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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.

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

Power Train complaints

95 reports
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55,000 miles · Jan 15, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

TWO TIMES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH, MY CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE CAR SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT SIMPLY SLOWED DOWN. BOTH TIMES THE HIGHWAY WAS EMPTY ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT INTO …

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TWO TIMES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH, MY CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE CAR SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT SIMPLY SLOWED DOWN. BOTH TIMES THE HIGHWAY WAS EMPTY ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT INTO THE SHOULDER. ONCE I PULLED OVER, I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE CAR STARTED AND ACCELERATION WORKED AS NORMAL. BOTH TIMES I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP, AND AFTER RUNNING SOME TESTS SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES, AND COULDN'T HELP ME ANY FURTHER. I'VE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE HAS FOUND A SOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #11299582

76,000 miles · Jan 10, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

SUBARU 2015 FORESTER 2.5L AT CVT TRANSMISSION NO TURBO ENGINE REVS TO 4-6000 RPM TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR CAR TAKES OFF ACCELERATING WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. THE DRIVER MUST SLAM ON BRAKES PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE CAR DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY BOTH AT LOW AND HIGH-SPEED TRAVEL.. THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALER…

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SUBARU 2015 FORESTER 2.5L AT CVT TRANSMISSION NO TURBO ENGINE REVS TO 4-6000 RPM TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR CAR TAKES OFF ACCELERATING WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. THE DRIVER MUST SLAM ON BRAKES PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE CAR DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY BOTH AT LOW AND HIGH-SPEED TRAVEL.. THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT SUCCESS. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN THAT THE DRIVER IS AT RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO HIGH ENGINE RPM AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH SLAMMING TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT REQUIRING HARD BRAKEING AND PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO REGAIN CONTROL . I BELIEVE THIS IS LONG STANDING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND THE ORIGIANAL BUYER TRADED IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICLAL ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT WILL ONLY BE DIAGNOSISED DOCUMENTED BY 24/7 MONITORING OF ENGINE FUNCTIONS. IN ORDER TO CATCH THE EVENTS AS THEY OCCUR NO CODES ARE BEING THROWN OR RECORDED. THE DEALERS HAVE REFUSED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO DIAGNOSIS THIS INTERMITTANT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11298507

74,000 miles · Dec 23, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT NO RESPONSE, LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHILE COASTING ON THE SHOULDER, THE CAR SPUTTERED AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT I HAD 1/4 TANK. IT THEN BEGAN TO RUN…

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT NO RESPONSE, LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHILE COASTING ON THE SHOULDER, THE CAR SPUTTERED AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT I HAD 1/4 TANK. IT THEN BEGAN TO RUN NORMALLY. I PULLED OFF TO A GAS STATION, FILLED IT UP, AND CONTINUED MY TRIP WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE OCCURRENCE WAS VERY DANGEROUS ON A CONGESTED HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11290811

105,894 miles · Nov 17, 2019
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING, WITH NO LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE AT 5 MPH AND AGAIN AT 25 MPH. THE TWO TIMES IT HAPPENED WERE ABOUT THREE MINUTES APART THIS MORNING. THEN I DROVE THREE HOURS ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT A REPEAT OF THE ISSUE. WHEN IT STALLED, IT FELT LIKE THE WHEELS AND ENGINE BECAME DISCONNE…

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CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING, WITH NO LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE AT 5 MPH AND AGAIN AT 25 MPH. THE TWO TIMES IT HAPPENED WERE ABOUT THREE MINUTES APART THIS MORNING. THEN I DROVE THREE HOURS ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT A REPEAT OF THE ISSUE. WHEN IT STALLED, IT FELT LIKE THE WHEELS AND ENGINE BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE GAS PEDAL. NO ENGINE REVVING WAS AUDIBLE. IT DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP, BUT SLOWED TO A CRAWL COASTING TOTALLY ON MOMENTUM, THEN STARTED MOVING AGAIN ON ITS OWN. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED BOTH TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11280656

30 miles · Oct 3, 2019
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER TO THE CAR ON HER WAY TO WORK AND LUCKILY DIDN'T GET REAR ENDED BUT AFTER A BIT THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO RATTLE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT ONLY WHILE CAR VEERED LEFT AND NOT ON NORMAL CITY SPEEDS. TOOK THE CAR IN AND WA…

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WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER TO THE CAR ON HER WAY TO WORK AND LUCKILY DIDN'T GET REAR ENDED BUT AFTER A BIT THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO RATTLE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT ONLY WHILE CAR VEERED LEFT AND NOT ON NORMAL CITY SPEEDS. TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THE ISSUE AND HAS TO BE REPLACED WHICH I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE AND AVOID SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS. I HAVE LOOKED UP THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH SOME PEOPLE HAVING VERY CLOSE CALLS. THERE WAS AN EXTENSION TO THE WARRANTY PROVIDED BY SUBARU BUT PROBLEM HAS COINCIDENTALLY STARTED AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED. EVEN THOUGH I GOT LUCKY AND NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE OR ANYONE I STILL THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMETHING WORSE HAPPENS TO SOMEONE. SUBARU SEEMS TO HAVE KNOWN THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING THEY OFFERED A LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT EXPIRED BEFORE THE TRUE PROBLEM BEGAN TO OCCUR.

NHTSA ODI #11265825

28,400 miles · Aug 4, 2019
EnginePower Train

ON JULY 28, WE WERE DRIVING AT ~70 MPH ON A FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR LOST MOMENTUM. THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMED TO STILL BE OPERATING, BUT THE ACCELERATOR HAD NOT EFFECT AND WE HAD TO COAST AND BRAKE TO A STOP NEXT TO THE MERIDIAN. DUE TO DENSE, HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, WE COULD NOT SAFELY CROSS TWO-LANES OF TRAFFIC TO REACH …

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ON JULY 28, WE WERE DRIVING AT ~70 MPH ON A FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR LOST MOMENTUM. THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMED TO STILL BE OPERATING, BUT THE ACCELERATOR HAD NOT EFFECT AND WE HAD TO COAST AND BRAKE TO A STOP NEXT TO THE MERIDIAN. DUE TO DENSE, HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, WE COULD NOT SAFELY CROSS TWO-LANES OF TRAFFIC TO REACH THE SHOULDER. BRAKES AND STEERING CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AND THE CAR HAD FUEL, ALTHOUGH WAS CLOSE TO EMPTY. WE COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR, NOR COULD THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR WHO REACHED US ~35-MIN LATER. THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER HAD NO THEORY OF WHY THIS OCCURRED, AND A MECHANIC WHO EXAMINED THE CAR COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, AND SAID THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. WE'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE JUNE 2018 WITH NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS SITUATION OCCURRED. ON JULY 7, WE HAD THE CAR SERVICED FOR A RECALL RELATED TO A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH, I.E., SAFETY RECALL: WUE90|NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 19V149000.

NHTSA ODI #11241594

50,199 miles · May 17, 2019
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

TAKARA RECALL WUE-90 SAFETY ISSUE WITH GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU HAS UNREASONABLE TWO WEEK WAIT TIME TO REPLACE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURE AND RENDERING CONSUMER AT UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK OR UNUSABLE CAR. CAR LOCKS IN PARK OR ABS LIGHTS AND HILL START ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS DURING DRIVING UNPREDICTABLY. CAR WAS SERVICED FOR EXACT …

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TAKARA RECALL WUE-90 SAFETY ISSUE WITH GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU HAS UNREASONABLE TWO WEEK WAIT TIME TO REPLACE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURE AND RENDERING CONSUMER AT UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK OR UNUSABLE CAR. CAR LOCKS IN PARK OR ABS LIGHTS AND HILL START ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS DURING DRIVING UNPREDICTABLY. CAR WAS SERVICED FOR EXACT SAME SAFETY ISSUE PREVIOUSLY (7/22/2016 : SERVICE DEPT STATED "FOUND BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAULTY AND NOT WORKING") AND GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU'S FAILED TO REPAIR DEFECT SUCCUSSFULLY. GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU DISREGARDS DRIVER SAFETY AGAIN BY FAILING TO SERVICE SAME DEFECT IN A TIMELY MANNER, IN REGARDS TO CUSTOMER SAFETY COMPLAINTS AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSUMER PROTECTION SAFETY REGULATIONS AND LAWS.

NHTSA ODI #11208168

132,000 miles · May 12, 2019
Power Train

MY CAR DASH LIGHTS, HILL ASSIST AND ENGINE LIGHT, REMOTE NOT FUNCTIONING. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL. THE CODE READ A SECONDARY PRESSURE CODE. NOT COVERED FOR REPAIR, 132,000 MILES. OTHER CARS FAILED EARLY, 50 TO 90 THOUSAND MILE. APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE, EVEN WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOT RELIABLE, 45 YEARS N…

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MY CAR DASH LIGHTS, HILL ASSIST AND ENGINE LIGHT, REMOTE NOT FUNCTIONING. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL. THE CODE READ A SECONDARY PRESSURE CODE. NOT COVERED FOR REPAIR, 132,000 MILES. OTHER CARS FAILED EARLY, 50 TO 90 THOUSAND MILE. APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE, EVEN WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOT RELIABLE, 45 YEARS NEVER LOST A TRANSMISSION, AND AT THE TUNE $7000.00 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #11207098

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2019
Power Train

VEHICLE WON'T START UNLESS GEARSHIFT LEVER IS MOVED FORWARD WHILE ALREADY IN THE PARK POSITION - WITH JUST HAND PRESSURE ON THE HANDLE.

NHTSA ODI #11206952

3,774 miles · Apr 16, 2019
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC CAR HESITATES, STALLS AND STUMBLES TO ACCELERATE FOR A FEW SECONDS. UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND SMOOTHLY (STUCK IN 1ST GEAR?). WAS REAR ENDED WHEN UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AT LIGHT. DEALER DID SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM, STILL ONGOING

NHTSA ODI #11196736

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.

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