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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

Steering complaints

19 reports
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74,000 miles · Sep 9, 2020
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED AFTER A WHILE. WHILE DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING WITH THE STEERING POWER ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED AFTER A WHILE. WHILE DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING WITH THE STEERING POWER ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARRY H. MILLER SUBARU BOISE LOCATED AT 11196 W FAIRVIEW AVE, BOISE, ID 83713, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #11353925

38,000 miles · Dec 27, 2019
SteeringSuspensionWheels

AT 38K EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WAS NOTICED. DEALER REPLACED BOTH OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. AT 42K THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD AND WAS REPLACED. PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE BAD CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. AT 44K THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE BAD AGAIN. THIS CAUSED A SEVERE LOSS OF CONTRO…

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AT 38K EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WAS NOTICED. DEALER REPLACED BOTH OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. AT 42K THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD AND WAS REPLACED. PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE BAD CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. AT 44K THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE BAD AGAIN. THIS CAUSED A SEVERE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR IN SLICK CONDITIONS. THIS TIME THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH OF THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. TIME FOR A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11291430

70,000 miles · Aug 14, 2019
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN PRESSED. THE CONTACT CALLED COLONIAL SUBARU (761 E CHESTER ST, KINGSTON, NY 12401, 845-339-3330) AND WAS INFORMED THAT IF HE WERE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT, THE HORN WOULD WORK. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN PRESSED. THE CONTACT CALLED COLONIAL SUBARU (761 E CHESTER ST, KINGSTON, NY 12401, 845-339-3330) AND WAS INFORMED THAT IF HE WERE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT, THE HORN WOULD WORK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #11243965

41,000 miles · Jun 5, 2019
Steering

STARTED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND NO POWER STEERING, DROPPED OFF AT THE LOCAL DEALER. SEVERAL DAYS LATER WAS INFORMED OF FULL FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE AND POWER STEERING RACK SYSTEM SHORTED OUT/FAILED. CAR HAD 41000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11218105

59,129 miles · Jul 23, 2018
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CITYSIDE SUBARU, 790 PLEASANT ST, BELMONT, MA 2478, (617) 826-5000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CITYSIDE SUBARU, 790 PLEASANT ST, BELMONT, MA 2478, (617) 826-5000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,129.

NHTSA ODI #11113157

34,000 miles · Jun 26, 2017
EngineService BrakesSteering

IN AUGUST OF 2015 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AS A RESULT. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AFTER ABOUT 150 FT ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN SAYING THAT IS WAS DISABLING SEVERAL SAFETY FEATURES (ABS, EYESIGHT, HILL ASSIST, ETC.)…

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IN AUGUST OF 2015 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AS A RESULT. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AFTER ABOUT 150 FT ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN SAYING THAT IS WAS DISABLING SEVERAL SAFETY FEATURES (ABS, EYESIGHT, HILL ASSIST, ETC.). SHE AGAIN PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START (FLAT-OUT WOULD NOT COME ON, THE POWER WOULD COME ON BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START [HAS A KEY LESS IGNITION SYSTEM]). SHE CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSIST AND THEY CAME TO TRY AND HELP HER WITH THE CAR. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AND SHE DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND LOOKED AT IT. THEIR SERVICING NOTES INDICATE THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, WHILE MY WIFE WAS THERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AS WELL. IN REVIEW OF THESE NOTES THEY INDICATE THE FOLLOWING ERROR CODES WERE PRESENT P1531 AND B2809 AND THEY ALSO REPLACED THE FOLLOWING PART [83311FJ000]. ON JUNE 25, 2017, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. ALL SAFETY FEATURES DISABLED, ALL SYSTEMS SHUT-OFF. ONCE I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF I WAS UNABLE TO START IT AGAIN. IT SEEMED AS IF I WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL FAR ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE KEYLESS START FEATURE. SO, THE VEHICLE WAS UNUSABLE AND UNSAFE. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEY HAVE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AS ALL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE HAVE FAILED (ALL POWER WORKS, BUT NO START AND ALL SAFETY FEATURES INDICATE THEY ARE DISABLED). I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPRESSED ALL OF THESE CONCERNS AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. IN ALL INSTANCES WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ISSUES WE WERE EITHER DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, A LOCAL HIGHWAY, OR UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #11001474

38,000 miles · Jun 15, 2016
EnginePower TrainSteering

WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IS I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (DOES NOT MATTER HOW FAST I AM GOING) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON AND I LOSE ACCELERATION AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO SUBARU THEY CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO IT CANNOT BE FIXED. THIS LAST TIME I WAS ON A VERY BUSY ROAD GOING…

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WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IS I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (DOES NOT MATTER HOW FAST I AM GOING) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON AND I LOSE ACCELERATION AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO SUBARU THEY CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO IT CANNOT BE FIXED. THIS LAST TIME I WAS ON A VERY BUSY ROAD GOING ABOUT 55 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN AGAIN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ETC CAME ON AND I LOST ACCELERATION AND POWER. I QUICKLY CHECKED MY REARVIEW MIRROR TO MAKE SURE NO ONE WAS TOO CLOSE BEHIND ME. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST AND ABRUPTLY TURN INTO AN ENTERPRISE RENTAL. I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT HIT FROM BEHIND OR HAVE MY KIDS IN CAR. THIS LAST TIME TOO WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON. I AM NOW COMPLETELY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING A CAR THAT CONSISTENTLY HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE THAT NO ONE CAN FIX.

NHTSA ODI #10874333

15,720 miles · Apr 18, 2016
SteeringStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVER WAS PARKING WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE HIT HOUSE AND PORCH, SHEARING OFF THE GAS METER WHERE IT MEETS THE UNDERGROUND LINE. EYESIGHT OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10860015

20,000 miles · Mar 4, 2016
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrashInjury

7 MONTHS OLD, 20,000 MILES. DRIVING 65.6 MPH, IN LIGHT RAIN WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. 1ST TIME DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER, NOTICED WIND OR FLAT TIRES CAUSING SOMETIMES SIDE SHAKING. STOPPED TO CHECK TIRES. NOTICED NO WIND NOR LOW TIRES PRESSURE. CONTINUED ON. HAD USED CRUISE CONTROL ON AND OFF, AND TURNING ON AND OFF THE TRACT…

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7 MONTHS OLD, 20,000 MILES. DRIVING 65.6 MPH, IN LIGHT RAIN WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. 1ST TIME DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER, NOTICED WIND OR FLAT TIRES CAUSING SOMETIMES SIDE SHAKING. STOPPED TO CHECK TIRES. NOTICED NO WIND NOR LOW TIRES PRESSURE. CONTINUED ON. HAD USED CRUISE CONTROL ON AND OFF, AND TURNING ON AND OFF THE TRACTION SWITCH TO FIND A PATTERN FOR THE IRADIC DRIVING. COULD NOT ID A CAUSE. CONTINUED DRIVING. CAR TOOK A SUDDEN JERK TO THE LEFT, KNEW WE WERE GOING TO CRASH AND COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. 'CRASH' . WE SLID 40 FEET DOWN THE CENTER DIVIDE. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE STILL POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WERE LUCKY. THE REAR WHEELS HAD 'EXCESSIVE WEAR' , FRONT WHEELS WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. WHEN THE CAR WAS TORN APART, THE MAIN PULLY HAD A 1" DING AND THE FAN BELT WAS KNOCKED OFF THE MAIN PULLY AND PARTICALLY OF THE 2ND PULLY. THE BELT WAS ON ALL THE OTHER PULLIES.. I BELIEVE THE TRACTION DEVICE MALFUNCTIONED WHEN I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HYDROPLANED. AND THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED SENDING ME INTO A OUT OF CONTROL CRASH, THAT I COULD NOT STEER OUT OF. SUBARU OF AMERICA SAID WET PAYMENT, HIGH SPEED AND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR TIRES CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THEY DOCUMENTED THE SPEED AND WEAR OF REAR TIRES. RAIN WAS VERY LIGHT, A DRIZZLE. HIGHWAY WAS STRAIGHT AND LIGHT TRAFFIC. NO DEBRE ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10839979

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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