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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

Forward Collision Avoidance complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2025
Forward Collision AvoidanceSteeringVehicle Speed ControlCrash

The Vehicle Dynamics Control safety system malfunctioned and forced me to drive straight on a curved banked overpass into the concrete barrier

NHTSA ODI #11638240

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2022
Forward Collision Avoidance

It has happened 3 times. I was approaching a traffic light about 200 yards away, and it was changing to yellow. I was in the left lane of a 3-lane small highway, there was a left turn lane, then my lane and the right lane. Someone started standing on their brakes in front of me, I looked into my rear-view and saw that someone…

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It has happened 3 times. I was approaching a traffic light about 200 yards away, and it was changing to yellow. I was in the left lane of a 3-lane small highway, there was a left turn lane, then my lane and the right lane. Someone started standing on their brakes in front of me, I looked into my rear-view and saw that someone was approaching me quickly, so I looked to my right and saw that I could accelerate and avoid getting rear-ended by pulling forward and in front of a car coming up in the right lane. This evasive maneuver is one that I've done many times to avoid being rear-ended. I've been rear-ended twice. Both times it took a while to recover from, and I was much younger then. So, I'd rather try to avoid a collision than have to be in pain for several years. My stupid pre-collision breaking hammered on my brakes so hard I was shocked my air-bag wasn't activated. It grab me so hard that I ended up with bruising on my shoulder from the seat belt. Also, I couldn't get it to go or move very much at all. It was almost like the brakes wouldn't let me override the braking system. I even wrote to Subaru only to be told, sorry, that's too bad or something similar. I was shattered that my fairly new car (the first time was in 2016 and the second time was in 2017) was trying to hurt me. Then it happened to my husband right after he bought his new Subaru Outback, so, needless to say, we are still Subie fans, but not always super happy with them, especially the electronics systems and how they work, or sometimes don't work.

NHTSA ODI #11473269

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2022
Forward Collision Avoidance

July 31, 2021I noted an approximately 6-inch unprovoked crack originating at the outer edge in the windshield on the passenger side. The beginning of September I went to Subaru City, Milwaukee, WI and pictures were taken by the assistant manager, Eric and sent to Subaru. I returned November 23rd after no follow up to find out "m…

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July 31, 2021I noted an approximately 6-inch unprovoked crack originating at the outer edge in the windshield on the passenger side. The beginning of September I went to Subaru City, Milwaukee, WI and pictures were taken by the assistant manager, Eric and sent to Subaru. I returned November 23rd after no follow up to find out "more pictures were needed" per the assistant manager. Again, no follow up so I returned January 19th, and had yet more pictures taken by another employee, [XXX] because they couldn't locate them. I received a call back the next day to confirm submission. After no response to about 10 phone calls to the assistant service manager again, I returned March 7th and was told by another employee, [XXX], there was a new database and couldn't find the pictures. Then was called back and told not under warranty despite requesting repair due to industry defect in the windshields with eyesight. The crack has extended to about 12" from the driver's side edge. I'm concerned about the integrity of the windshield should there be an impact and the eyesight isn't reliable with this crack. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11455624

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2022
EngineForward Collision AvoidanceFuel/propulsion System

I was driving into the sunlight, and was slowing down due to utility pole work ahead. The car stalled, and engine shut off. The dash light indicated the eyesight was disabled. I was able to restart, but the incident was very concerning.

NHTSA ODI #11454586

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2022
Forward Collision AvoidanceLane DepartureVisibility/wiper

I have a crack running across the bottom of my windshield. I took the car to SafeLite for replacement. They do a pre-service check of the EyeSsight camera system which provides forward collision avoidance and lane departure warning. The scan revealed History Code P00FF and a Current Code B280AA8. The SafeLite technician advised …

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I have a crack running across the bottom of my windshield. I took the car to SafeLite for replacement. They do a pre-service check of the EyeSsight camera system which provides forward collision avoidance and lane departure warning. The scan revealed History Code P00FF and a Current Code B280AA8. The SafeLite technician advised they could not replace the windshield until the codes were removed. Then they could replace the windshield and calibrate the EyeSight system. They also stated I had to go to a dealer code removal. I contacted Brunswick Subaru (dealer where I purchased the vehicle) and they stated they could only calibrate after the windshield was replaced. Another dealer (Ganley Subaru) stated the same thing. PROBLEM - the windshield cannot be replaced with the codes and the dealer cannot remove the codes (by recalibration) until the windshield is replaced. I am left with driving the car with a broken windshield. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI #11451323

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidanceService BrakesCrash

On Wednesday November 10 I was arriving at Chase Bank 4229 Woodruff Ave Lakewood Ca. I was turning right into a parking stall heading due east, parking between a pickup truck to the right and a passenger car to the left. I was braking with my right foot only traveling 5 miles per hour and suddenly the car accelerated over a park…

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On Wednesday November 10 I was arriving at Chase Bank 4229 Woodruff Ave Lakewood Ca. I was turning right into a parking stall heading due east, parking between a pickup truck to the right and a passenger car to the left. I was braking with my right foot only traveling 5 miles per hour and suddenly the car accelerated over a parking stop and into the bank building. It was so sudden I couldn't react and pull up the parking brake. The collision caused major front end damage to my 2015 Subaru Forrester XT. It also caused damage to the Chase Bank building. I was lucky to be a couple of parking spaces south of the ready teller , as there was a male white customer at the outside teller and he would of been killed or at least very severely injured. My wife selected this car new in 2015 because of the safety of it.

NHTSA ODI #11440210

107,008 miles · Apr 14, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceVehicle Speed Control

SUDDENLY IT STARTED TO ACCURATE AND THE OTHER WAS ALL IN BORD CONTROL SYSTEM DEFAULT ARE LIGHTING UP

NHTSA ODI #11407997

40,000 miles · Feb 26, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision Avoidance

AT 40,000 MILES THE EYE SIGHT CAMERAS HAVE FAILED, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THAT SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS NOR DO I HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $2,306.58.

NHTSA ODI #11398019

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