[Guitars1964]

ducati kid,

Thanks very much for posting the write up on your car's repair. It may come in handy. The car has not yet repeated the steering problem. I did email Subaru Customer Service the other day to inform them of my experience and that it appears at least a few others have had similar experiences. Your experience and resultant repair is most helpful to me and any others that may have this happen.

 

[verityauger]

Picked up the car from the dealer last Friday after they finally replaced the steering module. My wife is really happy to have her car back!

After escalating to the service manager at the dealership, he offered to call Subaru of America. The SOA engineer reported having "heard" about a problem, but this has only affected a literal handful of '14 Foresters with the electric power steering assist.

The dealership provided a rental car for the duration of the time our Forester was at the shop. It sounded like the only reason we received the loaner ('12 Legacy), was the extended warranty coverage. At this point I'm very happy we purchased the extended warranty.

I'm less than happy about how much effort was required to get them to actually address the problem. I heard over and over about how they couldn't re-produce the issue AND "they can't just throw parts at it." It was only after they called SOA that they received "approval" to replace the steering module. Then it was a several days of waiting to get the new part shipped in.

While I won't miss the fluids aspect of a traditional power-steering system (I just replaced the re-manufactured replacement P/S pump in our ancient '98 Outback 190k+), I have to wonder about the "failure mode" of the new system. According to the service manager, benefits of the the electric version include better gas mileage and reduced emissions. Time will tell about reliability and MTBF.

Thanks again to all the previous posters! Excellent information.

 

[dawgMobile]

Not sure how steering control module matters for thie

 

[Guitars1964]

Update: my car had 2 subsequent "events" with the power steering, which each time happened when starting the car up and would produce the "chattering" noise and feel when turning the wheel left or right. The last time, event #3, I drove the car CAREFULLY to the dealer, and following ducati kid's advice, did not turn off engine when I arrived at dealership and had service mgr and one of the tech guys come out and experience the problem first hand. I also had left in glove box a print out of ducati kid's repair order on his car so the dealer knew what another dealer had to do. I produced the paper so my dealer's service dept could attach it to their file. And the service mgr also saw that when you turn off the engine and restart, the problem does not persist. It seems turning off and restarting "resets" the computer. My car had the electric power steering computer module replaced - they had my car for 4 days (part had to be UPS shipped as it wasn't in stock at dealership). They gave me a loaner car.

They did echo what ducati kid was told that several other such incidents had been reported. Car seems fine since part replaced.

Bottom line - too soon to know if the problem is more than rare. Subaru did replace the part, and, properly, they did provide a loaner (this was a 5 month old car, after all). I wouldn't freak out about it if you have a '14 Forester. Just be aware of the symptom. It's likely that turning off the engine and restarting will make the problem go away so you can drive the car. Neither ducati kid, as far as I know, nor my problem manifested after the car was started and driven. Driving the car to the dealer and not turning off the engine did allow them to see the problem, but steering was compromised (a little tricky to steer), so if you do that exercise caution.

For sure knowing about another owner's experience and the repair and knowing not to turn off the engine at the dealership helped get the problem resolved, so this forum came in very handy and thanks to ducati kid for his information. It makes all the difference when the dealer's service guy can SEE the problem for himself.

 

[telemarker]

electric steering blues

When it is -30 Celsius, turning on and off car did not solve problem. Electric steering goes into hibernation mode and will wake up in Spring, only 6 weeks away!

Everything else was similar though,wife drove to town[8 miles], turned off ignition,and left for a few minutes. Upon her return, car started easily but there was no power steering. Power steering does not return after multiple starts. Car is flatbedded 160 miles to Calgary. By this time steering has returned and dealer wonders why car is on his lot!!

This scenario has been repeated twice, kind of like that movie "Groundhog Day" but not as enjoyable.

BREAKING NEWS!! Today,Monday 10th Feb.Subaru of Calgary is getting new design power steering module, As this is the brand new design, Service Manager says that prior replacements will fail like their predecessors.

 

[Evanston]

2014 Forester power steering module

I purchased my 2014 Forester about 18 months ago and have driven it about 4,000 miles. The steering froze about a week ago after the car was parked outside overnight in 30 degree temperatures. It unfroze after I restarted the car, but a day later the problem reoccurred and the vehicle had to be towed to a local dealership. I emailed Subaru's US headquarters and have yet to get a response, their roadside assistance service provided excellent service but said that they had never heard of this problem before, and my local dealer's service desk said that they may have seen this problem once before. All in all, I feel as though I'm not being given the straight story.

This Forester has been a nice vehicle until this issue, and we have been pleased with its performance and handling. However, after owning Toyota Camrys for 30 years we're wondering if we made a mistake leaving that brand.

 

[GeoJosh]

All in all, I feel as though I'm not being given the straight story.

With how rare of an occurrence this has been on the forum, I would not be one bit surprised if this was the local dealer's first time encountering this.

 

[SuBooneru]

Sounds like occurrences are increasing though and I wonder if there will be a recall at some point because it seems to me it could be considered a safety issue. I know it would be pretty scary if this happened to me on one of my trips where I'm snow camping in the middle of nowhere on sketchy mountain roads.

I haven't exhibited any of the symptoms other people are describing really, but of note my car wanders to the right pretty badly, even after alignment and on both my winter and summer tires. Also on cold days (anything below 50F) my car has a loud whining type sound for like 10 minutes or so until warmed up, which I swear wasn't there when new.

It sounds very similar to when my power steering pump was going out in my WRX. The WRX wasn't electric PS though and the noise would increase when turning the wheel, while on my Forester it increases with increased throttle at lower RPM's. So maybe it is the CVT or differential. Was also thinking it could be the accessory belts, as they are already are chirping for a few seconds after starting up on damp days.

Also my battery just died a couple days ago at almost 50k miles after only listening to music with the key in accessory position for like 5 minutes. Anyway not trying to hijack the thread. Just throwing some symptoms and issues my car is exhibiting in case it might be related to the OP, to see if anybody can relate, and maybe provide some feedback.

 

[DJ BrianBASS]

Tech did just phone back.....three 'other' cases in the U.S. and is the power steering control module. Subaru has deemed car "unsafe to drive" and has ordered new appropriate part(s) and has given me Legacy to drive in the meantime. Hope this clears this issue up.

Thank you for posting this issue and your findings. Sorry for being so late to this, but it's pretty bad that Subaru does not issue a recall when there are known issues. I guess they would rather pay for the lawsuit if something happened to us, then be proactive and fix the issue before =( It does not get that cold where I live, but I do go to the snow often where it can drop to 20deg F. This is my first winter with this vehicle, so I guess I'll have to see if this issue arises (fingers crossed it does not).

 

[Evanston]

2014 Forester power steering module-continued

I picked my 2014 Forester up from my dealer a couple of hours ago after the above-mentioned problem with the steering module was addressed. What I found out is that the problem is with the steering control unit, that an internal bulletin was issued in April of 2014 regarding this unit, and that (obviously) it is a problem that dealers are aware of. The repair was done under warranty, and will be covered for the longer of 12 months or the duration of the original vehicle warranty. Otherwise, the part--the Power Steering Control Module--would cost $480 to replace, plus labor at an hourly rate of $130 (the Chicago area). I don't know if this module has been re-engineered or in some way improved upon from the OEM module. I have to believe that since the 2014 Forester was substantially redesigned from the previous model years that there is still some work-in-progress here and that improvements are being made as the body of evidence warrants.

 

[Alex.F]

This is exactly why I got the extended warranty, a lot of new stuff in this car, who knows how it will behave a few years down the road.
I think UK gets 100k factory warranty (7 or 10 years not sure).
Jealous.

 

[DJ BrianBASS]

I picked my 2014 Forester up from my dealer a couple of hours ago after the above-mentioned problem with the steering module was addressed. What I found out is that the problem is with the steering control unit, that an internal bulletin was issued in April of 2014 regarding this unit, and that (obviously) it is a problem that dealers are aware of. The repair was done under warranty, and will be covered for the longer of 12 months or the duration of the original vehicle warranty. Otherwise, the part--the Power Steering Control Module--would cost $480 to replace, plus labor at an hourly rate of $130 (the Chicago area). I don't know if this module has been re-engineered or in some way improved upon from the OEM module. I have to believe that since the 2014 Forester was substantially redesigned from the previous model years that there is still some work-in-progress here and that improvements are being made as the body of evidence warrants.

I'll have to ask my Subaru mechanic if the '15 already has an updated power steering control module. I hope you have no more issues with your FOZZ

 

[MickeyD1]

It is also a problem with a 2018 Forester, so much for the redesign!

 

[whobodym]

It is also a problem with a 2018 Forester, so much for the redesign!

can you supply some additional evidence please? (my 2017 has always been fine, I'm original owner now at 72,000 miles with zero steering issues, and I know I've been getting all recall notices, service bulletins and etc.)

 

[Theseus161]

I don’t think this a wide spread problem. Otherwise, you would see hundreds of complaints. There is a TSB/recall concerning the PS getting cracked. Another isolated concern affecting a small number.

The PS control module has now been updated yet again. Part number:34710SG052

Subaru must be having problems with this part/manufacturer. Don’t know who makes it. If it’s sub contracted. This new part now makes 6 superseded numbers.