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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

Visibility complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
120,855 miles · Apr 8, 2022
Visibility

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked outside during a snowstorm; while removing snow from the windshield, she noticed that the windshield was severely cracked. Additionally, the contact stated that the crack originated from the driver's side of the windshield to the passen…

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The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked outside during a snowstorm; while removing snow from the windshield, she noticed that the windshield was severely cracked. Additionally, the contact stated that the crack originated from the driver's side of the windshield to the passenger's side. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,855.

NHTSA ODI #11460201

4,000 miles · Apr 18, 2015
Visibility

VEHICLE DOES NOT WARM UP WELL IN COLD CLIMATES. I LIVE IN ALASKA AND DURING THE WINTER THE VEHICLE WOULD STAY COOL EVEN WITH THE HEATER MAXED OUT DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. NORMALLY THIS WOULD NOT BE A BIG DEAL, BUT HAVING A NEWBORN IN THE CAR, THE HEAT WOULD BE NICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706436

2,000 miles · Mar 31, 2015
Visibility

HEAT SYSTEM DOES NOT HEAT THE CAR AND WINDOW KEEP FREEZING OVER. HAVE TO KEEP TURNING FROM FLOOR HEAT WHICH IS NONE, TO WINDSHIELD TO KEEP IT CLEAR. ALWAYS COLD WHICH TAKES YOUR MIND AND CONTROL AWAY FROM DRIVING, COULD CAUSE TO ACCIDENT TAKING TIME TO KEEP TRYING TO GET HEAT TO WHERE IT IS NEEDED. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BUY THE SUB…

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HEAT SYSTEM DOES NOT HEAT THE CAR AND WINDOW KEEP FREEZING OVER. HAVE TO KEEP TURNING FROM FLOOR HEAT WHICH IS NONE, TO WINDSHIELD TO KEEP IT CLEAR. ALWAYS COLD WHICH TAKES YOUR MIND AND CONTROL AWAY FROM DRIVING, COULD CAUSE TO ACCIDENT TAKING TIME TO KEEP TRYING TO GET HEAT TO WHERE IT IS NEEDED. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BUY THE SUBARU FORESTER TILL THEY FIX THE PROBLEM, AND SHOULD BE BANDED TILL FIXED. THE DID NOT HAVE HEAT PROBLEM TILL THIS YEAR BY THE SOUNDS OF IT, SO THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SWITCH IT BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS IN OLDER MODEL YEAR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. A RECALL IS PASS DUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702925

525 miles · Mar 12, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR, THE HEATER DOES NOT HEAT THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR VERY WELL. THE AIR BLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS IS WEAK AND COLD TO TEPID. EVEN AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR, IT IS STILL LUKEWARM. THIS IS FOR TEMPS BETWEEN 0 DEGREES AND 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THE TEMP INSIDE THE CAR NEVER GOES OVER 45 DEGREE…

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EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR, THE HEATER DOES NOT HEAT THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR VERY WELL. THE AIR BLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS IS WEAK AND COLD TO TEPID. EVEN AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR, IT IS STILL LUKEWARM. THIS IS FOR TEMPS BETWEEN 0 DEGREES AND 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THE TEMP INSIDE THE CAR NEVER GOES OVER 45 DEGREES WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. IF THE TEMP IS OVER 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE, THE INSIDE WILL WARM UP TO ABOUT 55 DEGREES AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT REMOVE ACCUMULATED ICE OFF THE FRONT WINDOW DURING THE COLD TEMPS. I HAVE TO STOP ON THE ROAD, SCRAPE THE WINDSHIELD AFTER A FEW MILES AND THEN DO THAT REPEATEDLY DURING THE 45 MINUTE DRIVE EACH DAY. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN YOU ARE TOO COLD TO DRIVE, EVEN WITH GLOVES, AND YOUR FINGERS ARE NUMB AND YOUR BODY IS SHAKING FROM THE COLD. THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. MAYBE AN INCORRECT THERMOSTAT, OR SOMETHING. BUT, SUBARU SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10693778

250 miles · Feb 24, 2015
Visibility

I PURCHASED A NEW 2015 SUBARU FORESTER JANUARY 31, 2015. ANYTIME THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW APPROXIMATELY 10F, THE INTERIOR WINDOWS ICE OVER. HAVE TO CONTINUALLY SWITCH FROM 100% DEFROST TO 100% SIDE WINDOWS TO BE ABLE TO SEE OUT ONE OR THE OTHER. IF ANYONE IS RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT, THE REAR SIDE WINDOWS ARE NEVER CLEAR. TH…

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2015 SUBARU FORESTER JANUARY 31, 2015. ANYTIME THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW APPROXIMATELY 10F, THE INTERIOR WINDOWS ICE OVER. HAVE TO CONTINUALLY SWITCH FROM 100% DEFROST TO 100% SIDE WINDOWS TO BE ABLE TO SEE OUT ONE OR THE OTHER. IF ANYONE IS RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT, THE REAR SIDE WINDOWS ARE NEVER CLEAR. THIS POOR VISIBILITY IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IN ADDITION, THE CAR IS EXTREMELY COLD INSIDE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FOOT WELL. MY FEET ARE NUMB FROM THE COLD AS THE HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR ON YOUR FEET AND LEGS. EVEN WHEN NO AIR IS DIRECTED TO THE FOOT WELL, THERE IS A CONTINUAL COLD DRAFT. HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE WITH THESE COMPLAINTS ? BOTH TIMES THEY CONTACTED SUBARU AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED, SO NO EFFORT WAS MADE TO IMPROVE. FOR COMPARISON THE DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER CAR ? SAME MAKE, MODEL, YEAR AND FEATURES. WE DROVE IT AND OUR CAR ON THE SAME 60 MILE ROUTE AT THE SAME AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (0F), THE LOANER CAR HEATED UP QUICKER, WAS MORE COMFORTABLE INSIDE, HAD MINIMAL FOOT WELL DRAFT, HAD HIGHER ENGINE OIL TEMPERATURE AND THE WINDOWS WERE MUCH CLEARER. THIS WAS COMMUNICATED TO SUBARU, WITH THE SAME RESPONSE ? YOUR CAR IS BEHAVING AS DESIGNED, NO SERVICE IS REQUIRED. IN ADDITION TO MY COMPLAINT, THERE ARE OVER 1100 COMMENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES AS DETAILED ON HTTP://WWW.SUBARUFORESTER.ORG/VBULLETIN/F77/2014-FORESTER-WEAK-HEATER-263009/. ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE COMMENTS ARE FOLLOW UPS, THE TREND IS CLEAR ? THERE IS A SHORTCOMING IN SOME CARS THAT RESULT IN POOR HEATER PERFORMANCE, WITH THE SYMPTOM BEING POOR VISIBILITY AND VERY UNCOMFORTABLE PASSENGERS. FOR WHATEVER REASON, SUBARU IS EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE OR EVEN ADMIT IT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10690478

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