2014 Subaru Forester: check engine light

Filed Jul 29, 2025 · CA

I was on the freeway when the check engine light came on with an alert I couldn't read in time before it disappeared. Then the gas pedal stopped working. I got to a safe place and shut off the car. My brother-in-law then drove the car the 5 miles back home on local roads - he videod the throttle ramping up when he was either braking or the foot wasn't on the gas pedal, which happened 4-5 times. Subaru service pulled fault code P2138.

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 Jun 14, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · PA

Car was well maintained and serviced by dealer at regular interval. It suddenly had “check engine” light on, within a few minutes the car died while driving and stopped in the middle of road. Then unable to restart. Fortunately I was just off highway with less traffic, otherwise could have been crashed and killed by other vehicles. Dealer confirmed malfunction of crankshaft sensor.

Filed May 7, 2024 · Engine · CA

I purchased my 2014 Subaru Forester Limited in May of 2022, already having a high mileage of about 149,800 miles, I was leaning on its reliability and pushing it beyond 200,000 miles. I have encountered frequent oil consumption and assumed that if commuting up and down from the foothills to the valley, it would be natural that it would consume oil. I had to top off a quart of oil every 2000-3000 miles, and once I moved down to flatter land, I noticed the Subaru consumed less oil. Toward the end of December 2023, the Check Engine Light as well as other lights lit up and by then, I had about 170000 miles. I went through every measure to do my own repairs and still couldn't get the check engine light removed and had done a leak-down test on the third cylinder, which doing an engine rebuild has been recommended. I'm currently just over 176200 miles and this is my daily commuter. I still owe money on the Subaru and would love to keep this longer, but the engine problem hasn't been reassuring.

Filed Apr 24, 2023 · Engine · 97,000 miles · IN

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the check engine and oil warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming a quart of engine oil every 1,000 miles. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to TSB Number: 02-157-14R (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

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 Sep 26, 2022 · Engine · WA

Check engine light came on at 92,355 odometer miles. Dealer diagnosis was code P0171, airflow sensor intermittent failure causing rich fuel and affecting mileage. Failure of the air fuel sensor was due to oil leakage from the camshaft carrier covers located above the exhaust manifold where the A/F sensor is located. This could have resulted in a fire. The repair necessitated engine removal to access the camshaft carrier covers and resealing the area along with replacing the A/F sensor. The cost was nearly $4k which was not covered under warranty due to the Forester is 9 years old.

Filed Oct 6, 2021 · Brakes, Electrical · WA

Several warning messages appeared on the dash at the same time: Check engine, Check emissions control system, Hill start assist system needs to be checked. In addition, the pictures of a car climbing a hill and a car with swerving skid marks behind it lit up. (I don't know the official names of these icons.) The engine then either lost power and would not accelerate when I pressed the gas pedal or would rev and accelerate on its own, even when I had the brake depressed. I have taken my car into the dealership 4 times over the past two years for this same issue. I do not have the exact dates of the first two instances, but the last two were on July 7, 2021, and September 17, 2021. Each time the dealer has been able to verify the warning lights and unintended acceleration. They say the problem is with the brake pedal assembly and have replaced it with a new assembly 3 times. They're working on the 4th one right now.

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 30, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 100,000 miles · WY

January 2019. The issue started as cel came on. Rough idle, surge of power and then cam timing became issue. Was at a stop sign idling when surge occurred lurching vehicle forward. Took to dealer waited weeks for a technical representative to give advice to dealership. Took to other dealer to confirm. They replaced timing chain., cam phasers and other required. Didnt solve issue. Next step was internal oil filters that supply avsc timing. No fix. Replaced ECM as final step in subaru matrix. Ran for 3 weeks and several thousand dollars. Again cel, rough idle, cam issues. Subaru points to dealer. Dealer points to subaru. And I have a inoperable vehicle. I replaced all required parts and have ongoing issue. Soa has been involved but not resolution. It has been 8 months of disappointment. Great car but this is too much to continue to deal with. The xt has been known to have issues, recall on possible cyclinder cracking and issues relating to engine performance.

Filed Aug 3, 2019 · Transmission · 56,861 miles · NY

Cvt transmission failure of my 2014 subaru forester touring 2.0 turbo model. When I put the car into park and turned off the car after driving, it did not turn off the dashboard lights, the belts were still spinning and I had to remove the battery to shut it off. 1 week later the battery was dead. I jump started and the engine light and other alerts were all lit. When I brought the car to my mechanic, he ran diagnostics and said the transmission will need to be replaced. The car is only 5 years old. Top of the line subaru and I only have 56,860 miles on the car.

Filed May 11, 2019 · Engine · 54,000 miles · FL

Driving on interstate 70 MPH, car engine stopped running, RPM's were still up as if car on, coasted out of traffic, no check engine, no sputtering, had gas, but acted as if I had run out. Turned ignition key to off and removed it, attempted to start the car several times within an hours time, it acted as if it was going to start but didn't. Had it towed to mechanic, on a flat bed tow truck. It started up and all systems were checked with no evidence of failure. Diagnostics were run with no active codes, electrical was checked, no evidence of failure. This could have been a huge safety event, if I had not been in an outside lane and was able to get out of traffic. I have had three mechanics look at it and no issue found, but in fear of driving on highway. Guesses have been fuel pump faulty? Cam shaft sensor faulty? Electrical?