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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

Engine complaints

131 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2018
Engine

2015 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMES 16 OUNCES OF OIL IN 50000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED, BUT DID OFFER A REBATE TO COVER ADDITIONAL CHARGES. THE CONSUMER DECLINED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10965628

24,000 miles · Jan 31, 2018
Engine

ON ACCELERATION FROM IDLE OR SLOW SPEED, ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE INPUTS. SEVERAL TIMES STALL HAPPENS DURING MERGING OR CROSSING TRAFFIC. SEEMS TO OCCUR ON LEFT TURNS.

NHTSA ODI #11066129

50,200 miles · Jan 24, 2018
Engine

ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. NO WARNING OR ENGINE SPUTTERING. PLENTY OF FUEL. FOGGY WEATHER AND 37DEGREES F. DASH LIGHTS STAYED ON SAME AS IF IT WAS IN THE ON POSITION. AFTER 1 1/2 HOURS VEHICLE RESTARTED AND HASN'T SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING SINCE. TOOK IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID BATTERY WAS WEAK AND …

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ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. NO WARNING OR ENGINE SPUTTERING. PLENTY OF FUEL. FOGGY WEATHER AND 37DEGREES F. DASH LIGHTS STAYED ON SAME AS IF IT WAS IN THE ON POSITION. AFTER 1 1/2 HOURS VEHICLE RESTARTED AND HASN'T SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING SINCE. TOOK IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID BATTERY WAS WEAK AND REPLACED THAT. THEY SAID OTHER ENGINE CODES POINTED TO POWER SUPPLY. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A VEHICLE QUITTING WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF A WEAK BATTERY SO AM SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THIS AS A GOOD REPAIR. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11064593

54,000 miles · Dec 30, 2017
Engine

ON TWO OCCASIONS: TRAVELING AT APPROX 65-70MPH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLS AND WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THE STEERING WORKS, BUT THERE IS NO POWER GOING TO THE ENGINE WHICH EVENTUALLY STALLS. IT STARTS AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS AND THEN DRIVES NORMALLY. FIRST OCCASION, IT WAS RAINING AND THE 'EYESIGHT CAMERAS; WERE ON. …

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ON TWO OCCASIONS: TRAVELING AT APPROX 65-70MPH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLS AND WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THE STEERING WORKS, BUT THERE IS NO POWER GOING TO THE ENGINE WHICH EVENTUALLY STALLS. IT STARTS AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS AND THEN DRIVES NORMALLY. FIRST OCCASION, IT WAS RAINING AND THE 'EYESIGHT CAMERAS; WERE ON. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT THIS WAS THE ISSUE. THE SECOND OCCASION, IT WAS AGAIN RAINING AND I TURNED THE CAMERAS OFF (THINKING THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE) AND IT STALLED AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS TO BE TRAVELING AT SUCH A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN TRAFFIC TO HAVE ENGINE STALL.

NHTSA ODI #11057652

53,800 miles · Dec 26, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire

I BOUGHT THE CAR AND LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP IF THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. IT NEVER CAME BACK ON. FOUR DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THE GAS PEDAL QUIT WORKING. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE IF ANY LIGHTS …

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I BOUGHT THE CAR AND LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP IF THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. IT NEVER CAME BACK ON. FOUR DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THE GAS PEDAL QUIT WORKING. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE IF ANY LIGHTS WERE ON AND THEY WEREN'T. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO TURN THE CAR OFF. BEFORE I COULD TURN THE CAR OFF I SAW FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD NEAR THE LIGHTS. THEN ALL OF THE WARMING LIGHTS CAME ON. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. BEFORE I COULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI #11056548

44,400 miles · Dec 20, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THE CAR LOST ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE 95 HEADING SOUTH APPROX 17 MILES NORTH OF THE GA FL STATE LINE. THE FUEL INDICATOR SHOWED 30 MILES UNTIL I HAD TO REFUEL. THIS WAS ON 12/3/2017. I WAS AT SPEED(75 MPH) AND MANAGED TO GO THROUGH TRAFFIC AND GO TO SHOULDER. THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. I WAITED …

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THE CAR LOST ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE 95 HEADING SOUTH APPROX 17 MILES NORTH OF THE GA FL STATE LINE. THE FUEL INDICATOR SHOWED 30 MILES UNTIL I HAD TO REFUEL. THIS WAS ON 12/3/2017. I WAS AT SPEED(75 MPH) AND MANAGED TO GO THROUGH TRAFFIC AND GO TO SHOULDER. THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. I WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THE CAR RESTARTED. I DROVE TO THE SECOND EXIT AND REFUELED. A FEW DAYS LATER ON 12/06/2017 ON THE WAY BACK TO ATLANTA ON I-95 SOUTH OF SAVANNAH AND THE FUEL GAGE READING 30 MILES UNTIL I HAD TO REFUEL, THE VERY SAME THING HAPPENED. EXCEPT, THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I CALLED AAA AND CONTINUED TO TRY TO RESTART. AFTER 45 MINUTES, THE CAR RESTARTED. I DROVE APPROX 10 MILES AND REFUELED. I HAVE HAD NO INCIDENT SINCE BUT, I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR WITH LOW FUEL. THIS COULD HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT RESULT IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE TRAFFIC ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. BOTH ME AND MY WIFE COULD BE DEAD. I BELIEVE THERE IS A FLAW IN THE LOW FUEL WARNING SOFTWARE AND SOMETHING SHUTS THE POWER. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR WITH LOWER FUEL LEVELS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWS MILES TO YOU HAVE TO REFUEL, I.E., 50 MILES, 40 MILES, 30 MILES, 20 MILES THEN ------. YOU HAVE ACCESS TO DATA ON THESE CARS, I DON'T. PLEASE HAVE SOME ADVISE ME WHAT IS YOUR THINKING ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI #11055680

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

81,000 miles · Oct 6, 2017
Engine

CAR BURNING OIL AT SUBSTANTIAL RATE BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. NEED TO TOP UP OIL TWICE BETWEEN 6000 MILE OIL CHANGE INTERVALS. CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SUBARU PROVIDES ENGINE BLOCK REPLACEMENT FOR ISSUE FOR 2015 FORESTERS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND FOR PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. 2015 AUTO TRANSM…

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CAR BURNING OIL AT SUBSTANTIAL RATE BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. NEED TO TOP UP OIL TWICE BETWEEN 6000 MILE OIL CHANGE INTERVALS. CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SUBARU PROVIDES ENGINE BLOCK REPLACEMENT FOR ISSUE FOR 2015 FORESTERS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND FOR PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. 2015 AUTO TRANSMISSIONS ARE OBVIOUSLY ALSO AFFECTED -- OUR CAR IS AFFECTED.

NHTSA ODI #11031999

10,000 miles · Sep 6, 2017
EnginePower Train

THE VEHICLES STUTTERS WHEN ACCELERATING. THE ISSUE WILL GO FOR A FEW DAYS TO A FEW WEEKS THEN DISAPPEAR AND RETURN A FEW WEEKS LATER. HAVE TRIED CHANGING TO SPORT AND SPORT + MODES AND ALSO USING THE PADDLE SHIFTERS AND NONE OF THEM HAD ANY CHANGE IN THE STUTTERING. THE CAR HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPEN…

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THE VEHICLES STUTTERS WHEN ACCELERATING. THE ISSUE WILL GO FOR A FEW DAYS TO A FEW WEEKS THEN DISAPPEAR AND RETURN A FEW WEEKS LATER. HAVE TRIED CHANGING TO SPORT AND SPORT + MODES AND ALSO USING THE PADDLE SHIFTERS AND NONE OF THEM HAD ANY CHANGE IN THE STUTTERING. THE CAR HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE ABOUT 10K MILES. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL IT WAS FUNCTIONING FINE AND THE TECHS COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR 2 WEEKS FROM NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11021819

15,000 miles · Aug 18, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

ENGINE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY FROM A DEAD STOP, LEAVING ME STUCK IN THE ONCOMING LANE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! IT?S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT FEELING HESITATION AND SURGING. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS VERY SLOW TO GO INTO GEAR AND THEN LUNGES TO CATC…

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ENGINE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY FROM A DEAD STOP, LEAVING ME STUCK IN THE ONCOMING LANE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! IT?S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT FEELING HESITATION AND SURGING. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS VERY SLOW TO GO INTO GEAR AND THEN LUNGES TO CATCH UP. THIS HAPPENS IN ALL WEATHER AND ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS, IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY. VERY DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE FOR A CAR I BOUGHT BRAND NEW.

NHTSA ODI #11016142

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