2014 Subaru Forester Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 50 Electrical System complaints for the 2014 Subaru Forester, 12% of its 403 total complaints that year, with 5 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury reported. A related recall (19V149000) covers a brake light switch fix. Median mileage at failure was 61,222 miles.
- Electrical System complaints
- 50
- 12% of 403
- Crashes reported
- 5
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 61,222 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Brake pedal fails to activate the brake lights and can trigger hard starting issues, tied to the brake light switch covered under recall 19V149000.
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration in reverse or forward at low speeds, such as while parking or exiting a car wash, resulting in collisions.
- Low beam headlights are reported as too dim, projecting only a short distance and contributing to nighttime collisions with deer or objects.
- The airbag/SRS system reportedly shuts down mid-drive, illuminating a warning light before intermittently resetting itself.
- Some owners report the EyeSight adaptive cruise control and pre-collision braking system fails to recognize stopped vehicles ahead, forcing hard manual braking.
When 2014 Subaru Forester electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 24, 2014, latest Mar 23, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2014 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 19V149000Feb 28, 2019Electrical System1,303,530 vehicles
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
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 light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: 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 number for this recall is WUE-90.
Electrical System complaints by Forester model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical system complaints does the 2014 Subaru Forester have?
- NHTSA lists 50 Electrical System complaints for the 2014 Forester, which is 12% of the 403 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2014 Subaru Forester's electrical system?
- Yes. Recall 19V149000 covers the brake light switch on certain 2014-2016 Forester vehicles and other Subaru models; dealers replace the switch free of charge.
- Did the electrical issues cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this complaint area for the 2014 Forester shows 5 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury.
- At what mileage do electrical problems tend to show up on the 2014 Forester?
- The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2014 Forester is 61,222 miles.