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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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forester years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
613 reportsHILL START ASSIST BRAKING ACTIVATED WHEN I WAS PULLING ON TO A 60 MPH HIGHWAY ON FLAT GROUND! IT CONTINUED TO ENGAGE BRAKES & THEN DISENGAGE BRAKES AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 25MPH. THIS WAS ON AN ICY HIGHWAY WITH OTHER VEHICLES TRYING TO BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING ME. I CONSIDER THIS…
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HILL START ASSIST BRAKING ACTIVATED WHEN I WAS PULLING ON TO A 60 MPH HIGHWAY ON FLAT GROUND! IT CONTINUED TO ENGAGE BRAKES & THEN DISENGAGE BRAKES AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 25MPH. THIS WAS ON AN ICY HIGHWAY WITH OTHER VEHICLES TRYING TO BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING ME. I CONSIDER THIS A LIFE THREATENING DEFECT!
[XXX] SUBARU FORESTER HILL START ASSIST BRAKING COMES ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY, PREVENTING ACCELERATION & MAKING AN ACCIDENT VERY PROBABLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
AFTER SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO THE REVERSE POSITION, BACKING IN TO A PARKING SPACE, LIGHTLY STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLE LOCKED AT A FAST SPEED, HITTING THE COLUMN AND WINDOWS OF THE RESTAURANT.
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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND THE GEAR SHIFT IN THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, IT CONTINUED TO REV. THE FAILURE RECURRED MORE THAN TWELVE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND THE GEAR SHIFT IN THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, IT CONTINUED TO REV. THE FAILURE RECURRED MORE THAN TWELVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND BRAKE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND BRAKE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
MOST RECENT NEAR-MISS FATAL INCIDENT HAPPENED ON NOV.6, 2016 DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED OF ABOUT 65- 68 MILES , CAR SUDDENLY DIED, AND STOPPED COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS AND WARNING LIGHTS, IT FELT LIKE CAR SUDDENLY LOST THE POWER AND COMPLETELY STOPPED. WHEN TRIED TO RE-START IMMEDIATELY, CAR DIDN'T STAR…
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MOST RECENT NEAR-MISS FATAL INCIDENT HAPPENED ON NOV.6, 2016 DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED OF ABOUT 65- 68 MILES , CAR SUDDENLY DIED, AND STOPPED COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS AND WARNING LIGHTS, IT FELT LIKE CAR SUDDENLY LOST THE POWER AND COMPLETELY STOPPED. WHEN TRIED TO RE-START IMMEDIATELY, CAR DIDN'T START. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, CAR STARTED. TOTAL DRIVING DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 260 MILES. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER; I WAS DRIVING IN A RIGHT LANE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR FATAL ACCIDENT, AS I WAS DRIVING ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY, 90 EAST THRUWAY, BECAUSE SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE SPEED FROM 68 MPH TO ZERO SPEEDS WITHOUT ANY WARNING IN A MATTER OF LESS THAN 1 MINUTE. THERE WAS LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THE THRUWAY. TIMING OF THE INCIDENT WAS AT ABOUT 5 PM ON NOV.6, 2016. THERE WERE 2 OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. THIS WAS THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCE I EVER HAD. CAR WAS NOT SET FOR CRUISE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS OR SIGNS VISIBLY OR NO NOISE ALERT AT ALL. I TOOK THE CAR TO SUBARU DEALER FOR A CHECK ON 11/ 8/2016 AND REPORTED THIS INCIDENT. SUBARU DEALER IN SERVICE REPORTED THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND THE CAUSE FOR THIS NEAR FATAL INCIDENT. SECOND NEAR MISS FATAL INCIDENT OCCURRED ON APRIL 21, 2016 AT ABOUT 3 PM.I WAS BACKING UP THE CARE IN A DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT STOP, BREAKS DIDN'T WORK, I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN. I TOOK THE CARE FOR A SERVICE AND REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO SUBARU DEALER ON APRIL 22, 2016. SUBARU DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE REASON FOR THIS TERRIBLE INCIDENT. SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS 5 MPH, ESTIMATED.
Official recalls
319V701000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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