Subaru Forester 2014–2018 problems by year and mileage
4th generation (SJ)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20262,512 complaints, 1,488 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
2 recall campaigns name the 2014: Exterior lighting — brake lights; Equipment. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 44,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 613
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2015
- Engine131 reports · median 46,000 mi
- Airbag system101 reports · median 60,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline95 reports · median 51,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2015: Air bags — sensor; Exterior lighting — brake lights; Engine and engine cooling — engine. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2016 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 39,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 414
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
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
3 recall campaigns name the 2016: Air bags — sensor; Exterior lighting — brake lights; Engine and engine cooling — engine. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 30,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 587
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2017
- Airbag system164 reports · median 30,000 mi
- Electrical system106 reports · median 38,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper104 reports · median 31,000 mi
1 recall campaign names the 2017: Air bags — sensor. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Subaru Forester
Close- Median failure report
- 16,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 495
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2018 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2018
- Visibility/wiper135 reports · median 18,000 mi
- Airbag system97 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise83 reports · median 10,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2018: Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Air bags — sensor; Equipment — other. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2014 reports latest and the 2018 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2014 has had 4 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
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
- 1,488
- Recalls
- 6
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported
- Airbag system20.6% of complaints · median 40,000 mi
- Electrical system15.7% 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 2,512 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014–2018 Subaru Forester; the airbag system leads with 20.6% of them, and half of the 1,488 that record an odometer reading came by 35,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 15,000 and 60,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2014–2018 Subaru Forester last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2014–2018 Subaru Forester, half of the 1,488 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 35,000 miles and 90% by 88,000 miles.
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 · 1,488 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 167 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 2 complaints (0.1%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 3,800
- 25%
- 15,000
- Median
- 35,010
- 75%
- 59,600
- 90%
- 88,223
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 167 | 11.2% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 96 | 6.5% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 96 | 6.5% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 91 | 6.1% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 96 | 6.5% |
| 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. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Forester problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Subaru Forester 2014–2018
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Throttle and speed control212 reports24,00010,000–46,000Throttle and speed control: 212 reports, median 24,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 46,000 miles.
- Visibility/wiper291 reports25,00012,000–40,000Visibility/wiper: 291 reports, median 25,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 40,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise365 reports30,00011,000–50,000Problems owners could not categorise: 365 reports, median 30,000 miles, middle half 11,000 to 50,000 miles.
- Engine339 reports38,00016,000–68,000Engine: 339 reports, median 38,000 miles, middle half 16,000 to 68,000 miles.
- Electrical system394 reports39,00016,000–55,000Electrical system: 394 reports, median 39,000 miles, middle half 16,000 to 55,000 miles.
- Airbag system518 reports40,00020,000–65,000Airbag system: 518 reports, median 40,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 65,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline254 reports43,00011,000–74,000Transmission and driveline: 254 reports, median 43,000 miles, middle half 11,000 to 74,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 518 | 20.6% | 40,000 | 20,000–65,000 |
| Electrical system | 394 | 15.7% | 39,000 | 16,000–55,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 365 | 14.5% | 30,000 | 11,000–50,000 |
| Engine | 339 | 13.5% | 38,000 | 16,000–68,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 291 | 11.6% | 25,000 | 12,000–40,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 254 | 10.1% | 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 | 124 | 4.9% | 38,000 | 14,000–61,000 |
| Seats | 122 | 4.9% | 33,000 | 14,000–65,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 35,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 20.6% of complaints (518 reports, 227 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 40,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 65,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 15.7% of complaints (394 reports, 185 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 39,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 16,000 and 55,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 14.5% of complaints (365 reports, 194 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 30,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 11,000 and 50,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 13.5% of complaints (339 reports, 223 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 38,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 16,000 and 68,000 miles.
Visibility/wiper accounts for 11.6% of complaints (291 reports, 213 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 25,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 40,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 10.1% of complaints (254 reports, 170 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 43,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 11,000 and 74,000 miles.
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 1,488 mileage-tagged complaints, 6 recall campaigns, 5 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 6 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine (FB25 oil consumption) on 2014–2015 (settlement window); complaints continue 2016–2018 cars. 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.
- Check transmission (lineartronic CVT) on 2014–2018 cars. 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…
- Check glass on 2015–2018 cars. Windshield cracking from minor or no apparent impact, the subject of owner litigation across several Subaru models of this era.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 15,000 and 60,000 miles, with a median of 35,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 39,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Forester problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| 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 · 1,488 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 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 staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 100%: the remaining 0.1% of reports (2) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2014–2018 Subaru Forester recalls (6)
NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around equipment (2), the fuel system (1), the airbag system (1). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
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
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 2,512 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 207 (8.2%)
- Fires
- 15
- Injury reports
- 90
- Fatality reports
- 0
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Forester problems by model year
The 2015 drew the most complaints of this generation, 613, most of them about the engine, and the 2014 the fewest, 403. A typical year drew about 495.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 403 | 298 | 54,000 | Suspension (94) | 2 |
| 2015 | 613 | 410 | 44,000 | Engine (131) | 3 |
| 2016 | 414 | 218 | 39,000† | Airbag system (99) | 3 |
| 2017 | 587 | 321 | 30,000† | Airbag system (164) | 1 |
| 2018 | 495 | 241 | 16,000† | Visibility/wiper (135) | 3 |
What Forester owners reported
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
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated, and the air bag module warning light was illuminated. The air bag occupant classification system was not operating as intended. The vehicle was taken to a…
2015 · 128,000 miles · Airbag system
Built from 1,488 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · 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 800 reports with mileage, most about visibility/wiper