← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

55 reports
Clear category filter
60,148 miles · Jan 5, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO PASS ANOTHER AUTO, OCCASIONALLY THE AUTO SURGES FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, NOT 5-10 MILES AN HOUR BUT MORE LIKE 25-30. TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS DOES NOTHING AS THE CAR CONTINUES TO GET FASTER AND FASTER. APPLYING THE BRAKE PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN BARELY SLOWS THE CAR. WHEN YOU LET UP ON THE…

Read full complaint

WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO PASS ANOTHER AUTO, OCCASIONALLY THE AUTO SURGES FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, NOT 5-10 MILES AN HOUR BUT MORE LIKE 25-30. TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS DOES NOTHING AS THE CAR CONTINUES TO GET FASTER AND FASTER. APPLYING THE BRAKE PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN BARELY SLOWS THE CAR. WHEN YOU LET UP ON THE BRAKE IT SURGES FORWARD AGAIN AT THE HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS THE 19 DEGREE WEATHER AS IT DID IT 3 TIMES ON THE WAY TO WORK ONE DAY THIS WEEK. LAST NIGHT IT WAS 41 DEGREES WHEN I DROVE HOME AND IT DID IT EVERY TIME. I ALMOST REAR ENDED SOMEONE AS I COULDN'T GET IT TO SLOW DOWN TO A NORMAL SPEED EVEN WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. HAPPENED ON A MAJOR FREEWAY AND ON RURAL COUNTY ROADS WHEN GOING STRAIGHT

NHTSA ODI #11060701

53,800 miles · Dec 26, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire

I BOUGHT THE CAR AND LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP IF THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. IT NEVER CAME BACK ON. FOUR DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THE GAS PEDAL QUIT WORKING. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE IF ANY LIGHTS …

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT THE CAR AND LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP IF THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. IT NEVER CAME BACK ON. FOUR DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THE GAS PEDAL QUIT WORKING. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE IF ANY LIGHTS WERE ON AND THEY WEREN'T. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO TURN THE CAR OFF. BEFORE I COULD TURN THE CAR OFF I SAW FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD NEAR THE LIGHTS. THEN ALL OF THE WARMING LIGHTS CAME ON. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. BEFORE I COULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI #11056548

44,400 miles · Dec 20, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THE CAR LOST ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE 95 HEADING SOUTH APPROX 17 MILES NORTH OF THE GA FL STATE LINE. THE FUEL INDICATOR SHOWED 30 MILES UNTIL I HAD TO REFUEL. THIS WAS ON 12/3/2017. I WAS AT SPEED(75 MPH) AND MANAGED TO GO THROUGH TRAFFIC AND GO TO SHOULDER. THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. I WAITED …

Read full complaint

THE CAR LOST ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE 95 HEADING SOUTH APPROX 17 MILES NORTH OF THE GA FL STATE LINE. THE FUEL INDICATOR SHOWED 30 MILES UNTIL I HAD TO REFUEL. THIS WAS ON 12/3/2017. I WAS AT SPEED(75 MPH) AND MANAGED TO GO THROUGH TRAFFIC AND GO TO SHOULDER. THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. I WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THE CAR RESTARTED. I DROVE TO THE SECOND EXIT AND REFUELED. A FEW DAYS LATER ON 12/06/2017 ON THE WAY BACK TO ATLANTA ON I-95 SOUTH OF SAVANNAH AND THE FUEL GAGE READING 30 MILES UNTIL I HAD TO REFUEL, THE VERY SAME THING HAPPENED. EXCEPT, THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I CALLED AAA AND CONTINUED TO TRY TO RESTART. AFTER 45 MINUTES, THE CAR RESTARTED. I DROVE APPROX 10 MILES AND REFUELED. I HAVE HAD NO INCIDENT SINCE BUT, I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR WITH LOW FUEL. THIS COULD HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT RESULT IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE TRAFFIC ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. BOTH ME AND MY WIFE COULD BE DEAD. I BELIEVE THERE IS A FLAW IN THE LOW FUEL WARNING SOFTWARE AND SOMETHING SHUTS THE POWER. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR WITH LOWER FUEL LEVELS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWS MILES TO YOU HAVE TO REFUEL, I.E., 50 MILES, 40 MILES, 30 MILES, 20 MILES THEN ------. YOU HAVE ACCESS TO DATA ON THESE CARS, I DON'T. PLEASE HAVE SOME ADVISE ME WHAT IS YOUR THINKING ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI #11055680

100 miles · Oct 31, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

AFTER I SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER THIS CAR OCCASIONALLY PAUSES, OR WILL NOT RESUME MOVING FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS. THIS HAS CAUSED CARS BEHIND ME TO ALMOST REAR END ME NUMEROUS TIMES. IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS TWICE IN ONE DAY THEN WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER BUT IT HAS NEVER …

Read full complaint

AFTER I SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER THIS CAR OCCASIONALLY PAUSES, OR WILL NOT RESUME MOVING FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS. THIS HAS CAUSED CARS BEHIND ME TO ALMOST REAR END ME NUMEROUS TIMES. IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS TWICE IN ONE DAY THEN WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER BUT IT HAS NEVER DONE IT ON ANY OF THEIR TEST DRIVES. THIS HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW. I WAS TOLD OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ODI #11041769

24,000 miles · Sep 21, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

TWICE THE FORESTER SURGE FORWARD --ONCE IT STOPPED BEFORE HITTING A TREE AND THE SECOND TIME IT HIT A BUILDING. BOTH TIMES PULLING IN TO A PARKING SPACE FROM A ROAD AND FROM A PARKING AREA.

NHTSA ODI #11024770

15,000 miles · Aug 18, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

ENGINE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY FROM A DEAD STOP, LEAVING ME STUCK IN THE ONCOMING LANE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! IT?S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT FEELING HESITATION AND SURGING. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS VERY SLOW TO GO INTO GEAR AND THEN LUNGES TO CATC…

Read full complaint

ENGINE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY FROM A DEAD STOP, LEAVING ME STUCK IN THE ONCOMING LANE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! IT?S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT FEELING HESITATION AND SURGING. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS VERY SLOW TO GO INTO GEAR AND THEN LUNGES TO CATCH UP. THIS HAPPENS IN ALL WEATHER AND ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS, IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY. VERY DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE FOR A CAR I BOUGHT BRAND NEW.

NHTSA ODI #11016142

41,677 miles · Jun 23, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

LOST COMPLETE POWER AT 70MPH IN CENTER LANE OF EXPRESSWAY. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL ROLLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. GAS GAUGE SHOWED 1/8 TANK, 70 MILES, NO FUEL LIGHT.. SUBARU SAID FUEL PUMP OVERHEATED AND THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER DRIVE WITH LESS THAN 1/4 TANK. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WITH NO WARNING ALMOST CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT.…

Read full complaint

LOST COMPLETE POWER AT 70MPH IN CENTER LANE OF EXPRESSWAY. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL ROLLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. GAS GAUGE SHOWED 1/8 TANK, 70 MILES, NO FUEL LIGHT.. SUBARU SAID FUEL PUMP OVERHEATED AND THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER DRIVE WITH LESS THAN 1/4 TANK. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WITH NO WARNING ALMOST CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AAA TO SUBARU DEALER. VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO AAA AFTER SITTING FOR 90 MINUTES WAITING. DEALER SAID FUEL PUMP IS COOLED BY FUEL AND RUNNING IT WHEN FUEL IS LOW CAUSES PUMP FAILURE. VERY CASUAL, WE ALMOST DIED!. REPAIR RECORD ATTACHED.

NHTSA ODI #11000783

14,000 miles · Feb 26, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT THAT TURNED GREEN, AND WHEN I TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR, NO GAS. PULLED AROUND THE CORNER, AND PUT IN PARK, ENGINE REVVED HIGH RPM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, XMODE LIGHT, AND ANOTHER 'CAR ON HILL' LIGHT CAME ON DASH'..MESSAGES ON DISPLAY WINDOW 'HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM' AND 'EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM' MESSAGES…

Read full complaint

I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT THAT TURNED GREEN, AND WHEN I TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR, NO GAS. PULLED AROUND THE CORNER, AND PUT IN PARK, ENGINE REVVED HIGH RPM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, XMODE LIGHT, AND ANOTHER 'CAR ON HILL' LIGHT CAME ON DASH'..MESSAGES ON DISPLAY WINDOW 'HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM' AND 'EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM' MESSAGES FLASHED. WE TURNED EVERYTHING OFF, STARTED ENGINE AGAIN, SAME THING, SAME MESSAGES. TURNED OFF AGAIN, RESTARTED, AND THIS TIME THE GAS PEDAL WORKED, BUT DASH LIGHTS STAYED ON WITH WARNING LIGHTS. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT ABOUT 5 MORE MILES, THEN STOPPED FOR DINNER. AN HOUR LATER, THE CAR STARTED FINE, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO GAS PEDAL ISSUES. TOOK TO SUBARU WEST 2/25/16 WHERE THE TECHNICIAN HOOKED UP HIS HAND HELD COMPUTER THING TO PLACE NEAR HOOD RELEASE. HE SAID THERE WAS JUST ONE SIGNAL THAT TOLD HIM IT WAS PROBABLY FROM THE FACT I HIT THE GAS AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME, AND THE VEHICLE SENSES THIS AND SHUTS OFF THE THROTTLE. SAFETY ISSUE? I AM A ONE FOOTED DRIVER, SO NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENS, BUT HE SAID HE CLEARED THE COMPUTER AND ALL SHOULD BE GOOD, BUT TO BRING IT BACK IN ASAP IF THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT GOES ON. HMM.

NHTSA ODI #10838631

57 miles · Oct 10, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

CAR WAS DRIVEN OUT OF NEW CAR DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT BY DRIVER WITH 50 PLUS YEARS EXPERIENCE. APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MILES INTO TRIP CAR EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER GOING THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CAR PROCEEDED INTO WOODED AREA AND HIT TREE CAUSING LOWER LEG INJURIES TO DRIVER AND MODERATE TO SEVERE DA…

Read full complaint

CAR WAS DRIVEN OUT OF NEW CAR DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT BY DRIVER WITH 50 PLUS YEARS EXPERIENCE. APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MILES INTO TRIP CAR EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER GOING THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CAR PROCEEDED INTO WOODED AREA AND HIT TREE CAUSING LOWER LEG INJURIES TO DRIVER AND MODERATE TO SEVERE DAMAGE TO CAR. DRIVER WAS NOT ENTRAPPED UPON EMT ARRIVAL. ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED. DRIVER IS CONFIDENT CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND /OR ENGINE COMPUTER. CAR TRAVELED AT OVER 40 MPH DURING INCIDENT AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED THROUGH NORMAL BRAKING ACTION.

NHTSA ODI #10781256

4,000 miles · Sep 18, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

ON TWO OCCASIONS ABOUT A WEEK APART, AFTER SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER MID TURN FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 SECONDS. THIS CAUSED THE CARS BEHIND ME TO HAVE TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES & I WAS NEARLY HIT BOTH TIMES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALER & WAS TOLD THE CVT CAUSES PAUSES, HOWEVER …

Read full complaint

ON TWO OCCASIONS ABOUT A WEEK APART, AFTER SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER MID TURN FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 SECONDS. THIS CAUSED THE CARS BEHIND ME TO HAVE TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES & I WAS NEARLY HIT BOTH TIMES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALER & WAS TOLD THE CVT CAUSES PAUSES, HOWEVER THIS WAS WAY TOO LONG & EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME I COULD BRING THE CAR IN FOR A TEST DRIVE, BUT BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY IT WOULD BE HARD TO DUPLICATE. ALSO IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON THERE WOULD BE NO CODE.

NHTSA ODI #10765083

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