4th generation (SJ) · SJ · 3,555 complaints, 2,105 with mileage
Owners filed 3,555 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014–2018 Subaru Forester, and 2,105 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 14,000 and 59,000 miles. The median is 34,500 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (17.0% of complaints, typically around 36,000 miles), the electrical system (11.0% of complaints, typically around 38,511 miles), problems owners could not categorise (10.2% of complaints, typically around 30,000 miles).
6 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 606 | 17.0% | 36,000 | 15,130–63,000 |
| Electrical System | 392 | 11.0% | 38,511 | 16,320–55,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 364 | 10.2% | 30,000 | 11,000–50,100 |
| Engine | 337 | 9.5% | 38,000 | 16,266–67,574 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 290 | 8.2% | 24,600 | 12,000–40,000 |
| Power Train | 252 | 7.1% | 43,000 | 11,350–73,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 213 | 6.0% | 23,912 | 10,000–46,050 |
| Suspension | 200 | 5.6% | 52,560 | 39,000–67,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 124 | 3.5% | 38,500 | 14,500–61,000 |
| Service Brakes | 119 | 3.3% | 34,000 | 18,000–51,356 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 576 | 414 |
| 2015 | 897 | 604 |
| 2016 | 615 | 319 |
| 2017 | 792 | 441 |
| 2018 | 675 | 327 |
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 34,500 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 17.0% of complaints (606 reports, 285 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 36,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,130 and 63,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 11.0% of complaints (392 reports, 186 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 38,511 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 16,320 and 55,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 10.2% of complaints (364 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 50,100 miles.
The engine accounts for 9.5% of complaints (337 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 16,266 and 67,574 miles.
Visibility/wiper accounts for 8.2% of complaints (290 reports, 213 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 24,600 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 7.1% of complaints (252 reports, 169 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 11,350 and 73,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2015 model year drew the most — 897 complaints — while 2014 drew the fewest at 576. The median year sits at 675.
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). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
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.
Of the 3,555 complaints filed against this generation, 369 reported a crash; 26 reported a fire; 191 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 10.4% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 14,000 and 59,000 miles, with a median of 34,500. 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 airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 36,000, 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.
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.
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.
Windshield cracking from minor or no apparent impact, the subject of owner litigation across several Subaru models of this era.
Takata inflator recall population continues into this generation.
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.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 21V587000 | 2021-09-24 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump |
| 19V701000 | 2020-02-11 | Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification |
| 19V149000 | 2019-04-15 | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch |
| 18V455000 | 2018-07-26 | Equipment:Other:Labels |
| 16V162000 | 2016-04-15 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger |
| 13V159000 | 2013-06-05 | Equipment |