CarComplaints.com Notes: Is burning a quart of oil every 1,000 miles normal? Depends on who you ask. While Subaru says it's within "normal specifications," owners wonder why they need to top off their oil reservoir 4 times between every 5,000 mile oil change.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,464 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. While driving into the garage, the contact noticed metal on the ground. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed that the rear passenger side spring fractured. The contact called capitaland motors (37 saratoga rd, schenectady, NY 12302, (518) 631-5792) and informed them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 29,000.
Rear coil springs broken right and left 01/07/2019 - 27811 miles on car, replaced by dealer during state inspection I did not know they were broken until told by service advisor
Driving down the highway at approximately 70 mph and the drivers side rear coil spring collapsed. We heard a loud metal bang and when we got home I noticed the coil spring was broken.
At 56,000 miles hit a moderate size pot hole resulting in broken rear passenger side coil spring requiring new spring, shock and alignment. At 67,000 miles heard loud bang coming from car while parked. Found what appears to be piece of broken coil spring under car. Required new rear drivers side coil spring and strut. Appears large number of similar vintage Foresters have experienced broken coil springs with springs found with breaks in similar spots.
- Providence, RI, USA
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While driving my 2014 Subaru Forester, I ran over a dip in the road while coming to a stop sign and heard a loud 'bang'. I stopped to check if I happened to hit something and the rear of my Forester was completely bottomed out as if it was overloaded. While at the garage, the mechanic raised my car up on the lift and pulled out pieces of the coil springs that sheared off completely. The cost of two new coil springs was $160 and it took the garage 3 hours to complete the repair. My car does have 126K miles and the springs had slight corrosion but we're not completely rusted. However, while looking for replacement parts, I have found that many other people have had the same issue with their Foresters and a lot with significantly less miles than mine. I do not have photos of the coil springs I will attach the two photos I took before the car was taken to the garage.
At approximately 57,000 miles, on my 2014 Subaru Forester, I have experienced my second rear coil spring failure. The first, on the right rear, occurred as I put the car into reverse to back out of my driveway. I have a piece of this coil spring in my possession and clearly shows metal fatigue/stress failure. The second, on the left rear, I believe occurred while driving. As I notice the car tilting again as I went to reenter it and looked under and could see something wrong with the spring. It was towed to stohlman Subaru of tysons at 8435 leesburg pike, vienna, va and they have told me the left rear spring is broken and they are replacing it. I have called Subaru and up receiving documentation of repairs, they will reimburse me. However, I notice from doing a search on the internet that this is a know problem and often leads to failed rear struts. Therefore, I believe that Subaru should be made to recall the Foresters to replace the coil springs, reimburse customers who have paid for repairs, and provide us with extended warranties for the full rear suspension.
At 67000 miles rear drivers side coil spring is broke. This is a gently used vehicle that is garaged always, do not believe corrosion was the issue. Having to replace with Subaru parts that have been modified to be more robust, meaning Subaru recognizes an issue with potentially safety related part.
Rear coil springs are defective and actually snapped. Spring appears to have been manufactured incorrectly so that stress cracks ultimately result in failure. Mine broke at the bottom and the piece fell off. This could really be a problem travelling on the highway.
While vehicle was parked in garage discovered a piece of metal on garage floor which looked like a piece of a coil spring. Later found vehicle to handle poorly. Felt unstable and slammed hard over small bumps. Later figured out what happened - rear passenger side spring failed. That corner now sits 2+ inches lower than opposite side. Now sitting on strut bump stops with no suspension. Vehicle feels unsafe to drive. Called Subaru of America and they offered to help with repairs on a "good will" basis but refused to acknowledge as a known issue. Found internet forum with dozens of reports from people with the same problem. See: Https://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-T61866_ds789686
Vehicle was stationary. While parked in my driveway, the left rear coil spring broke leaving several pieces lying under the car and leaving the left rear end sagging so that the wheel well barely clears the tire. There was some very mild surface rust only. Appears to be poor quality metal that simply fatigued and broke. Vehicle has never towed a trailer, carried heavy loads, driven over rough terrain, etc. Has only about 77K miles on it. Quick search on google shows that this is very common failure on 2014 and 2015 Subaru Foresters. Definite safety hazard. If had occurred at highway speed could have had devastating consequences. I've included a picture of the pieces of the spring that were laying in my driveway under the parked car, as well as a horizontal pick of the left and right wheel demonstrating the difference in clearance between the tire and wheel-well.
The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. While the contact's wife was driving 25-30 mph and making turns, the vehicle swayed and was difficult to keep straight. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to budd baer Subaru (71 murtland ave, Washington, pa 15301, (724) 914-6670) where it was diagnosed that the rear coil springs were fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available.
2014 Subaru Forester was in shop to replalce both rear wheel bearings, and mechanic informed me that one of the rear springs was also broken. This seems to be a very common problem with 2014 Foresters, and a part that should break this easily
Backing up in drive way heard a clunck noise so brought it to the dealership and they said both coil springs on my car were broke the both broke in about the same spot about3/4 of a coil from the bottom of the coil they both look rusted were they were broke under the rubber sleave at the bottom and gave me the 2 prices of coil spring
The driver's side rear spring on my 2014 Forester with 39,500 miles broke spontaneously while driving under normal conditions. When the car was placed on a lift and raised up at the repair shop the suspension dropped down and the passenger's side spring broke as well. I have never gone off road, towed, or carried heavy loads. Looking around online, many others have had this same thing occur. The replacement springs were back-ordered from Subaru for several weeks, indicating that many others have had this happen. I believe this is a manufacturing defect and a nationwide recall should occur. Luckily I was driving at low speeds when my spring broke but this could potentially be very dangerous.
Broken rear strut spring with only 51K miles on car. Unknown exactly when it happened but was discovered on 8/8. vehicle is not driven off road or rough road areas.
Vehicle was in for front and rear pads and rotor replacement (at 30K miles!) mechanic informed me that I had a broken rear coil spring and sent me a picture of the broken piece. It was half of a coil that had completely rusted through and snapped off the bottom of the spring. Car now sits unevenly and has compromised suspension and possible safety issues. Further research finds many complains of exactly the same issue with 2014-2015 Foresters. No one makes replacement springs and Subaru dealers are backordered with nationwide repairs, leaving us no recourse
Both rear coil springs failed at approximately 6" along the bottom of the coil. Both failed at exactly the same time. The vehicle was up on jacks and as I was removing the brake rotors to replace the rotors and pads I heard a loud crack followed by the metal parts landing on the garage floor. There is evidence of corrosion at the break points (see photos). There are approximately 45,000 miles on the car.
Vehicle was parked in my driveway last night, I heard a loud metallic bang but couldn't see anything outside. This morning I found the rear of my vehicle sagging and a pile of pieces of my rear driver side suspension coil on the ground under my car. Vehicle had not been driven in two days before breakage. The cracked edges where the coil broke are quite rusted, so this has obviously been developing for some time.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Gloversville, NY, USA