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2015 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Forester years

Owner complaints for the 2015 Subaru Forester are substantially higher than the model-year median of 131.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

410 reports with mileage · 203 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 131 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

53 crash reports7 fire reports26 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

82 reports
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10 miles · Feb 7, 2015
Electrical System

WITHIN ONE HOUR OF GETTING THIS NEW VEHICLE, THE EYESIGHT WARNING AND BRAKING SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. THIS CONTINUES AFTER TWO DEALERS HAVE MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE SYSTEM. SUBARU HEADQUARTERS FORCED ME TO PAY FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD, BECAUSE THEY SAID I HAD PUT A NICK IN THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER REPLAC…

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WITHIN ONE HOUR OF GETTING THIS NEW VEHICLE, THE EYESIGHT WARNING AND BRAKING SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. THIS CONTINUES AFTER TWO DEALERS HAVE MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE SYSTEM. SUBARU HEADQUARTERS FORCED ME TO PAY FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD, BECAUSE THEY SAID I HAD PUT A NICK IN THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM STILL CONTINUES TO TURN ITSELF ON AND OFF APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES PER HOUR OF TRAVEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE YOU ARE EXPECTING THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM TO WARN YOU OF UNUSUAL LANE CHANGES AND YOUR PROXIMITY TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU. ALSO WHEN YOU ARE USING THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM WITH CRUISE CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN WHENEVER THE SYSTEM TURNS ITSELF OFF. SINCE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLES BEHIND YOU DO NOT GET A SIGNAL THAT YOU HAVE REDUCED YOUR SPEED. THIS IS ALSO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO REACTIVATE THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU STOP, TURN OF THE ENGINE AND RESTART THE CAR. SUBARU HEADQUARTERS CANNOT MAKE THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE MARKET. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10681867

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2014
Electrical System

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS. THEY PRAISE THIS CAR FOR RELIABILITY, SO THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS CAR. HOWEVER THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ARE SO SMALL YOU CAN'T READ THEM. ALSO, WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD TURN PINK ON BLACK. WITHOUT THE RUNNING…

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I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS. THEY PRAISE THIS CAR FOR RELIABILITY, SO THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS CAR. HOWEVER THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ARE SO SMALL YOU CAN'T READ THEM. ALSO, WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD TURN PINK ON BLACK. WITHOUT THE RUNNING LIGHTS THE NUMBERS ARE A PALE GRAY ON BLACK. WITH THE DIAL TO BRIGHTEN...THAT IS A JOKE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS OVERSIGHT. I WISH I HAD REALIZED THIS BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, BUT I HAVE PRETTY GOOD EYESIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595021

Official recalls

3

19V701000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Oct 3, 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.

19V149000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 28, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

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.

16V162000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Mar 21, 2016

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems