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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

15 reports
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25 miles · Apr 14, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System

DRIVERS ARE NOT SEEING MY BRAKE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AND PULLING ME OVER TO TELLING US TO GET OUR LIGHTS FIXED. I JUST LOOKED UP RECALLS TO FIND OUT THAT WE HAVE A RECALL THAT NO ONE NOTIFIED US OF FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS. WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR GRAND KIDS AND EVERYONE ELSES IN THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS WHICH CAN BE A DEADLY SITUATION... …

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DRIVERS ARE NOT SEEING MY BRAKE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AND PULLING ME OVER TO TELLING US TO GET OUR LIGHTS FIXED. I JUST LOOKED UP RECALLS TO FIND OUT THAT WE HAVE A RECALL THAT NO ONE NOTIFIED US OF FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS. WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR GRAND KIDS AND EVERYONE ELSES IN THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS WHICH CAN BE A DEADLY SITUATION... PLEASE ASSIST.

NHTSA ODI #11196155

55,000 miles · Mar 5, 2019
Exterior LightingCrash

THIS COMPLAINT IS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO NHTSA RECALL ID NUMBER :19V149 WHILE WE HAVE NOT NOTICED BREAK LIGHTS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REAR ENDED TWICE, IN 2017 AND IN 2018, POSSIBLY INDICATING THAT BREAK SWITCH WAS INTERMITTENTLY FAULTY.

NHTSA ODI #11184256

30,000 miles · Jul 7, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

THE ELECTRICAL KEEPS HAVING PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF THE FORESTER. I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE HASN'T ALREADY BEEN A RECALL. THERE WILL BE A BE A BEEP, USUALLY WHEN DRIVING - SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR OR MOVE OUT OF PARK, AND ABOUT ANY "SAFETY" FEATURE THAT THIS CAR HAS EXHI…

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THE ELECTRICAL KEEPS HAVING PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF THE FORESTER. I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE HASN'T ALREADY BEEN A RECALL. THERE WILL BE A BE A BEEP, USUALLY WHEN DRIVING - SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR OR MOVE OUT OF PARK, AND ABOUT ANY "SAFETY" FEATURE THAT THIS CAR HAS EXHIBITS A LIGHT AND/OR WARNING. WHILE THIS HAPPENS OVER DAYS, SOMETIMES THE GEARS STICK IN PARK. I HAVE TO TAKE A TOOL AND PRESS BESIDE THE GEAR STICK TO GET OUT OF PARK. THE LIGHTS WILL STAY LIKE THIS FOR DAYS OR WEEKS AND THEN IT JUST STOPS. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED, BUT IT IS JUST RESET UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS. JUST THE OTHER NIGHT, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING BEHIND ME AND TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING CONSISTENTLY. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!! WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE IS NOT WORKING WHEN THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE OCCURS.

NHTSA ODI #11109975

18,000 miles · Jul 22, 2017
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER LET US KNOW THAT OUR TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ON EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING. ALSO, THE BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. BRAKE LIGHTS, EMERGENCY FLASHERS, AND TURN SIGNALS ARE STILL WORKING. WHEN WE HAVE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT UNTIL PROBLEM IS FIXED, WE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH FLASHERS O…

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WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER LET US KNOW THAT OUR TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ON EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING. ALSO, THE BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. BRAKE LIGHTS, EMERGENCY FLASHERS, AND TURN SIGNALS ARE STILL WORKING. WHEN WE HAVE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT UNTIL PROBLEM IS FIXED, WE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH FLASHERS ON. CHECKED ALL FUSES AND ALL ARE OK.

NHTSA ODI #11010079

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THIS MODEL VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE SPEEDOMETER IS LOCATED UNDER A VISOR WHICH LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT FALLING ON THE INSTRUMENT, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT HAVE ANY BACK LIGHTING UNDER DAYLIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE RESULT IS THAT UNDER MOST DAYTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER …

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THIS MODEL VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE SPEEDOMETER IS LOCATED UNDER A VISOR WHICH LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT FALLING ON THE INSTRUMENT, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT HAVE ANY BACK LIGHTING UNDER DAYLIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE RESULT IS THAT UNDER MOST DAYTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER AND DETERMINE THE SPEED THAT THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT. THIS IS A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM AS DEALER STAFF HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAS NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SAFETY DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO DISCUSS THIS DEFECT, AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY SOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #10750097

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