Used 2014 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews

LOVE MY SUBARU

I've had my 2104 Subaru Forester for 6 months now, over winter. I see there are a few odd complaints about this model. Yeah, it rides a little rough, but-it's not a sedan, it's a mini-truck-hence SUV! It has lots of interior space for cargo and passengers. There are actually too many bells and whistles for my liking, but hey, it's a newer model of vehicle then I'm used to so, I just go with the flow on this. It has plenty of pep for acceleration, and great handling on the road. It was super great in the winter, esp. after I put studded tires on it. The cold weather fuel mileage wasn't so great, but I'll live with that. I don't find that it uses any extra oil, although I am used to checking the oil at almost all refueling, so I'd be likely to catch it before it becomes a problem. I mean, how much does it cost to put in a quart of oil now and then? I've had to do that with almost every other vehicle I've owned, so no biggie. I really, really like my 2014 Subaru Forester.

Trading it in for a honda or Acura- lemons

As almost all other reviews have mentioned this has a major oil issues (deeper rooted in what I believe to be a major engine design flaw). What makes the engine and oil issues worse is that the Subaru dealer I service the car at has the worse mechanics I have ever seen. Adding Synthetic oil and doing synthetic oil changes this often points to a much larger engine issue- which Subaru is ignoring completely. I will be trading in after only 2 years which I never do (my last 2 hondas went for a combined 358000 miles - so I really drive my cars) From about 3000 miles on I was in every 4 months telling them the car would not turn over correctly. The service center would make up some silly excuse like Use Only Ethanol gases or try different oil brands- when really they were clueless. When finally the engine light went on they still had no idea how to fix this. They told me the oil looked bad and it was my fault- car is only 2 years old and they ended up with over $1700 in engine work (covered by warranty) but for a car only 2 years old- look out that is a lemon! Subaru's are a scam, if you want a rugged long term car go with a Honda.

2.0 XT not impressed

A brief note on subaru's boxer engine based 135k miles of Forester XT ownership. There are many very good reasons why 99% of the cars on the road are not boxer engine. Its more difficult to service compare to the traditional inlines or V-configurations, thus require Subaru specialist, thus more costly inconvenience. Subaru keeps selling them because the public are enamored by their marketing just like how I fell for it. A very expensive lesson indeed, you'll see. On the other hand this is a none issue if you only lease it for couple of years.

Best Car I've had

This car has been a fun car to drive. I count on it everyday to get my daughter to school and me to work. It's safe, tough, high quality, and reliable.

2014 Forester

The truck has been excellent. Hard to navigate the e-stack to set clock, etc.

Wife's ride

Good car value wise with all wheel drive and safty record - would prefer greater mileage considering 4 cyl manual trans

16 months 42,000 mile ya I drive a lot

Originally fog light out and intermittent cruise. I could take the key out and the car would roll away, gas gauge range not accurate I have run out twice range said 70 miles no low fuel light. Okay so they got the kinks out and I like it. I have a 2012 forester premium and a 2014 premium. I like the gas mileage and find it plenty comfy plenty of pep. I commute over 100 miles a day round trip. I was very disappointed with a lowball $19,200 trade offer when I was having problems with it paid like $26 to $27 I forget a few nice options

2.0 XT Premium = outstanding

The 2014 Subaru 2.0 XT Forester Premium is one of the best fuel saving ,fast running,nice styling, All Wheel Drive and most comfortable SUV that I have ever owned. It's 250 HP BOXER ENGINE is quiet and powerful, from the on ramp to the fast lane the 2.0 XT Premium is outstanding. It's CVT Transmission is very smooth and before you realize it you are running at 80 plus MPH. It's wide windows and wide review mirrors helps you merge safely.

Subaru Forester 2014

This car has what you need.

First Subaru

I am 6'2" and fit perfectly, something that is hard to find. My wife bought a Volvo SUV and I find getting in and out of the Subaru easier that doing the same in the Volvo. The comfort level is exceptional, especially since I drive anywhere from 150-200 miles a day. My mileage is also exceptional for this car, but the problem I do not like about it the fact that I have to use premium. Sort of cuts down on the savings of the better mileage. The care handles like a dream, has every bell and whistle you can get, which I am not used to yet, but will be shortly.

Lots to like

Over the past 15 years, my family has owned Rav4, Honda CRV, Hyundai Santa Fe, Lexus RX330 and RX 350. Mileage at 29 for combined city/country. Plenty of power going up our hill at 7400 ft. Love the lack of shifting jerks common in 4 or 5 speed transmissions. Ride is stiff/responsive, and although I wouldn't characterize as "jittery", there is a distinct difference between the ride of this and the other cars listed. You are much more likely to feel the cracks on the road in driving on asphalt or concrete. Generally this is not too bad, but on some streets it can be annoying. The voice recognition is way below the Lexus or Hyundai and the computer interface is not particularly user-friendly. The eye-sight works very well and is fun to use. Having >30,000 miles of experience with it, I continue to like it and it is particularly useful on longer trips with moderately heavy traffic. You pick your lane and a car that is going at roughly the speed you want, and it follows at a distance you set. One thing it can't do, however, is anticipate a line of brake lights ahead of that car. Slowing appropriately because you can see what is coming is still better than relying on the car in front of you. Presumably technology like WAZE is going to be a part of the future driverless cars, because this technology would not be safe as currently implemented. Friendliness comes from the keyless lock and ignition system which turns on a light in the rear view mirrors as you approach, and makes it incredibly easy to lock.

Happy after 2 weeks

I've had my '14 Forester in the Limited trim model and I've been delighted. So many things people have already noted are true: the terrific visibility, the great mileage, the quality of the interior features, the quiet and stable ride. I've noticed, too, that it has a nimble feel, with a very tight turning radius. Responsive steering, perfectly adequate acceleration with the CVT normally aspirated engine. I'm happy with the sound system--I went for the tweeter upgrade--and I like the all weather package, power lift gate and leather which are standard on the Limited.

First 500

I will come back to update in a few months but I wanted to get my initial ownership impressions out there. Pros: Engine/Turbo - makes a car this large really fun to drive Transmission - High torque CVT with SI modes is best CVT I've driven. Not as fun as VW/Audi's dual clutch DSG, but still very good. Interior Room/Space - Car feels much bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. Exterior Styling - I've had three unrelated people tell me that the car's profile reminds them of a Porsche Cayenne - I'll take it! Cons: Sunroof: Rattles like crazy when open and doesn't have a tilt function. Seats: Not uncomfortable but not good either, even with the sport side bolsters

An easy love affair.

This gets the best reviews. As my Forester is only two weeks old it is hard to rate the snow and rain traction in a dry summer for obvious reasons. And I'm not familiar with all the bells and whistles yet... It feels like a luxury jeep to me. One concern is going up steep hills. Only one time have I had a chance to test this grade up, but it was not as perky as in driving on level ground. But in all fairness I did not put it in a low gear test. So far the title remains true! Well to add to this review now I'm deep winter, the forester climbs hills just fine and great in snow and bad weather. I still am learning the bells and whistles.

Oil consumption

Had an oil consumption test after oil light went on several times. Ev I en though specs call for 5.1 quarts during an oil change, it states on work order that technition added 6 quarts. After 1200 miles I was told that oil consumption was normal. Now after another 800 miles, oil level is half way between full and add oil markers. So it seems that when they do an oil consumption test, they overfill, so it reads normal after 1200 miles. Still having problem with oil consumption.

Good small SUV

The good: smooth, strong Boxer engine; symmetrical AWD gives excellent cornering and traction in rain, snow and mud. Good fit and finish of doors and trim items; easy access through wide door openings. Good visibility all around. Nice firm seats. The negatives: Highway ride is choppy and road noise not well suppressed. Instrumentation is awful, hard to read and doesn't make sense. Bluetooth is not intuitive or easy to connect. Rear seats do not fold flat. Gas mileage not quite as good as expected from 4 cylinder engine. AWD means all four tires have to be replaced if one is destroyed by a road hazard.

6th SUBARU

Reliable, secure, excellent vehicle and ultimate in safety and resale value

Cant beat a Subaru

I had not been able to drive up to Mt Baker because I made the mistake of buying a front wheel drive. I finally got up there the day after I brought my Subaru home. The ride is superb and the safety functions give me confidence. It is now March 2020 and I'm still in love with my Subaru Forrester. We have since moved to the east coast in Maryland. I am reporting that the forest roads in nearby West Virginia are not as challenging as the ones in the Pacific Northwest. Not much challenge for my Forester. My Forrester is now almost 8 years old. Did have a problem with getting my key out after turning off the engine. Took it to Subaru dealer and had it fixed. Still love my Subaru Forrester. After driving my Subaru Forrester for a couple of months.....I still love it!!!

Not Honda Level Reliability

Own a 2014 Forester 2.5i Premium. Have had a front strut replaced and TWICE the A/C has gone out. The strut was covered under warranty and the first time the A/C went out, it was covered under warranty, now the A/C has gone out again, this time the evaporator - since its no longer under warranty, the estimated cost to repair at the Subaru place is around $1600 - crazy for a car with less than 40,000 miles on it!! Owned Honda automobiles for many years and NEVER had A/C issues or any other major issues at all...my Accord had almost 130,000 miles and was over a decade old and had ZERO issues....I don't think Consumer Reports is correct in their glowing assessment of Subaru reliability...

Steady Subaru

Reliable and efficient small SUV.

A few interior complaints

Love it overall BUT - it’s crazy that there is no overhead light in the cargo area/ trunk !!! It’s impossible to see when opening trunk at night!! I am still looking into stick-on battery operated lights since there are no dealer-provided remedies for this!! Second major complaint is all of the headrests make your head jut forward uncomfortably! Not as bad as some cars I tried such as Toyota RAV4, but I am still trying to find a suitable back-pillow solution, which is constantly irritating to have to deal with. With my old Subaru 2011 forester, I got around this by switching the better backseat headrests onto my front seat, but the 2014 Limited headrests are a new design, making that option very unsafe. Also - minor issue but, the auto cargo door is very slow compared to other vehicle makes out there. Lastly - The radio/ Bluetooth were hard to figure out and not the greatest - so I obtained an aftermarket radio/ Bluetooth which works fantastic for me. So - These are my complaints. Despite the above, I am loyal to subaru which has kept me safe for years, including through a terrible wreck in which I was completely unharmed, and including through all kinds of Weather across the country such as snow/ice and awful thunderstorms etc. I adore the Forester for its superb visibility, agility, handles very well, easy to park, superior acceleration, roomy / high ceiling interior, and excellent storage capacity.

Not Reliable

I'm the original owner. The Bad: The car has had the following repairs under warranty: power steering, transmission, engine rebuild. The low oil light came on between all oil changes until the engine was finally rebuilt. The good: Subaru of America stood by this vehicle and paid for the repairs. You can't beat how this car handles in all weather conditions. But due to all the failures, I'm seriously questioning whether I'll buy another Subaru again.

Forester performed well but engine failed early

When considering the forester we needed an AWD vehicle that could handle Alaskan winters. The forester handles the roads well as long as it has good tires. The VCT system is annoying at times. It has sent me sideways down the road and made it impossible to complete turns when it slides just a little. It does have a great AWD system and can go down steep and slick areas with X mode. As most other reviews have mentioned, the ride is not comfortable. It rides like a jeep and knew this when we purchased it. I would have rated this at 4 stars but the engine consumed a huge amount of oil before 100k miles and now the tranmission is having problems at 98k miles too. Overall I wish we would have bought another Toyota. Subaru did agree to replace the engine and transmission valve body but we were without our car for 3 months while the dealership worked on it.

First, last, and only car I want to own

This vehicle is the epitome of safety, comfort, convenience, speed, fuel economy, entertainment, and practicality. I bought this car from Victory Subaru in Somerset, NJ and my salesman, Rich Rodriguez, was extremely kind, knowledgeable, and an overall great guy. The vehicle’s heated seats, panoramic sunroof, and hands-free technology are my favorite aspects and I cannot recommend this car enough to any prospective owner looking for an SUV to fit any and all needs.

Hooked

Looking to trade for 2019

Subie rocks

Best car I ever owned!

Reliable small SUV!

I've had the car for over 5 years and it has always been reliable, good on fuel and easy to get in and out of. I enjoyed it enough that I just traded it for a 2019 Forester!

Great car overall but with a critical flaw

This was my first new car purchase and I loved it when it was new. Everything worked great on it until about the fourth year (or 18k miles) when the engine started consuming large amounts of oil (extremely common problem on Foresters with FB25 engine and manual transmission). Subaru replaced the short block free of charge of course, but the dealer who worked on the vehicle screwed up the repair and the engine continued to make a tapping noise up until when I sold it at 25k miles. I made four visits to the dealer for them to try and fix it during that time, but the issue was never resolved. Very frustrating. In my opinion, steer clear of the 2014-2018 Foresters with the manual transmission. The main issue with these engines has yet to be resolved, and it is not uncommon to have to keep getting the short block replaced every time is starts to consume oil. If you are planning to purchase a Forester in this year range, stick with a CVT or Turbo model.

PEARLY

Have driven our car from AZ to Vancouver, BC and back twice and had no problems. We take it to our dealership for oil, filter, etc. and maintenance.Overall we are very pleased and happy we bought our Subaru.

Great vehicle

Overall I really liked the Forester. My only issues where with the road noise level and there was a rattle in the fan when the heat or AC was on.

Subaru cruising

Acceleration can be halting. Subaru will not acknowledge a problem. Someone 5’10” will be cramped driving this vehicle.

2014 Subaru Forester rating

We have had our 2014 from new and absolutely luv it. Other than required maintenance it has been breakdown free. Best we’ve ever owned. Highly recommend. We have the 2.5i limited.

Convinced

I purchased a 2014 forester 2.5i touring 2 years ago. It had 154600 km when purchased. I have put 50,000 km on the odometer, yes we do a lot of driving. As a mechanic, I service my subue every 8500km, always use same brand oil in a 0-20 synthetic, good quality filter. I am guaranteed to consume 1.5l of oil between changes. Previous vehicles I have owned have proven to consume the same. Driving conditions are the same on average daily 45km daily and get out of the city on the weekends. Excellent fuel economy, after warmup light goes off. Comfortable for both driver and passenger(s), camp gear on weekends for 2. Lots of fun off pavement when cvt I'm manual mode. Would I purchase another subject, IN A HEATBEAT.

It’s been OK but

The following parts have been replaced The stereo unit, the a/c, transmission, wheel bearings. All at Subaru’s expense, but it’s still a more troublesome vehicle than orthers I have owned. 105K miles now.

Pretty good, but not great

I now have about 190K on this car. While the vaunted Subaru reputation of reliability is generally true, the downside of this car is comfort. First of all, I find the seats to be quite uncomfortable on longer drives. Secondly, this car has become extremely noisy over time. Not just a loud engine, but produces a roaring sound from the axles/wheels, despite replacing wheel bearings and rotors. I have had 3 Chevy's with more mileage on them and they are all much quieter than the Subaru. Oil consumption is very bad, due to a known defect. Driver information center is very finnicky and difficult to use. Generally pleased, but I probably would not have bought this vehicle if I had known its potential drawbacks.

Great SUV

We have a 2102 which so far has been bulletproof, and the 2014 is a huge improvement. Much better handling, peppier, and much better fuel mileage than the 2012.

More issues than expected

This was a bad year for the 2014 Subaru Forester. More repairs than I expected.

Gas Guzzler

Love most aspects of the 2014 Subaru Forester but one of the key elements which influenced my decision to purchase this vehicle was the advertised 8.3 liter per 100 km gas mileage. Currently, I am averaging 13.6 liters per 100 km or 16 mpg. city driving. Not impressed and will put a For Sale sign on this vehicle if this hasn't improved significantly in the next 6 months.

Forester 2014

In prosess of leasing my 3rd Subaru Forester!

Understand how CVT transmission functions

Clock info system GPS Navigation

The info system, navigation system, clock setting apparatus made by geeks, for geeks (i.e.: old Motorola flip phones) Only geeks can figure out how to use it. That is why Steve Jobs made the IPhone so simple that it could be used out of the box. Look at the set up of the Mercedes info system...START OVER!!!!!

Love my Forester

I chose the turbo charged engine and that has made all the difference. I LOVE its power and pick up!

Lotz of little annoying things have broken on this

If you enjoy going to the repair shop, this is your car.

Hate it!!

This is the worst car I have ever owned! Avoid!!!