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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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

14 reports
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57,500 miles · Nov 1, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

EYESIGHT SYSTEM FAILS REGULARLY OR DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THIS IMPACTS ALL PROXIMITY WARNINGS, AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL AND WHEEL SLIP CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #11372535

129,735 miles · Mar 15, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD APPROX 65 AND THE EYE SIGHT DISABLED, ABS DISABLED, TRACTION CONTROL AND HILL ASSIST STOPPED, CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED AT TRANSMISSION OIL STARTED FLASHING AND THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON WE WERE DRIVING DOWN HWY 61 IN AZ. POWER TO THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND WE COULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 40MPH. THE …

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WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD APPROX 65 AND THE EYE SIGHT DISABLED, ABS DISABLED, TRACTION CONTROL AND HILL ASSIST STOPPED, CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED AT TRANSMISSION OIL STARTED FLASHING AND THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON WE WERE DRIVING DOWN HWY 61 IN AZ. POWER TO THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND WE COULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 40MPH. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ON RECALL AND REPLACED 10/2019 AND THE 3XACR SAME THING HAPPENED EXCEPT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIDNT COME ON.

NHTSA ODI #11318167

40,000 miles · Mar 1, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHEN HIGHWAY DRIVING MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED ON DASH, TRACTION CONTROL, EYESIGHT, CRUISE CONTROL OFF, HILL ASSIST. THE EYESIGHT SYSTEMS ARE DISABLED SHUTTING OFF CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE REAR BRAKES LIGHT ARE NOT WORKING. WHEN THE CAR IS THE SHUT OFF THEN RESTARTED AND THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED THE …

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WHEN HIGHWAY DRIVING MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED ON DASH, TRACTION CONTROL, EYESIGHT, CRUISE CONTROL OFF, HILL ASSIST. THE EYESIGHT SYSTEMS ARE DISABLED SHUTTING OFF CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE REAR BRAKES LIGHT ARE NOT WORKING. WHEN THE CAR IS THE SHUT OFF THEN RESTARTED AND THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED THE CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK AFTER STARTING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IT IS RESET AFTER THE CAR SITS OFF OVERNIGHT. THE LAST TIME I COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF THE PARK I WENT BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOVE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND PRESSED THE CONNECTION ON TOP IN. THIS RESET THE SYSTEM AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH DISAPPEARED. THE STOPLIGHT SWITCH/BRAKE SWITCH PART #83311FJ001 IS DEFECTIVE. ON 3/1/19 SUBARU ANNOUNCED A RECALL NOT SURE IF IT'S THIS PART/ISSUES BUT I AM HOPING IT IS.

NHTSA ODI #11183345

60,500 miles · Aug 19, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP "LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE"! SAFETY FEATURES ARE DISABLED. NO EYE SIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL, LANE DEVIATION. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF, SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM. MOSTLY STAY ON NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11120956

83,000 miles · Jul 27, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

ABS LIGHTS COME ON ,EYESIGHT WARNING LIGHTS COME ON , CANNOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK.. CAR WAS STATIONARY. THESE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING ON FREQUENTLY WHEN IN MOTION, BUT NOW IT WONT SHIFT OUT OF PARK.

NHTSA ODI #11114097

37,500 miles · Nov 30, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineService BrakesCrashInjury

WHILE BACKING UP A WINDING HILL ON A HARD PACKED GRAVEL DRIVEWAY I BACKED INTO A SEVEN INCH DIAMETER TREE ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. DID NOT HIT IT HARD ENOUGH TO DAMAGE THE BACK BUMPER. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IN AN INSTANT THE MOTOR WENT WIDE OPEN. I HIT THE BRAKES, BUT NO NOTICABLE EFFECT. I NARROWLY MISSED THE CORNER OF THE…

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WHILE BACKING UP A WINDING HILL ON A HARD PACKED GRAVEL DRIVEWAY I BACKED INTO A SEVEN INCH DIAMETER TREE ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. DID NOT HIT IT HARD ENOUGH TO DAMAGE THE BACK BUMPER. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IN AN INSTANT THE MOTOR WENT WIDE OPEN. I HIT THE BRAKES, BUT NO NOTICABLE EFFECT. I NARROWLY MISSED THE CORNER OF THE GARAGE. THE CAR DUG FOUR DEPRESSIONS IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN IT TOOK OFF. AND THREW GRAVEL ALL THE WAY DOWN THE HILL AND ON THE FLAT UNTIL IT HIT A LARGE TREE, THE MOTOR STILL RACING. THE RUNAWAY HAPPENED IN SECONDS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. MY WIFE SUFFERED A BADLY BROKEN RIGHT WRIST. I WAS NEARLY KNOCKED OUT. I HAVE BEEN A SAFE DRIVER FOR 60 YEARS. DROVE PROFESSIONALLY FOR ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. I ALSO HAVE OVER 175,000 MILES AND COUNTING ON MOTORCYCLES. THIS CAR DEFINITELY DID MALFUNCTION. FORTUNATELY THE HOUSE SECURITY CAMERA CAPTURED THE ACTION. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN UPLOAD THE VIDEO TO YOUR SITE. PLEASE ADVISE. SABARU CANADA AND THE MY SUBARU DEALER IGNORED MY COMPLAINT, WITH THE DEALER REP SAYING, 'THE FLOOR MAT WAS PROBABLY ON THE GAS PETAL.'

NHTSA ODI #11051387

13 miles · Oct 18, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

I LEASED THIS VEHICLE ON JUNE 2015. BACK ON 8/26/2017 WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND GOING 70 MILE AND HOUR, CAR SUDDENLY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY. I ALMOST GOT KILLED BY A TRUCK THAT WAS BEHIND MY VEHICLE. THEY TOWED THIS CAR TO GLENDALE SUBARU AND AFTER TWO DAYS, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. SINCE THAT INCIDENT…

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I LEASED THIS VEHICLE ON JUNE 2015. BACK ON 8/26/2017 WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND GOING 70 MILE AND HOUR, CAR SUDDENLY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY. I ALMOST GOT KILLED BY A TRUCK THAT WAS BEHIND MY VEHICLE. THEY TOWED THIS CAR TO GLENDALE SUBARU AND AFTER TWO DAYS, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. SINCE THAT INCIDENT I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR PERFORMANCE AND TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IN ADDITION, SOME MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE ISITE SYSTEM. THE DEALER CHARGED ME OVER $2000.00 FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS A MAJOR ISSUE IN COLD AND HOT IDEAL. MANY COMPLAINTS WERE FILED TO SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DID NOT ASSIST ME AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #11034423

29,000 miles · Sep 27, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

I STARTED DRIVING AND FOUND THAT MY HILL HOLDER, MY VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL SYSTEM, MY ABS, MY SUBARU EYESIGHT AND MULTIPLE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE ALL LITE UP. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR I COULDN'T PUT MY CAR INTO GEAR. IT WAS STUCK IN PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER A FEW MORE…

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I STARTED DRIVING AND FOUND THAT MY HILL HOLDER, MY VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL SYSTEM, MY ABS, MY SUBARU EYESIGHT AND MULTIPLE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE ALL LITE UP. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR I COULDN'T PUT MY CAR INTO GEAR. IT WAS STUCK IN PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER A FEW MORE TRIES I WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO GEAR AND CONTINUED DRIVING WITH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES YESTERDAY AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #11030102

24,000 miles · Sep 21, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

TWICE THE FORESTER SURGE FORWARD --ONCE IT STOPPED BEFORE HITTING A TREE AND THE SECOND TIME IT HIT A BUILDING. BOTH TIMES PULLING IN TO A PARKING SPACE FROM A ROAD AND FROM A PARKING AREA.

NHTSA ODI #11024770

74,000 miles · Jun 14, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, THE HILL ASSIST BRAKE AND THE ABS LIGHTS RANDOMLY DEPLOY. HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 24 HOURS. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON SEEMS TO CLEAR THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, AFTER THAT, NOW TWO TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT A REGULAR SPEED, THE BRAKING SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED ITSELF, INCLUDING T…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, THE HILL ASSIST BRAKE AND THE ABS LIGHTS RANDOMLY DEPLOY. HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 24 HOURS. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON SEEMS TO CLEAR THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, AFTER THAT, NOW TWO TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT A REGULAR SPEED, THE BRAKING SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED ITSELF, INCLUDING THE CVT ENGAGING INTO LOW SPEED AND FORCING THE CAR TO DRIVE ONLY AT 10-20 MPH. AS WELL, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. OTHER READS SOUND LIKE A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR OR SENSING SYSTEM, BUT THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL MALFUNCTION AS ONE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WAS SUDDENLY STOPPED WITH NO WARNING. THEN WHEN TRYING TO GET TO SAFETY, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO "RESET" AND BE FINE FOR A FEW MILES, ONLY TO EITHER GO TO THE ALL LIGHTS ON SYSTEM (ABS/HILL ASSIST/STABILITY CONTROL) OR GO INTO THE BRAKING/CVT ERROR AS WELL. WILL HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT IS ELECTRONIC IN NATURE AS THE DEFAULT FALL BACK IS NOT A MANUAL WORKING BRAKE SYSTEM BUT SEEMS TO BE A NON-WORKING BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #10995106

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