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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

73 reports
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27,000 miles · Jun 5, 2017
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

WHEN NEEDED FOR THE VENTILATION TO CLEAR THE FOG, WHICH FORMS ON THE WINDSHIELD OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS HUMID OR VERY HOT OR TOO COLD, HAVE TO KEEP IT ON. THEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF VAPOR FORMS ON THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #10993227

44,200 miles · Apr 23, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

PROBLEM IS WITH THE SUBARU "EYESIGHT" SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN SUTTING ITSELF OFF MORE AND MORE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS UNTIL NOW, IT SHUTS DOWN THE SYSTEM AND CRUISE CONTROL MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY EVEN AT NIGHT.DAYTIME OR WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. THE LOCAL DEALER CHECKED IT AND FOUND NO PROBLEM THAT HE COULD SEE F…

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PROBLEM IS WITH THE SUBARU "EYESIGHT" SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN SUTTING ITSELF OFF MORE AND MORE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS UNTIL NOW, IT SHUTS DOWN THE SYSTEM AND CRUISE CONTROL MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY EVEN AT NIGHT.DAYTIME OR WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. THE LOCAL DEALER CHECKED IT AND FOUND NO PROBLEM THAT HE COULD SEE FOR IT.

NHTSA ODI #10979958

30,000 miles · Dec 29, 2016
Unknown Or Other

WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL, WITH ENGINE RUNNING, SHIFT PLACED SECURELY IN PARK, WITH ROAD ICE ON ONE SIDE OF VEHICLE, THE CAR STARTED TO SLIDE DOWN THE HILL, BUT BOTH REAR WHEELS AND DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WERE TURNING WHILE CAR WAS SLIDING DOWN HILL. IN TESTING THIS, IT WAS REPEATED TWO TIMES, ONCE ON THE SAME HILL, AGAIN ON A DI…

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WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL, WITH ENGINE RUNNING, SHIFT PLACED SECURELY IN PARK, WITH ROAD ICE ON ONE SIDE OF VEHICLE, THE CAR STARTED TO SLIDE DOWN THE HILL, BUT BOTH REAR WHEELS AND DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WERE TURNING WHILE CAR WAS SLIDING DOWN HILL. IN TESTING THIS, IT WAS REPEATED TWO TIMES, ONCE ON THE SAME HILL, AGAIN ON A DIFFERENT HILL. THIS IS DANGEROUS! IT IS AS THOUGH "PARK" IS ONLY LOCKING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, BUT IF IT IS ON ICE, THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO SLIDE BECAUSE THE REMAINING WHEELS ARE NOT ALSO LOCKED.

NHTSA ODI #10938635

24,500 miles · Dec 19, 2016
EngineStructureUnknown Or OtherFireInjury

MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER XT WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS VISITS TO THE FOR AN ISSUE IN WHICH THE CARS ENGINE LIGHTS AND WARNINGS WOULD DISPLAY, VIOLENTLY SHAKE, SHUDDER AND LOSE POWER WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AM AUTHORIZED SUBARU MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE, THEY DID AN ECM COMPUTER UPDATE..…

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MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER XT WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS VISITS TO THE FOR AN ISSUE IN WHICH THE CARS ENGINE LIGHTS AND WARNINGS WOULD DISPLAY, VIOLENTLY SHAKE, SHUDDER AND LOSE POWER WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AM AUTHORIZED SUBARU MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE, THEY DID AN ECM COMPUTER UPDATE...UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEMS DID NOT GO AWAY AFTER THE UPDATE. I RE-VISITED THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINING THAT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED, AT WHICH POINT THEY DECIDED TO TRY TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER A WEEK, THE SUBARU DEALER SENT ME HOME IN THE CAR, SAYING THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. LESS THEN 4 DAYS LAYER, WHILE ON MY MORNING COMMUTE TO WORK, THE SAME PROBLEMS WHICH HAD PLAGUED THE CAR STARTED TO OCCUR, HOWEVER THIS TIME, I HEARD A LOUD POP/BANG AND SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN OF THE CAR. VERY SHORTLY AFTER SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN, I WITNESSED FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ABOVE THE WINDSDHIED. I EXITED THE FREEWAY LANES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AND WITHIN 10 SECONDS THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAVE PAPERWORK FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH MY EXPRESSED CONCERNS, AND THE SUABARU MECHANIC'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10936319

27,000 miles · Dec 6, 2016
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A PARKING LOT I SLOWED DOWN TO PARK AND I HAD THE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND WENT OVER THE SIDEWALK. I COULD HAVE INJURED SOMEONE WALKING OR HIT THE GLASS WINDOW IN FRONT OF ME. THE SUBARU DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR AND DID NOT FOUND ANY ISSUE AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROB…

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A PARKING LOT I SLOWED DOWN TO PARK AND I HAD THE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND WENT OVER THE SIDEWALK. I COULD HAVE INJURED SOMEONE WALKING OR HIT THE GLASS WINDOW IN FRONT OF ME. THE SUBARU DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR AND DID NOT FOUND ANY ISSUE AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS AND IT REPRESENTS A SAFETY RISK TO THE DRIVER AND EVERYONE ELSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10930295

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THERE IS AN ODD HESITATION AS IF IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO FORWARD AT IDLE AFTER BRAKING. IF I PRESS THE GAS, THERE IS A DELAYED REACTION AND A LURCH. THIS IS SCARY! AT TIMES, WHEN I AM HEAVILY BRAKING TO A STOP I CAN FEEL MY CAR LURCHING SLIGHTLY WHEN IT UNLOCKS BEFORE IT COMES TO A STOP. THIS LURCHING IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN STOP A…

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THERE IS AN ODD HESITATION AS IF IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO FORWARD AT IDLE AFTER BRAKING. IF I PRESS THE GAS, THERE IS A DELAYED REACTION AND A LURCH. THIS IS SCARY! AT TIMES, WHEN I AM HEAVILY BRAKING TO A STOP I CAN FEEL MY CAR LURCHING SLIGHTLY WHEN IT UNLOCKS BEFORE IT COMES TO A STOP. THIS LURCHING IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO COAST, IT SEEMS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN VERY ABRUPTLY AS IF I WAS IN THE WRONG GEAR. EVEN UNDER LIGHT BRAKING, THESE UNEXPECTED OCCASIONAL FORWARD LURCHES OCCURS. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD, AS I AM NOT EXPECTING THE VEHICLE TO SPEED UP MOMENTARILY AS I AM BRAKING. I NOTICE THAT THESE LURCHES CORRESPOND TO RPM BLIPS AND THE MILEAGE MPG GOES TO 11, 12, OR 13. ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING AT A DECENT SPEED, SAY 50 - 70 MPH, IF I HIT THE GAS TO OVERTAKE SOMEONE, SOMETIMES THERE IS A HESITATION BEFORE I GET A CHANGE IN THE ENGINE RPM (AND SPEED). FINALLY, WHEN I PUSH THE PEDAL TO ACCELERATE IT OFTEN HESITATES BEFORE REVVING UP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE ISSUES DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE ME FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10910957

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2016
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON OCTOBER 31, 2014 AT A MARYLAND DEALER. THE FOLLOWING ARE DATES, MILES AND THE ISSUES THAT HAVE ARISED SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP. ALL ISSUES RELATED TO VEHICLE HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. NO SPECIFIC ROADS, VEHICLE MANEUVERING OR WEATHER CONDITION, CHANGED OR CAUSED THE THE FOLLOWING ISSUES. 12/09/14…

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VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON OCTOBER 31, 2014 AT A MARYLAND DEALER. THE FOLLOWING ARE DATES, MILES AND THE ISSUES THAT HAVE ARISED SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP. ALL ISSUES RELATED TO VEHICLE HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. NO SPECIFIC ROADS, VEHICLE MANEUVERING OR WEATHER CONDITION, CHANGED OR CAUSED THE THE FOLLOWING ISSUES. 12/09/14 6680 MILES, ISSUE WITH STEERING & ALIGNMENT 12/20/14 8524 MILES, ISSUE WITH STEERING & ALIGNMENT APRIL 2015 REPLACED BATTERY 06/20/15 41,700 MILES, ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 07/23/15 47672 MILES, ISSUE WITH DRIVEABILITY 08/26/15 53037 MILES, ISSUE WITH BODY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 08/2015 ALL ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED 09/23/15 57923 MILES, ISSUES WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & STOP LIGHT LAMP SWITCH 10/08/15 60428 MILES, ISSUE WITH POWER WINDOWS 12/03/15 68762 MILES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM JUNE 2016 ISSUES WITH STARTING VEHICLE BEGINS, UNDETERMINED CAUSE JULY 2016 ISSUES BEGAN WITH HVAC BLOWER FAN INTERMITTENT FAILURE 09/25/16 110839 MILES, UNKNOWN A/T POSSIBLE FAILURE SUBARU OF AMERICA STILL HAS AN OPEN TICKET FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT STILL PLAGUE THE VEHICLE; INCLUDING POWER WINDOWS, HILL START ASSISTANT, LOW OIL PRESSURE, AUDIO SPEAKER, VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, ABS, BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHTS. DEALER HAS STATED THAT FAILURE CAN ONLY BE DUPLICATED WHEN AN ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CODE IS PRESENT. THUS THE REASON FOR OUTSTANDING ISSUES. FURTHERMORE, NOT ALL REPEATED ISSUES OR COMMUNICATIONS WITH DEALER ARE LISTED DUE TO LACK OF RECORDS.

NHTSA ODI #10909572

27,409 miles · Mar 30, 2016
Unknown Or Other

CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, APPROX 70MPH. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH TURN ON AS CAR DIES. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE DEALER CANNOT LOCATE THE ISSUE TO RESOLVE THE MATTER. THE DEFECT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. THE DATE INDICATED IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ODI #10852582

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

200 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Unknown Or Other

WITHIN 1 WEEK OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, SMALL, UNKNOWN ROAD DEBRIS HIT THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A DIVOT THE SIZE OF A PENCIL ERASER. THIS WAS REPAIRED. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, THE SAME THING HAPPENED 5-6 TIMES. THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON PAVED ROADS IN GOOD REPAIR. ON A RECENT CROSS COUNTRY TRIP, A NEW CHIP EXPANDED BEFO…

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WITHIN 1 WEEK OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, SMALL, UNKNOWN ROAD DEBRIS HIT THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A DIVOT THE SIZE OF A PENCIL ERASER. THIS WAS REPAIRED. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, THE SAME THING HAPPENED 5-6 TIMES. THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON PAVED ROADS IN GOOD REPAIR. ON A RECENT CROSS COUNTRY TRIP, A NEW CHIP EXPANDED BEFORE IT COULD BE REPAIRED, PROGRESSING TO A CRACK SEVERAL INCHES LONG AND REQUIRING THAT THE WINDSHIELD BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10787913

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