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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

55 reports
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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

43,000 miles · Jan 23, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System

SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA ID#'S 11299582, 11297748 & 11297188. DEALER FIRST DID DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TWO WEEKS LATER SAME ISSUE. REPLACED THROTTLE PEDAL/POSITION SENSOR ($600) AND PROBLEM FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #11301397

55,000 miles · Jan 15, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

TWO TIMES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH, MY CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE CAR SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT SIMPLY SLOWED DOWN. BOTH TIMES THE HIGHWAY WAS EMPTY ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT INTO …

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TWO TIMES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH, MY CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE CAR SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT SIMPLY SLOWED DOWN. BOTH TIMES THE HIGHWAY WAS EMPTY ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT INTO THE SHOULDER. ONCE I PULLED OVER, I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE CAR STARTED AND ACCELERATION WORKED AS NORMAL. BOTH TIMES I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP, AND AFTER RUNNING SOME TESTS SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES, AND COULDN'T HELP ME ANY FURTHER. I'VE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE HAS FOUND A SOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #11299582

76,000 miles · Jan 10, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

SUBARU 2015 FORESTER 2.5L AT CVT TRANSMISSION NO TURBO ENGINE REVS TO 4-6000 RPM TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR CAR TAKES OFF ACCELERATING WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. THE DRIVER MUST SLAM ON BRAKES PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE CAR DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY BOTH AT LOW AND HIGH-SPEED TRAVEL.. THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALER…

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SUBARU 2015 FORESTER 2.5L AT CVT TRANSMISSION NO TURBO ENGINE REVS TO 4-6000 RPM TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR CAR TAKES OFF ACCELERATING WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. THE DRIVER MUST SLAM ON BRAKES PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE CAR DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY BOTH AT LOW AND HIGH-SPEED TRAVEL.. THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT SUCCESS. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN THAT THE DRIVER IS AT RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO HIGH ENGINE RPM AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH SLAMMING TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT REQUIRING HARD BRAKEING AND PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO REGAIN CONTROL . I BELIEVE THIS IS LONG STANDING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND THE ORIGIANAL BUYER TRADED IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICLAL ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT WILL ONLY BE DIAGNOSISED DOCUMENTED BY 24/7 MONITORING OF ENGINE FUNCTIONS. IN ORDER TO CATCH THE EVENTS AS THEY OCCUR NO CODES ARE BEING THROWN OR RECORDED. THE DEALERS HAVE REFUSED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO DIAGNOSIS THIS INTERMITTANT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11298507

74,000 miles · Dec 23, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT NO RESPONSE, LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHILE COASTING ON THE SHOULDER, THE CAR SPUTTERED AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT I HAD 1/4 TANK. IT THEN BEGAN TO RUN…

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT NO RESPONSE, LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHILE COASTING ON THE SHOULDER, THE CAR SPUTTERED AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT I HAD 1/4 TANK. IT THEN BEGAN TO RUN NORMALLY. I PULLED OFF TO A GAS STATION, FILLED IT UP, AND CONTINUED MY TRIP WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE OCCURRENCE WAS VERY DANGEROUS ON A CONGESTED HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11290811

50,000 miles · Oct 3, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70-75 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR DISPLAYED APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES TO EMPTY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARVEY SUBARU (LOCATED AT 3351 BENTON RD, BOSSIER CITY, LA 71111, (8…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70-75 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR DISPLAYED APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES TO EMPTY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARVEY SUBARU (LOCATED AT 3351 BENTON RD, BOSSIER CITY, LA 71111, (888) 232-4109) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11265857

84,000 miles · Jul 19, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SEVENTY MILES STILL REMAINING ON THE FUEL GAUGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO WILLIAMS SUBARU OF SAYRE (222 SPRING ST, SAYRE, PA 18840, (570) 888-9691) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. AN APPO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SEVENTY MILES STILL REMAINING ON THE FUEL GAUGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO WILLIAMS SUBARU OF SAYRE (222 SPRING ST, SAYRE, PA 18840, (570) 888-9691) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH THE DEALER FOR NEXT WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #11233416

73,000 miles · Jul 1, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

WE WERE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH, WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT AN HOUR, ON THE FREEWAY WITH SOME TRAFFIC BUT MOSTLY MOVING NORMALLY. SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING NOR ENGINE LIGHTS, THE CAR REVED BUT DIDN'T RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL. AS THOUGH IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS. THE LOW FUEL LIGHT HAD GONE ON ALREADY, IT TURNS ON AROUND 70 M…

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WE WERE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH, WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT AN HOUR, ON THE FREEWAY WITH SOME TRAFFIC BUT MOSTLY MOVING NORMALLY. SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING NOR ENGINE LIGHTS, THE CAR REVED BUT DIDN'T RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL. AS THOUGH IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS. THE LOW FUEL LIGHT HAD GONE ON ALREADY, IT TURNS ON AROUND 70 MILES TO EMPTY, BUT WE STILL HAD 50 MILES TO EMPTY. WE PULLED OVER AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO DELIVER GAS SINCE THAT'S ALL WE COULD FIGURE HAD HAPPENED. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES WAITING WE DECIDED TO TRY IT AND JUST SEE IF IT WOULD START AND IT DID! WE DROVE TO THE NEXT EXIT AND GOT GAS WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS, AND CONTINUED ON HOME AFTER. THIS WAS VERY SCARY AND LEFT MY FAMILY SITTING STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. NO ENGINE LIGHTS, NO CODES, NOTHING OBVIOUS TO FIX. NOW I'M NERVOUS TO DRIVE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR IN CASE IT HAPPENS AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11228592

93,000 miles · Jun 6, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON A 3-4 HOUR TRIP GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH USING CRUISE CONTROL WITH APPROXIMATELY 1/12 - 1/6 TANK OF GAS, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND AT THE SAME TIME LOST POWER AND SPEED. THE FIRST TIME I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART …

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TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON A 3-4 HOUR TRIP GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH USING CRUISE CONTROL WITH APPROXIMATELY 1/12 - 1/6 TANK OF GAS, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND AT THE SAME TIME LOST POWER AND SPEED. THE FIRST TIME I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND FINISH MY TRIP. IT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME WITH MOSTLY IDENTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE. I HAD TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS WITH NOTHING TURNING UP. THEY WERE HOWEVER ABLE TO START THE CAR WHEN THEY TRIED. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BEING IN 70 MPH TRAFFIC AND HAVING NO SPEED CONTROL. I HAVE THE DEALERSHIP PAPERWORK FROM THE SERVICE. NOW THE ENGINE DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE NORMAL POWER IT USUALLY DOES WHEN ACCELERATING. *TT*JB

NHTSA ODI #11218406

61,000 miles · May 20, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY (VEHICLE IN MOTION) AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. HAPPENED TWICE IN 24 HOURS. BOTH TIMES, VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, FORCING THE DRIVER TO PULL OVER (VEHICLE STATIONARY). VEHICLE THEN RESPONDS NORMALLY WH…

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WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY (VEHICLE IN MOTION) AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. HAPPENED TWICE IN 24 HOURS. BOTH TIMES, VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, FORCING THE DRIVER TO PULL OVER (VEHICLE STATIONARY). VEHICLE THEN RESPONDS NORMALLY WHEN RESUMING DRIVING AFTER PULLING OVER FOR 3-5 SECONDS.

NHTSA ODI #11208677

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