forester last?
On the 2014–2018 Subaru Forester, half of the 1,489 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 35,000 miles and 90% by 88,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
21 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 2 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Forester reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Subaru Forester 2014–2018 · 1,489 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
5,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 168 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 2 complaints (0.1%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 4,000
- 25%
- 15,000
- Median
- 35,000
- 75%
- 59,000
- 90%
- 88,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 168 | 11.3% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 96 | 6.4% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 96 | 6.4% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 91 | 6.1% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 96 | 6.4% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 80 | 5.4% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 94 | 6.3% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 86 | 5.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 114 | 7.7% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 64 | 4.3% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 74 | 5.0% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 61 | 4.1% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 55 | 3.7% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 36 | 2.4% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 43 | 2.9% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 37 | 2.5% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 30 | 2.0% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 25 | 1.7% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 23 | 1.5% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 14 | 0.9% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 17 | 1.1% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 15 | 1.0% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 9 | 0.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 8 | 0.5% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 10 | 0.7% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 8 | 0.5% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 6 | 0.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 2 | 0.1% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Forester problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Subaru Forester 2014–2018
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Throttle and speed control212 reportsmedian 24,000middle half 10,000–46,000
- Visibility/wiper291 reportsmedian 25,000middle half 12,000–40,000
- Problems owners could not categorise366 reportsmedian 30,000middle half 11,000–50,000
- Engine339 reportsmedian 38,000middle half 16,000–68,000
- Electrical system394 reportsmedian 39,000middle half 16,000–55,000
- Airbag system522 reportsmedian 40,000middle half 20,000–65,000
- Transmission and driveline256 reportsmedian 43,000middle half 11,000–74,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 522 | 20.7% | 40,000 | 20,000–65,000 |
| Electrical system | 394 | 15.6% | 39,000 | 16,000–55,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 366 | 14.5% | 30,000 | 11,000–50,000 |
| Engine | 339 | 13.4% | 38,000 | 16,000–68,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 291 | 11.5% | 25,000 | 12,000–40,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 256 | 10.2% | 43,000 | 11,000–74,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 212 | 8.4% | 24,000 | 10,000–46,000 |
| Suspension | 201 | 8.0% | 53,000 | 39,000–67,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 125 | 5.0% | 38,000 | 14,000–61,000 |
| Seats | 122 | 4.8% | 33,000 | 14,000–65,000 |
Known problems with the 2014–2018 Forester
Engine (FB25 Oil Consumption) 2014–2015
Continued excessive oil consumption from FB25 piston ring design; covered by the same class action settlement population and Subaru extended coverage to 8 years / 100,000 miles for affected vehicles.
Transmission (Lineartronic CVT) 2014–2018
CVT chain, valve body and torque converter complaints - shudder, hesitation and in some cases loss of drive. Subaru extended CVT warranty coverage to 10 years / 100,000 miles on affected CVT-equipped vehicles of this era.
Glass 2015–2018
Windshield cracking from minor or no apparent impact, the subject of owner litigation across several Subaru models of this era.
Airbags (Takata Inflator) 2014–2018
Takata inflator recall population continues into this generation.
Transmission (generation Context) 2014–2018
The Lineartronic CVT became the dominant transmission for the first time in the US Forester with this generation, replacing the 4-speed automatic. CVT failure modes do not apply to 2013-and-earlier US Foresters.
Before you buy a 2014–2018 Forester: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,489 mileage-tagged complaints, 6 recall campaigns, 5 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 6 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check engine (FB25 oil consumption) on 2014–2015 (settlement window); complaints continue 2016–2018 cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check transmission (Lineartronic CVT) on 2014–2018 cars.
- Check glass on 2015–2018 cars.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Forester problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi75% below | At 90k mi90% below | At 120k mi96% below | At 150k mi99% below | At 200k mi100% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 20,000–65,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 16,000–55,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 11,000–50,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 16,000–68,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Visibility/wiper | 12,000–40,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 11,000–74,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 10,000–46,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Subaru Forester 2014–2018 · 1,489 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 75% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 90% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 96% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2014–2018 Subaru Forester recalls (6)
NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around equipment (2), the fuel system (1), the airbag system (1) (why one area can repeat).
Jul 2021 · 2018 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
What can happen. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614.…
Oct 2019 · 2015–2018 · Air BagsIf the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
What can happen. If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer…
Feb 2019 · 2014–2016 · Exterior LightingBrake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or…
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake…
What can happen. Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's…
Jul 2018 · 2018 · EquipmentInstalling incorrect tires or applying incorrect tire air pressure may increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. The Certification Label may indicate the incorrect wheel size, tire size, and air pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor…
What can happen. Installing incorrect tires or applying incorrect tire air pressure may increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected label, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number…
Mar 2016 · 2015–2016 · Engine and Engine CoolingAn engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack…
What can happen. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began…
Apr 2013 · 2014 · EquipmentCurling of the driver side floor mat could distract the driver and/or interfere with proper operation of one…
The defect. Subaru is recalling certain model year 2014 Forester vehicles manufactured from January 2013 through March 2013. The backing for the carpeted floor mats was not manufactured to specification. As a result, the floor mats may curl when exposed to heat.
What can happen. Curling of the driver side floor mat could distract the driver and/or interfere with proper operation of one or a combination of, the vehicle's clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals. Brake or…
The free fix. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace each of the vehicle's four (4) carpeted floor mats with new ones. These services will be performed free of charge. Subaru issued an interim…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 2,521 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 207 (8.2%)
- Fires
- 15
- Injury reports
- 90
- Fatality reports
- 0
Forester problems by model year
The 2015 drew the most complaints of this generation, 615, most of them about the engine, and the 2014 the fewest, 403. A typical year drew about 498.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 403 | 298 | 54,000 | Suspension (94) | 2 |
| 2015 | 615 | 410 | 44,000 | Engine (131) | 3 |
| 2016 | 415 | 218 | 39,000† | Airbag system (99) | 3 |
| 2017 | 590 | 321 | 30,000† | Airbag system (165) | 1 |
| 2018 | 498 | 242 | 16,000† | Visibility/wiper (135) | 3 |
What Forester owners reported
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with ODS failure. The contact was informed that the ODS needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had covered the cost for the…
2018 · 100 miles · Airbag system
The contact owned a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while at a complete stop with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated without warning and crashed into a fire hydrant. While the foot was still on the brake pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate and struck a street sign. The vehicle…
2016 · 100,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the rear wheels of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the hub bearing…
2016 · 110,000 miles · Wheels
The contact's spouse owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop or at various speeds on several occasions, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate as intended. The Hill Assist and Automatic Transmission Oil Temperature warning lights flashed, and the ABS, Traction…
2015 · 108,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 1,489 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Forester generations
- Forester 1998–2002 230 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Forester 2003–2008 582 reports with mileage, most about the fuel and propulsion system
- Forester 2009–2013 539 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Forester 2019–2024 801 reports with mileage, most about visibility/wiper