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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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85,000 miles · Apr 27, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WAS DRIVING MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER (TOURING EDITION) AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 70 MPH, THE CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED DECELERATING. LUCKILY BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR RE-STARTED AFTER AWHILE. THE FIRST TIME THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WAS ON BUT I HAD OVER 50 MILES LEFT ACCORDING TO FUEL S…

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ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WAS DRIVING MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER (TOURING EDITION) AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 70 MPH, THE CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED DECELERATING. LUCKILY BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR RE-STARTED AFTER AWHILE. THE FIRST TIME THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WAS ON BUT I HAD OVER 50 MILES LEFT ACCORDING TO FUEL SENSOR. THE SECOND TIME, A MONTH OR SO LATER, NO LOW FUEL LIGHT WAS ON. THERE WERE 2 BARS LEFT ON THE FUEL GAUGE. AGAIN CAR TOTALLY DECELERATED AND THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. SUBARU DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BUT SOMEONE DID CALL THEM ABOUT IT THE DAY BEFORE I CALLED. I AM SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT WHERE THEY SAY THEY WILL DO A DIAGNOSTIC ON IT. I AM SEEING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXACT CAR ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SUBARU SHOULD NOT BE WAITING FOR FATALITIES TO HAPPEN BEFORE RECALLING THESE CARS.

NHTSA ODI #11204151

60,000 miles · Mar 20, 2019
Engine

OIL IS LEAKING FROM TIMING COVER. ALSO CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IS BAD. MECHANIC TELLS ME $2000.00 REPAIR NEEDED TO CORRECT LEAK.

NHTSA ODI #11190357

40,000 miles · Mar 10, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

TWICE IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS VEHICLE HAS RUN OUT OF GAS WHILE TRAVELING ON A LEVEL HIGHWAY DESPITE GAS GAUGE INDICATING THAT THERE WAS 70 MILES STILL TO TRAVEL AND THE GAS GAUGE READING ONE BAR. LOW FUEL WARNING INDICATOR DID NOT DISPLAY.

NHTSA ODI #11185688

35,000 miles · Mar 8, 2019
Engine

MY CAR DIES AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND TO A TECHNICIAN FROM A SUBARU DEALERSHIP ONCE. I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS WITH SUBARU TO NO AVAIL. HERE IS A SUMMARY: ON AUGUST 31, 2018 I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. THE TRIP COMPUTER SAID I HAD 70 MILES TILL…

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MY CAR DIES AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND TO A TECHNICIAN FROM A SUBARU DEALERSHIP ONCE. I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS WITH SUBARU TO NO AVAIL. HERE IS A SUMMARY: ON AUGUST 31, 2018 I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. THE TRIP COMPUTER SAID I HAD 70 MILES TILL EMPTY BUT THE LOW FUEL LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON. THE CAR BEHAVED AS IF IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS. THE ENGINE REV'D LIKE IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, THEN COMPLETELY QUIT. ZERO WARNING. FOR THE NEXT 90 MINUTES I WOULD TRY TO START THE CAR EVERY 20 MINUTES OR SO. THE ENGINE WOULD TURN, BUT NO INDICATION IT WAS GETTING ANY FUEL. I LOOKED AT SEVERAL FORESTER BLOGS AND FOUND MANY IDENTICAL INCIDENTS (HIGHWAY SPEED, LESS THAN A QUARTER TANK, ENGINE REVS THEN DIES). ONE POST SAID THAT AFTER FILLING THE TANK IT WOULD START. A TOW TRUCK TOOK ME TO A GAS STATION WHERE I FILLED IT WITH ~13.5 GALLONS OF GAS. THAT MEANS THE TANK HAD ABOUT 2.4 GALLONS LEFT AND @30MPG=72 MILES JUST LIKE THE TRIP COMPUTER SAID. THAT'S ALL I DID, AND THE CAR STARTED IMMEDIATELY. MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR A FEW WEEKS AND WORKED WITH SUBARU TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY DETECTED AN ERROR WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE SENDING UNITS AND REPLACED THEM. STILL DURING MULTIPLE TEST DRIVES AFTER THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED THEIR TECHNICIAN HAD THE EXACT SAME FAILURE AS I DID. ON JANUARY 2, 2019 IT DIED ON ME AGAIN. GOING 60 MPH ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY WITH 40 MILES TILL EMPTY. THE DEALER THEN HAD THE CAR FOR OVER A MONTH AND CONSULTED WITH SUBARU AGAIN. THEY TEST DROVE IT FOR NEARLY 300 MILES WITH SPECIAL INSTRUMENTS ATTACHED BUT COULDN'T GET THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN. THEY FINALLY RETURNED IT TO ME BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE A ROOT CAUSE. SEARCHING THE INTERNET, YOU CAN FIND MANY REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH SIMILAR VINTAGE SUBARU FORESTERS.

NHTSA ODI #11185037

42,250 miles · Feb 17, 2019
Engine

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THROUGH A PARKING LOT OR SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC THE CAR WILL STALL. IT'S A 2015 FORESTER TURBO WITH A CVT TRANSMISSION. IF PUT IN PARK, IT WILL RESTART AND GO AGAIN. STALLING ON THE ROADS AND IN PARKING LOTS IS UNSAFE. IT DOESN'T THROW ANY CODES SO THERE'S NOTHING THE DEALER CAN DO.

NHTSA ODI #11180646

128,982 miles · Feb 10, 2019
EnginePower TrainSuspension

EXCESSIVE OIL LOSS, 1 QT PER 3,000 MILES. STARTED AROUND 90,000 MILES. MILEAGE NOW 129,000 MILES. AT 129,000 MILES, MAJOR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ISSUE. FOUND OIL IN COOLANT. AT OIL TEMPERATURE LIGHT FLASHING. EVALUATING COST OF REPAIR THIS WEEK OF FEB 12 2019. AT 126,000 MILES, BOTH FRONT AXLES WERE REPLACED. HEARD CLI…

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EXCESSIVE OIL LOSS, 1 QT PER 3,000 MILES. STARTED AROUND 90,000 MILES. MILEAGE NOW 129,000 MILES. AT 129,000 MILES, MAJOR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ISSUE. FOUND OIL IN COOLANT. AT OIL TEMPERATURE LIGHT FLASHING. EVALUATING COST OF REPAIR THIS WEEK OF FEB 12 2019. AT 126,000 MILES, BOTH FRONT AXLES WERE REPLACED. HEARD CLICKING AT 125,000 MILES. AT 100,000 MILES, UPPER AND LOWER FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11176023

70,000 miles · Jan 10, 2019
Engine

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER AND THE CAR BEGINS TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE. ENGINE RPMS CLIMB, BUT NO POWER IS AVAILABLE. HAVE TO RACE TO THE SHOULDER TO GET OUT OF TRAFFICS WAY, WHERE EVENTUALLY THE CAR WILL START AND DRIVE NORMALLY.

NHTSA ODI #11166389

135,000 miles · Dec 23, 2018
Engine

MY 2015 FORESTER CONSUMES A 1/2 QUART OF OIL EVERY 4000 MILES. MY OIL LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA ODI #11163206

100,000 miles · Dec 19, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion System

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN. THIS HAS CREATED VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN HAVING TO CROSS HEAVILY TRAFFICKED LANES WITHOUT POWER TO ENTER SHOULDER. ISSUE HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. UNKNOWN CAUSE AS NO CODES ARE THROWN. VIDEO SHOWING ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING CAN BE FOUND AT HTTPS://W…

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WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN. THIS HAS CREATED VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN HAVING TO CROSS HEAVILY TRAFFICKED LANES WITHOUT POWER TO ENTER SHOULDER. ISSUE HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. UNKNOWN CAUSE AS NO CODES ARE THROWN. VIDEO SHOWING ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING CAN BE FOUND AT HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=OMNP_VKES-K .

NHTSA ODI #11162482

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2018
Engine

ENGINE USES EXCESSIVE OIL. I CHANGE EVERY 6,000 MILES WITH SYNTHETIC 0W-20 AS REQUIRED. BEFORE I REACH THE NEXT 6,000 MILES, THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AND I HAVE TO ADD 1/2 QUART OR MORE TO RETURN TO THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF OIL. I NOW CARRY OIL BOTTLES IN MY CAR AT ALL TIME SO I CAN ACT AS SOON AS THE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAS …

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ENGINE USES EXCESSIVE OIL. I CHANGE EVERY 6,000 MILES WITH SYNTHETIC 0W-20 AS REQUIRED. BEFORE I REACH THE NEXT 6,000 MILES, THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AND I HAVE TO ADD 1/2 QUART OR MORE TO RETURN TO THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF OIL. I NOW CARRY OIL BOTTLES IN MY CAR AT ALL TIME SO I CAN ACT AS SOON AS THE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11156624

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.

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