2014 Subaru Forester maintenance schedule

The 2014 Forester is part of the SJ generation (2014-2018), sold as an SUV. Below: its service intervals with the source behind each one, the fluids it takes, the problems owners report for this year, and the NHTSA recalls issued for it.

Service schedule

What the 2014 Forester needs, and when

5 of these 12 items come from Subaru's own published schedule. Manufacturer rows link to Subaru's own schedule, Independent rows to a service shop or parts retailer's published guide.

Service	Interval	Source
Engine oil and filter Heavy usage dictates 3,000-mile intervals. For the 2014 model year, Subaru's 2014 Warranty and Maintenance Booklet schedules oil every 7,500 miles or 7.5 months; 6,000 miles or 6 months applies from 2015	6,000 mi / 6 months	Manufacturer
Engine air filter Replace regularly; 7,500 miles for heavy/dusty use.	30,000 mi / 30 months	Independent
Cabin air filter	12,000 mi / 1 year	Independent
Tire rotation Inspect and rotate	6,000 mi / 6 months	Independent
Brake fluid Flush system to prevent internal corrosion.	30,000 mi / 30 months	Manufacturer
Engine coolant Initial change at 11 years, then every 75k miles/6 years using Subaru Super Coolant.	137,500 mi / 11 years	Manufacturer
Transmission fluid Inspect fluid; severe service dictates complete replacement sooner to prevent catastrophic failure.	Inspect, replace as needed	Manufacturer
Spark plugs Required replacement for optimal emissions and preventing coil pack stress.	60,000 mi / 5 years	Manufacturer
Serpentine belt Inspect drive belt(s).	Inspect, replace as needed	Independent
Differential and transfer case fluid Inspect; replace every 25,000 miles for heavy usage (towing/hills).	Inspect, replace as needed	Independent
PCV valve Check PCV valve to prevent crankcase overpressurization.	Inspect, replace as needed	Independent
12V battery Test / replace.	30,000 mi / 3 years	Independent

Intervals are for normal driving; towing, short trips, extreme heat or dust shorten them.

Fluids and engines

What goes in it

Coolant: Subaru Super Coolant
Transmission fluid: CVT Fluid

Powertrains in this generation

2.5L / 2.0L 4-cyl (FB25 / FA20F), CVT, AWD

Confirm the exact spec against the owner's manual or the label under the hood; capacities vary by engine and drivetrain.

Known problems

What 2014 Forester owners run into

Problems reported for this model year, with the mileage they tend to show up at. Buying past a window is not automatically a pass - it just needs to be priced in.

Excessive Oil Consumption

high severity

From about 26,000 mi · $2,000 to fix

Vehicle requires frequent oil top-ups between changes

Transmission Failure

high severity

From about 96,600 mi · $6,500-$10,000 to fix

CVT shuddering, slipping, or absolute failure

Source: carbuzz.com

Safety recalls

2 NHTSA recalls for the 2014 Subaru Forester

From NHTSA's recall database, matched by model and year. Recall repairs are free at Subaru dealers, and a given car may already be fixed or fall outside a campaign, so check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.

Exterior lighting

NHTSA 19V149000

February 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.

Equipment

NHTSA 13V159000

April 2013

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2014 Forester vehicles manufactured from January 2013 through March 2013. The backing for the carpeted floor mats was not manufactured to specification. As a result, the floor mats may curl when exposed to heat.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace each of the vehicle's four (4) carpeted floor mats with new ones. These services will be performed free of charge. Subaru issued an interim notification during April 2013. Notification that the remedy is now available was mailed to owners on June 5, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQH-44.

Running costs

What maintenance typically costs

A typical year of maintenance: $632

Typical US independent-shop estimates for this generation; they vary by region and condition.

Other Forester model years

SK (2019-2024)

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

SJ (2014-2018)

20142015 2016 2017 2018

Shopping new? The Subaru Forester guide covers the current model, with what it costs to keep for 1 to 15 years.

Sources

techinfo.subaru.com (Manufacturer)
autonationsubaruarapahoe.com (Independent)
carbuzz.com (Independent)

Researched 2026-09-21. Modeling, not mechanic advice - always confirm against your car's owner's manual and service records.

Running a Forester for income?

Carlyle scores the exact listing on cost per remaining mile and projected Turo income, so you know what a 2014 Forester earns before you buy it.

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