2014 Subaru Forester: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Mar 27, 2025 · Airbags, Body · MT · crash · fire

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.

Filed Jun 24, 2024 · TX

The vehicle had 2 dangerous incidents on the interstate, once in 2021 and 2024. After longer 3+ hours of driving, and low on gas, the vehicle lost power, forcing me to coast to the shoulder. Once shut off and restarted, it was perfectly fine. The first time it was on cruise control, driving from Illinois to Texas. The most recent time it was not on cruise control, driving from Houston to Dallas and back. The dealer service center has not found the issue, and I recently traded it in for a newer 2024 model.

Filed Jun 23, 2024 · Engine, Suspension · CA · crash

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.

Filed Feb 6, 2023 · Transmission · IL

2014 Forester @ 150k miles, CVT Failure. Check Engine Lights, AT Oil Temp Warning, Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0700 (Transmission Control Module) & P2764 - (Torque Converter Clutch Pressure Control Solenoid Control Circuit Low) Sect 11-16 of Owners Manual states: "It is not necessary to check the transmission fluid level." But Subaru Warranty & Maintenance guide recommends inspection of CVT fluid @ 30/60/90/120k miles. Mine was never low or bad. There is no owner serviceable parts to the CVT. No dipstick to check fluid level. Page 37 of Warr & Maint guide Notes 4 & 9 state: "4. When the vehicle is frequently operated under severe driving conditions**...CVT fluid replacement should be performed every 24,855 miles." and "9. The ATF filter is a maintenance free part." Under "Examples of severe driving conditions" only item "g. Repeated trailer towing." applies to Note #4. I do not even have a trailer hitch, therefore, no extreme driving conditions. I noticed hesitation, slipping, lull in forward movement, shaking at idle, lurching. Because of this, I requested CVT fluid change at 138k miles even though service technician had previously said fluid was ok. No noticeable improvement after this fluid service. At 150k miles, dashboard warning lights came on for Check Engine, AT Oil Temp, Traction Control Light, Hill Assist, Cruise Control, AntiLock Brake System. Took vehicle to Subaru dealership service immediately. First they recommended CVT fluid change, which I agreed to. Upon completion, all warning lights came back on. They now recommend replacing CVT valve body unit for $2200. SoA has issued a recall (Dec 2019) only on Subaru Ascent vehicles for faulty CVT transmissions, but not for other vehicles with the same problems. CVT failure can lead to safety issues such as vehicle stalling, lurching forward, going in reverse, and shifting unexpectedly while driving. Subaru of America should issue a recall for all vehicles with faulty CVT transmissions.

Filed Jun 17, 2021 · Steering, Suspension · 78,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 mph, the steering wheel moved back and forth while on cruise control with the tires wobbling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the front driver’s and passenger’s side tires were able to move 6-8 inches without effort. The steering gear and all four tires were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

Filed Jan 17, 2021 · Brakes · 80,000 miles · MA

Warning lights keep going on while driving including the "ABS warning light", "hill assist" and "vehicle dynamics control" . This always disengages the cruise control and often happens after driving for awhile. This didn't start happening until I had the dealer replace the clock spring due to non working horn and cruise control and trouble with steering roll connector. They also replaced rear coil springs and rear left wheel bearing and backing plate.

Filed Oct 27, 2020 · Body, Engine · 75,000 miles · CA

Oil is constantly having to be checked because this vehicle goes through lots of oil. I've put a newer engine in the car due to the first one doing this. Also the front right cv joint is about to need replacement and is loud. Both of these issues have happened as soon as I bought the car april 2020.also, cruise control works on and off literally back windows won't come down, horn won't honk and bluetooth is horrible.

Filed Jul 29, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 121,425 miles · NY

Started car all warning lights came on and started flashing oil, and,awd, emission control need to be checked, check engine light on, cruise control indicator stays on. Had been driving on a hot day stopped to get gas when I started the car all the check engine light came I checked gas cap it was tight, I started driving and all the lights started flashing

Filed Aug 27, 2018 · Electrical · 1 miles · NY

I noticed that (while in cruise control mode) the system does not account or compensate for downhill travel at all. While set to ~60mph, the vehicle accelerated in a moderate downhill incline to reach 70mph. As I began to notice and correct this technical error, I was stopped by a police officer and written a ticket for speeding 70mph in a 55mph zone.

Filed Aug 13, 2018 · Transmission · 71,000 miles · NV

Transmission/computer malfunction. Initially driving through mountains, using sport # mode in low speed curves on old road. Had one 'surprise' episode where in a straight section of highway, transmission dowshifted suddenly, with rpms racing up to nearly 5000rpm, although I didn't touch the paddles, and didn't even have my hands on them. After reaching a normal straight highway out of the mountains, an hour later, while simply driving at 75mph, the engine lost power, gas pedal became unresponsive, rpms fell, vehicle was coasting down from highway speed, and transmission did several odd shifts with varying rpms, and decelerations. Coasted to a stop, flashers on, off the highway. Engine was not running. Starter motor worked. Engine would not start. Flashing lights on cruise control, check engine, and "at temp", and possibly others not recalled. Called spouse. Contacted towing service. Opened hood: fluids, oil level, etc all appeared normal when checked. Temp display in vehicle showed normal (219 degrees radiator temp). Tried turning key on/off repeatedly to see if computer would reset: no luck. Spouse called 30 min later: online research found removing plug next to transmission shift lever in center console, and using long screwdriver to press switch at bottom might reset some device. Tried it different times: key 'on', key 'off', etc, reset appeared to take effect with key 'off', then turned on. Vehicle now cooling down (45 minutes on roadside, not running). Now restarts when cranked. Various lights "check engine', 'at temp', cruise control light no longer flashing. Warning on panel stating "vehicle hill start assist not available" no longer showing. Car appears to run. Drove ~ 5 miles to roadside business. Cancelled tow. Checked car again. Drove gently to home city. Rescheduled flight to alaska vacation because of the delay.

Filed Nov 6, 2017 · Engine · 75,000 miles · TX

My 2014 forester has stalled on me 5 times in the past 3 years while traveling between san antonio and el paso tx. While traveling at highway speeds (80mph on this part of I-10) with and without cruise control, the engine suddenly would make a hard downshift, then another, and allowed me about 10 seconds to pull over to right shoulder, then stalled. During the downshift no warning lights came on until I was completely stalled and then they all turned on. One time it gave me a warning light that my transmission oil was hot, after it stalled. I have traveled to other places in texas with same variables other than the inclines/ declines of that part of I-10. This vehicle cannot handle inclines at highway speeds after driving an hour or two. I have been lucky that the 5 times my forester stalled I was not surrounded by heavy traffic. This is a very bad situation and very dangerous!! A couple of years ago I notified my subaru dealer when they did an oil consumption test (because I have to add a quart between each oil change) and they did nothing. The manager speculated some work they could do at my cost but had no answers or suggestions. I have also had to replace the ball bearings in the rear right wheel. These things should not happen to a new car with high ratings. My 86 honda civic could go between el paso and san antonio with no problems.

Filed Aug 21, 2017 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · KY

Cvt 2.5i 70k mileage. On 8/12/17, while driving on interstate highway nonstop for 310 miles, with cruise on 76 MPH, transmission suddenly and without warning went "out of gear." engine rpms raced to over 5,000 but car was out of gear. No propulsion whatsoever. It felt exactly like when a manual transmission pops out of gear or is shifted into neutral by accident ay speed, but this is an automatic transmission. Shift lever had not been touched. Transmission just felt like it "gave way." I shifted into neutral and coasted to the shoulder and engine died. "check engine," "vehicle dynamics control," and battery charge warning" lights lit ... Maybe others. Engine died. Put in park. Waited a couple of minutes and then restarted engine. It ran rough for a few seconds then smoothed out and we drove 2 miles to fill up gas and proceeded another 100 miles or so without difficulty. 2 dealers never responded to my inquiry. Drove around town for a few days without incident. Then, on 8/20/17 while again driving non-stop for over 300 miles and again with cruise control set on 74, the exact same thing happened again. No warning. Suddenly "out of gear." engine revs spiked. Warning lights came on. Coasted to shoulder. Shut down engine for maybe 20 seconds then restarted engine and proceeded on without incident to refuel and resume trip. Was almost rear-ended by a tailgater this time since he was driving so close to me when I suddenly lost propulsion. Bought car new over 70k miles ago and had never experienced anything like this before 8/12/17 and now it has happened twice within 8 days and under very similar conditions. Very dangerous situation.