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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

What owners actually said

613 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL NOTICE IN NEWSPAPER.

NHTSA ODI #10946841

14,000 miles · Jan 7, 2017
Service Brakes

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…

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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!

NHTSA ODI #10940312

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2017
Service Brakes

[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

NHTSA ODI #10940310

160,000 miles · Jan 4, 2017
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

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.

NHTSA ODI #10939773

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

18,000 miles · Dec 16, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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.

NHTSA ODI #10935622

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

37,000 miles · Nov 21, 2016
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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.

NHTSA ODI #10927302

13,209 miles · Nov 11, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

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.

NHTSA ODI #10925499

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