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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

Power Train complaints

95 reports
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12,500 miles · Dec 1, 2015
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

MY VEHICLE IS BUCKING/JERKING UNDER LIGHT TO MEDIUM ACCELERATION LOADS BETWEEN ABOUT 10 MPH TO 30 MPH. THE ISSUE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT IT WILL OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES DURING A SINGLE TRIP TO WORK 25 MILES AWAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE IN THE PARKING LOT. THEY BELIEVE…

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MY VEHICLE IS BUCKING/JERKING UNDER LIGHT TO MEDIUM ACCELERATION LOADS BETWEEN ABOUT 10 MPH TO 30 MPH. THE ISSUE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT IT WILL OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES DURING A SINGLE TRIP TO WORK 25 MILES AWAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE IN THE PARKING LOT. THEY BELIEVE IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CVT. OTHERS ONLINE HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. SPECIFICALLY, YOU DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL A CONSTANT DISTANCE, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL GIVE YOU UNRELIABLE AMOUNTS OF ACCELERATION: SOMETIMES AN INITIAL LURCH AND THEN A PAUSE AND THEN ANOTHER LURCH OR VERY LITTLE ACCELERATION AND THEN A PAUSE AND A LURCH. DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL FARTHER DURING ONE OF THE JERKY PERIODS HAS LITTLE EFFECT EXCEPT TO MAKE THE LURCH MORE VIOLENT ONCE IT FINALLY HAPPENS. NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE RELIABLY DURING A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND THE REASON FOR ME WRITING A REPORT. I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE DEALER, BUT FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. I BELIEVE THE ONLY REASON I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND RECORDED CAR ACCIDENTS REFERENCING THIS ISSUE IS DUE THE NEWNESS OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10807712

11,265 miles · Jun 17, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

FROM A FULL STOP, A/C ON, I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT A GREEN LIGHT. CAR STOPPED ACCELERATION AT APROX. 2 MILES PER HOUR AND COASTED THRU LARGE INTERSECTION BEFORE ACCELERATING AGAIN. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS OFF. I TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID NO "ERROR CODE" IS AVAILABLE THAT WO…

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FROM A FULL STOP, A/C ON, I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT A GREEN LIGHT. CAR STOPPED ACCELERATION AT APROX. 2 MILES PER HOUR AND COASTED THRU LARGE INTERSECTION BEFORE ACCELERATING AGAIN. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS OFF. I TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID NO "ERROR CODE" IS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD INDICATE A PROBLEM AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE ANOTHER DRIVER MADE THIS SAME REPORT. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE 1) WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CAR FAILS AGAIN WHEN I PULL INTO TRAFFIC WITH MY KID IN THE CAR? AND 2) I BOUGHT A SUBARU BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE. I'M SERIOUSLY RECONSIDERING MY DECISION NOW.

NHTSA ODI #10725836

250 miles · May 12, 2015
EnginePower Train

I HAVE A 2015 FORESTER PREMIUM WITH WINTER PACKAGE, I BOUGHT IT NEW WITH 10 MILES ON IT. WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A DEAD STOP. I STEP ON THE GAS AND THERE IS A DELAYED THROTTLE RESPONSE ( LIKE A HESITATION OR A SLOW SHIFT ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ) EITHER FROM THE COMPUTER MODULE OR TRANSMISSION. OTHER OWNERS , THAT I KNO…

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I HAVE A 2015 FORESTER PREMIUM WITH WINTER PACKAGE, I BOUGHT IT NEW WITH 10 MILES ON IT. WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A DEAD STOP. I STEP ON THE GAS AND THERE IS A DELAYED THROTTLE RESPONSE ( LIKE A HESITATION OR A SLOW SHIFT ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ) EITHER FROM THE COMPUTER MODULE OR TRANSMISSION. OTHER OWNERS , THAT I KNOW, HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE ALSO. FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE OUTBACK SAY ITS LESS PRONOUNCED. AS YOU MIGHT GUESS>> I HAVE A BUNCH OF SUBIE FANS !!! THIS IS MY 2ND SUBARU , AND WHILE I AM HAPPY WITH IT, I STILL CAN'T GET MY DEALER TO DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY SAY " ITS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST ! " I'M HOPING THERE WILL BE A SERVICE BULLETIN TO FIX THIS ANNOYING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10716073

5 miles · May 7, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.

NHTSA ODI #10715155

2,000 miles · Dec 19, 2014
Air BagsPower TrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TREES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TREES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ODI #10667330

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