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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
5 miles · May 7, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.

NHTSA ODI #10715155

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

25 miles · Mar 12, 2015
Air Bags

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ALL PROSPECTIVE SUBARU FORRESTER OWNERS AWARE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES WORK IF YOU SIT ON AN ADDITIONAL CUSHION. THESE SENSORS DO NOT WORK ON WEIGHT BUT ON SOME SORT OF ELECTROSTATIC SENSOR THAT IS BLOCKED BY ANY CUSHION OR PILLOW. THIS IF A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR BACK PATIENTS AND ALSO FOR SHO…

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I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ALL PROSPECTIVE SUBARU FORRESTER OWNERS AWARE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES WORK IF YOU SIT ON AN ADDITIONAL CUSHION. THESE SENSORS DO NOT WORK ON WEIGHT BUT ON SOME SORT OF ELECTROSTATIC SENSOR THAT IS BLOCKED BY ANY CUSHION OR PILLOW. THIS IF A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR BACK PATIENTS AND ALSO FOR SHORT PEOPLE WHO SIT ON CUSHIONS TO ELEVATE THEMSELVES. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT, ALTHOUGH THIS IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR DID NOT NOTIFY OF THIS SITUATION ALTHOUGH I MENTIONED THAT I ALWAYS SIT ON A PAD BECAUSE OF A FUSED BACK. WITH ALL THE SAFETY NOTICES POSTED IN CARS TODAY, THIS IS ONE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE OBVIOUS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE A $35,000 USELESS VEHICLE BEING USED AS A SPARE CAR. I CANNOT TAKE THIS CAR ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10693992

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

1,500 miles · Feb 24, 2015
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 03/30/15*LJ UPDATED 6/23/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI #10690285

26 miles · Feb 20, 2015
Equipment

THE BLUETOOTH DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MOST OF THE TIME IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. WHEN IT DOES IT KEEPS ON REPEATING ITSELF AND FREEZES THE SCREEN. THE ONLY WAY I CAN UN FREEZE THE SCREEN IS PULL THE CAR OVER AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN AND " I'LL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT ". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10689717

4,350 miles · Feb 12, 2015
TiresWheels

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR INDICATED LOW PRESSURE. RIGHT REAR TIRE NEEDED AIR. TIRE CONTINUED TO SLOWLY LEAK AND THE PRESSURE MONITOR TRIPPED AGAIN DAYS LATER. MENTIONED PROBLEM TO DEALERSHIP DURING SERVICE. DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE AND PROPERLY INFLATED ALL WHEELS. A FEW DAYS LATER THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOW (TIRE PR…

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TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR INDICATED LOW PRESSURE. RIGHT REAR TIRE NEEDED AIR. TIRE CONTINUED TO SLOWLY LEAK AND THE PRESSURE MONITOR TRIPPED AGAIN DAYS LATER. MENTIONED PROBLEM TO DEALERSHIP DURING SERVICE. DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE AND PROPERLY INFLATED ALL WHEELS. A FEW DAYS LATER THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOW (TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR TRIPPED AGAIN). BRINGING VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF TIRE. PROBABLY A PROBLEM ISOLATED TO MY SPECIFIC CAR, BUT LOGGING THE INCIDENT IN CASE THERE ARE MORE TIRES OUT THERE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682865

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2015
Unknown Or Other

2015 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HER JACKET WITH A ZIPPER HAD A TENDENCY TO GET CAUGHT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SHE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE HER ARM, TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10666941

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