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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

Suspension complaints

66 reports
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60,000 miles · Feb 18, 2019
Suspension

DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAVE WORN OUT TWICE WITH IN 24 MONTHS. ON ANY STREET OR HIGHHWAY WAS GETTING A KNOCKING NOISE. FIRST TIME MY PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS BAD. TOOK IT TO DEALER THEIR MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. FEW WEEKS LATER WENT BACK TO DEALER FOR SAME REASON. THEN THEY ADMITTED IT WAS BAD AND REPAIR…

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DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAVE WORN OUT TWICE WITH IN 24 MONTHS. ON ANY STREET OR HIGHHWAY WAS GETTING A KNOCKING NOISE. FIRST TIME MY PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS BAD. TOOK IT TO DEALER THEIR MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. FEW WEEKS LATER WENT BACK TO DEALER FOR SAME REASON. THEN THEY ADMITTED IT WAS BAD AND REPAIRED. NOW ON 2/18/19 I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WENT TO THE DEALER THEIR MECHANIC SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE . EVERYTHING NICE AND TIGHT. TOOK THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS STILL MAKING THE NOISE FOR STATE INSPECTION HE STATED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BAD . NOW I MUST GO BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO GET WARRANTY APPROVAL TO REPAIR. THIS IS CONSTANTLY MAKING ME DO EVERYTHING TWICE BECAUSE THE DEALER MECHANIC FAILS TI BE HONEST.

NHTSA ODI #11180863

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

43,000 miles · Nov 7, 2018
Suspension

RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. CAR HAS ONLY 43,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING, OFF-ROADING, AND NO ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ODI #11150012

20,800 miles · Oct 18, 2018
Suspension

REAR COIL SPRING BROKE AFTER CAR HAD ONLY 20,800 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11141213

58,000 miles · Aug 10, 2018
Suspension

RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ONLY ONE SPRING.

NHTSA ODI #11118921

40,172 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Suspension

DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING WEARING OUT PREMATURELY POOR DESIGN.

NHTSA ODI #10897197

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