What 403 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Subaru Forester Wilderness

Unintended acceleration while parking /braking in front of a Verizon store leading to crash into store

NHTSA ODI 11726163

I was driving my 2014 Subaru Forester (about 148,000 miles) behind a minivan at a safe distance and speed. Without warning, my vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. Despite applying the brakes, shifting into low gear, and using the emergency brake, I was unable to slow it down. After impact, the car then hit a telephone pole, spun me around and rolled the car over. There is major damage to the car and we looked at it at the tow yard but the salvage adjuster is moving it shortly.

NHTSA ODI 11700275

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would independently accelerate without warning. Due to the failure, the contact stated that they had hit a building while attempting to park in a parking space. The air bag did not deploy during the accident and the contact suffered stiffness to the left side of their neck. The contact was given a ticket by the police as a result of the incident; however, a police report was not filed. Due to the crash, a window was shattered and a few bricks fell off from the building. The contact also mentioned that while attempting to park the vehicle in their driveway, the vehicle jolted forward while the brake pedal was depressed and hit a stone wall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was given a case number. The contact was then referred to a local dealer who gave the contact an estimate for a diagnostic. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11673628

The contact owned a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, a vehicle coming from oncoming traffic was attempting to make a left, causing the contact to crash into that oncoming vehicle. The contact mentioned that during the impact, the front passenger side wheel was pushed into the radiator. The contact spouse sustained injuries, and medical attention was provided, and the contact was taken to the local emergency room. The contact stated that the steering wheel and the knee air bags were deployed during the incident, which caused the contact to be injured. The contact sustained an upper chest injury and contusions to both of their legs, and the contact's left leg was also burned. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and destroyed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

NHTSA ODI 11656114

While I was driving to work, with Cruise control set at 65, I hit a deer head on. All airbags deployed and engine ceased and I was able to brake car to a stop on the shoulder of the road. Within minutes, the engine erupted in fire and thankfully I wasn't trapped inside and was able to get out, because by the time I got 4-500 feet from the car, it had been totally engulfed in flames. From the time I hit the deer to the fire starting was less than 10 minutes. Fire truck wasn't even on scene yet and I was still speaking with highway patrol on the phone. If I had been trapped or the vehicle had rolled i wouldn't be here today. It was that quick.

NHTSA ODI 11651125

The key keeps getting stuck in the ignition.........

NHTSA ODI 11618368

Basically, as I was driving on the freeway with my son and his brother, I got 5 lights flashing on dashboard. Abs at temp check engine cruise control hill assist vss etc.. the code were for cut but before I could check them everything shut down. Car went dark, no brakes and burning smell as well as burns oil. Front end damage on car with passenger side damage. Car started back up next day called Subaru and because it’s 2014 forester, may not qualify but it only has 126k on the dash. Well maintained and had no issues besides the oil consumption.

NHTSA ODI 11595987

My wife, [XXX] , shifted into reverse to back up a steep driveway. It was difficult to put the transmission lever into reverse. After backing up several feet, the car made a strange noise and ran forward over a steep bank, resulting in a compression fracture in her spine. I have photo and text documents to provide, but I haven't been able to upload them in this web page. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11564235

I had 2 accidents with this car. The first was on October 10, 2023. I pulled into a parking space and braked. I move forward a little more and braked again. The car suddenly accelerated and hit 2 vehicles parking across from me. My car was damaged, and one of the cars I hit was badly damaged, and the other had less damage. My 93 year old father was not injured. I had an injury on my hand, where the skin split between my right hand and forefinger. Fortunately there was no one in either of the other cars. I do not know if the vehicle was inspected by anyone. There was no warning light. It all happened in seconds. I had no idea what happened, so I thought my foot must have slipped and hit the gas pedal. I had my car repaired at the Apple Subaru's body shop in York, PA. It was in the shop for about a month. I drove it aroung for a few weeks then started noticing some lurching forward after braking. I still assumed my foot my foot must be slipping. On December 1, 1923, I decided to go to our local farmer's market for apples. The car lurched a few times causing me to run a stop sign. I decided it was unfit to go on to the market and decided to take it to my service station. The service station is located on a ridge. There office and some of the garage bays are on the upper level on the ridge. The property goes downhill around that. There is an entry next to the office that is marked as a handicapped space. I was not thinking clearly when I decided to park there. I pulled partway into the space, braked, and then moved forward a bit. When I braked the car took off at a high speed, through a railing, over the edge, and landed sideways on the ground below. I was trapped in the car and had to be removed by firefighters. When they pulled me out I was taken to the ER. My car was totalled. My son did some research and sent me some links. I am now sure that the cause was the sudden acceleration problem with Subaru. I have reported this to Subaru.

NHTSA ODI 11561752

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle’s hood had suddenly opened impairing the contact’s vision. The contact ended up swerving the vehicle and crashing into a nearby tree. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle had not been towed. There were no injuries and no medical attention needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle had been taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the vehicle’s hood latch and the hood strap had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired for the failure. The vehicle’s shift release lever had failed causing the shifting of gears failing and the contact was unable to remove the key. The contact took the vehicle back to the certified mechanic who repaired the vehicle however the failure persisted. The lever within the transmission stick had detached. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000.

NHTSA ODI 11484832

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while she had the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle suddenly accelerated unintendedly. The vehicle crashed into the garage in front of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact had not received any injuries. There was damage to the garage, itself. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a certified mechanic or dealer as of yet. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 61,765.

NHTSA ODI 11476299

The engine stalled/locked and clipped an 18 wheeler trying to get to the shoulder of I-294. I have been taking the 2014 Subaru to Countryside Subaru since April 14, 2021 with issues of lights coming on on the dashboard. It caused a serious accident. The car was totaled by the insurance company. Subaru had me call Subaru Advocacy who had just agreed to pay $3,500 towards a new engine, with me paying $1,500 because it was out of warranty, even though the issue started when the car was under warranty over a year ago. Lights were constantly coming on every 4 to 6 weeks. A service advisor, told us the car was safe to drive. It wasn't. The same day service advisor ordered the parts (June 6, 2022) is the same day the accident happen. I thank God my daughter is still among the living. This should not have happen. LIVES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN MONEY.

NHTSA ODI 11470063

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while pulling into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly, went over a cement post, onto a sidewalk pavement, and crashed into a condo building. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact did not recall whether the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was informed by the emergency units who examined her at the scene that she had sustained high blood pressure. There was no police report filed. The vehicle was towed to an autobody shop where it was repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it was being diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 11468657

On Friday, 12-3-21 I was in an accident in my local Costco parking lot while backing out of my spot. While backing out of the spot slowly with the wheel turned, my 2014 Subaru Forester had a sudden and extreme acceleration in reverse doing a reverse u-turn into a parked car causing considerable damage to the rear end of both cars. I am certain that I did not to press the gas pedal as this is a busy parking lot and I always back out very slowly just covering the brake. There is some kind of mechanical issue with my car that caused this malfunction. I was evaluated by paramedics and taken to the local emergency room with a significant bump on the back right side of my head. My car is currently available for inspection. I am in the process of reporting this to Subaru of America to see if they can inspect/evaluate the car.

NHTSA ODI 11442727

September 6,2018 the vehicle suddenly unintentionally accelerated. Came off the highway.Pulled in to a parking lot to turn around. Reaching for the shifter with my foot on the brake. The vehicle went 42mph in less than four feet, a woman was directly in the front center of vehicle when a loud roar happened. The woman jumped out of the way. As the 2014 Subaru Forester shot forward hitting a suburban and then bounced off a fence to stop in the road next to us. Had to fight to get towed to Gresham Subaru. Pulled dtcs and box information.Subaru denies SUA, has a recall on BLS. No airbag deployed, brakes did not work. Skid marks and chunks of tires.

NHTSA ODI 11436859

I reached inside the back lift gate of the car when it dropped on my head. I went to the ER where they did a CT and MRI of my head and spine to rule out a fracture or head bleed.There was no warning message on the dash or problem noted from the dealership. I have owned the car since April 2021 and had no problem with it before that day. The car dealership has replaced the hydraulic lift struts on the back lift door. So I don't know if they still have the defective parts. I have contacted my insurance company but no representative came out to see it. A video of what the door did was sent to the car dealership and the insurance company.

NHTSA ODI 11436347

Went through automated car wash. Proceeded to lane for towel drying. Car suddenly unintentionally accelerated. Hit rear passenger side of parked car and also collided with the fence that ultimately stopped my forward motion. The car passed across two side walks and one side street during this event. No pedestrians or cross traffic was present or this would have been catastrophic. There were no previous warning signs of this event. My insurance company was notified and inspected the vehicle. A formal complaint was filed with Subaru of America and we are still waiting for them to inspect the vehicle. They have authorized repair of the vehicle prior to them seeing it.

NHTSA ODI 11434125

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT AN INCIDENT OF SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION MALFUNCTION. DRIVING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR, I TURNED LEFT FROM THE STREET INTO A SLIGHTLY UPHILL DRIVEWAY ABOUT 16 FEET LONG. THE SUBARU SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SELF ACCELERATED OVER THE ENTRY WAY TO THE GARAGE AND RUN INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. WHEN THE CAR STARTED SELF-ACCELERATING I SWITCHED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN I SHIFTED GEARS, WHICH EVENTUALLY MADE THE CAR STOP. BUT THE GARAGE DOOR WAS SMASHED, THE CAR PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE WAS HIT AND IN TURN HIT THE WASHING MACHINE BEHIND IT, WHICH AND ENDED UP SMASHED AND LODGED HALFWAY INTO THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE. I HAVE ALSO PROVIDED MY INSURANCE COMPANY WITH INFORMATION WIDELY AVAILABLE ABOUT RECENT CLASS LAWSUITS FOR SIMILAR ISSUES IN NEW JERSEY (WESTON, ET AL., V. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC., ET AL.) AND CALIFORNIA (BARE ET AL. V. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.), BUT IT SEEMS THAT THIS ISSUE WITH THIS BRAND AND MODEL HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE MANY TIMES, STARTING MORE THAN TEN YEARS AGO (HTTPS://WWW.SAFETYRESEARCH.NET/BLOG/ARTICLES/AUTOMAKERS-BLAME-DRIVERS-SETTLE-UNINTENDED-ACCELERATION-CASES). FROM THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE, SUBARU REPEATEDLY BLAMES THIS ON THE DRIVERS, BUT THE ISSUE SEEMS TO ORIGINATE FROM A FAILURE OF A CAR'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL, ALLOWING THE THROTTLE TO EXPAND WIDE OPEN TO AN APPARENT SOFTWARE DEFECT PLAGUING THE CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK AND A FLAW HAMPERING THE BRAKE OVERRIDE SYSTEM FOUND IN AFFECTED VEHICLES (HTTPS://WWW.CLASSACTION.ORG/NEWS/SUBARU-FACES-ANOTHER-CLASS-ACTION-ALLEGING-DEFECTS-TO-BLAME-FOR-SUDDEN-UNINTENDED-ACCELERATION-PROBLEMS)

NHTSA ODI 11374206

MY STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED AS I WAS SLOWLY DRIVING IN THE LOT OF A SHEETZ GAS STATION AFTER JUST GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE (ESTIMATE MY SPEED AT 5 MPH IN THE GAS STATION LOT) THERE WAS NO INCITING INCIDENT. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT SO ONLY INJURY WAS A BURN AND BRUISE TO MY LEFT HAND. THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON AND OTHERWISE FUNCTIONAL.

NHTSA ODI 11361601

MY CAR HAD AN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHEN APPLIED THE BREAK TO PARK ON THE PARKING LOT. AS A RESULT VEHICLE WENT AND COLLIDED INTO A RESTAURANT, DAMAGING THE RESTAURANT GLASS WALL AND FRONT BUMPER, PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL/TIRE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11360320

THE TOP NUT OF THE REAR LEFT LIFT GATE PISTON BALL SNAPPED/RUSTED OFF CAUSING THE BACK HATCH TO DROP VIOLENTLY AS WE WERE UNLOADING THE CAR. HITTING MY DAUGHTER ON THE BACK AND MY HUSBAND ON THE HEAD KNOCKING THEM TO THE GROUND. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY ON A FLAT SURFACE. I TOOK IT TO RUGES SUBARU IN RHINEBECK NY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WAS CHARGED FOR IT AND GOT HOME TO FIND OUT THEY NEVER FIXED IT, STATING I DECLINED REPLACEMENT, WHICH I DID NOT, BUT WAS STILL CHARGED FOR IT.

NHTSA ODI 11351030

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CRASHED INTO TWO POLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE PHYSICAL DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIGHTLY 'HOP'. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 11325134

CAR ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE TO PARK MY CAR IN A PRIVATE COMPANY'S PARKING LOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325012

ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING AND IT'S SPORADIC

NHTSA ODI 11324856

AT/ABOUT 1230 CENTRAL TIME ON 31 OCT 2019, MY WIFE [XXX] EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION EVENT IN OUR 2014 SUBARU FORESTER AND NARROWLY ESCAPED BEING KILLED. CONTEXT: MY WIFE WAS TAKING THE CAR THROUGH AN AUTOMATED CARWASH AT THE CASEYS GAS STATION AT 9911 S. 71ST ST IN PAPILLION NE. WHEN SHE REACHED THE END OF THE CONVEYOR BELT AND WHEN SIGNALLED BY THE ATTENDANT TO MOVE FORWARD, SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM N (NEUTRAL) TO D (DRIVE). SHE ENCOUNTERED RESISTANCE MOVING THE GEAR LEVER BUT WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT TO D. UPON DOING SO, THE CAR ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD DESPITE HER FOOT REMAINING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND TORE THROUGH THE CLOSED GARAGE DOOR AT THE END OF THE CARWASH AND CONTINUED OUTSIDE, ACROSS AN ACCESS ROAD AND UP A SMALL HILL, BEFORE LOSING POWER AND ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL TO STOP IN THE ACCESS ROAD. NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PERSONS WERE INVOLVED OR INJURED. MY WIFE WAS UNINJURED OTHER THAN BEING SPRAYED BY GLASS FRAGMENTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD AS IT WAS PUNCTURED BY THE GARAGE DOOR AS THE CAR TORE THROUGH IT. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY (USAA) DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I HAD EVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS INCIDENT BEFORE; WE BOTH HAVE EXCELLENT DRIVING RECORDS. WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT WAS CLEAR, DRY AND SUNNY. THE CAR TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE WAS IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION. THE PAPILLION NE POLICE DEPT RESPONDED AND FILED A REPORT, AND WE FILED A DRIVERS MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT REPORT. BOTH ARE ON FILE WITH THE PAPILLION NE POLICE DEPT. THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL WITNESSES TO THIS INCIDENT PER THE POLICE REPORT. *LN*JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11280696