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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

73 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2023
Unknown Or Other

A/C continue not to work. Blowing out warm air followed by bad odor. AC compressor assembly replaced 5/2022 now having the same problem after new repair AC clutch and repair/ placed the A/C pressure switch on 8/25/2023. Not one day went by same problems recurred returned back to Glanzmann Subaru. Has the AC SYSTEM need to be …

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A/C continue not to work. Blowing out warm air followed by bad odor. AC compressor assembly replaced 5/2022 now having the same problem after new repair AC clutch and repair/ placed the A/C pressure switch on 8/25/2023. Not one day went by same problems recurred returned back to Glanzmann Subaru. Has the AC SYSTEM need to be recalled. I researched and found complaints of ac issues with the 2015 Subaru forester a/c

NHTSA ODI #11541004

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2023
Unknown Or Other

The transmission triggered a warning light suggesting a problem. After taking it to the dealership, it was determined that the valve body solenoid had failed and the entire valve body needed to be replaced. This was a very expensive job for a very inexpensive part. This seems to be a known issue for Subarus of this era (based on…

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The transmission triggered a warning light suggesting a problem. After taking it to the dealership, it was determined that the valve body solenoid had failed and the entire valve body needed to be replaced. This was a very expensive job for a very inexpensive part. This seems to be a known issue for Subarus of this era (based on internet research) and Subaru has yet to issue a recall.

NHTSA ODI #11521789

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2023
Air BagsUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I was parking the car it suddenly accelerated jumped the curb and was heading towards the building entrance dore. I could not stop it. To avoid entering the building I turned the vehicle tight and it collided against the wall. The air bags inflated.

NHTSA ODI #11515233

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2023
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I was backing out of a parking spot, and there was a telephone poll behind me in my path. I needed to pull forward to navigate around this poll. After backing up some, I put the car into drive to pull slightly forward, and the car lurched aggressively, so much so that I got out to see if it'd caught on something. It did not -- t…

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I was backing out of a parking spot, and there was a telephone poll behind me in my path. I needed to pull forward to navigate around this poll. After backing up some, I put the car into drive to pull slightly forward, and the car lurched aggressively, so much so that I got out to see if it'd caught on something. It did not -- there was absolutely nothing there. So I got back in and tried to continue forward, and the accelerator went full force. I floored the brake pedal, but the car behaved as though I was flooring the accelerator. The car drove itself over a cement block, through a staircase and into the brick wall of an abandoned building, continuing to accelerate for a few seconds while against the wall. Air bags did not deploy. I walked away without physical injury, thank goodness. There were no warning lights, symptoms of or dashboard indicators of a problem before or during the issue. Upon investigation online, we see that there is a pending class action for this exact issue. The vehicle has been inspected by our insurance carrier and been deemed a total loss. Insurance has asked that we turn the title over to them in order to receive our payout, and I believe they plan to destroy the car.

NHTSA ODI #11507009

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2023
Unknown Or Other

Our steering wheel clock spring is malfunctioning causing the vehicles horn not to work in certain positions (intermittently). more of a preventative to warn others, as we first noticed when we tried using it to help warn a car to stop for the light while we were making a left turn the car nearly ran through the red light which…

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Our steering wheel clock spring is malfunctioning causing the vehicles horn not to work in certain positions (intermittently). more of a preventative to warn others, as we first noticed when we tried using it to help warn a car to stop for the light while we were making a left turn the car nearly ran through the red light which would of hit us. I dont know if the problem has been reproduced but I do see plenty of posts online for the same issue for subarus. the vehicle has nor component has been inspected by anyone else except myself (owner) nothing gave pre-warning just suddenly stopped working

NHTSA ODI #11502698

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2022
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

I parked my car in the Walgreens parking lot while shopping, less than 30 minutes. When I returned, the car would not start. I called AAA for what I thought was a battery jump. When the AAA technician arrived, checked the battery and said his equipment said to replace the battery. After several attempts he was able to finally ge…

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I parked my car in the Walgreens parking lot while shopping, less than 30 minutes. When I returned, the car would not start. I called AAA for what I thought was a battery jump. When the AAA technician arrived, checked the battery and said his equipment said to replace the battery. After several attempts he was able to finally get the car started. I drove my car to the dealer where I had just had the battery and terminal replaced five months earlier. The service person checked the battery and charged it for more than an hour after having me call a Subaru warranty line and tell them how many times the battery had to be jumped - once. Yesterday, 12/6/2022 I was attempting to leave my home to take my husband to a cancer treatment clinic for an appointment and the car would not start. I called the Subaru technician who told me to bring the car in before 5 pm, which I could not do. Today, 12/07/2022, after several attempts I was able to start the car and take it to the service center. The technician could not find evidence of the battery purchase June 22, 2022. I showed him my paid receipt and he was able to locate the purchase. He told me the service manager wanted him to test the battery before doing anything. This is my only vehicle and I can’t keep going back and forth to the repair center whenever the new battery and connector , still under warranty, do not work. Today the technician told me the recall for coil replacement needed to be done. I was told it was done in June, but the service center has no evidence in their system that it was done. I never received any notice from Subaru that it was recalled.

NHTSA ODI #11496404

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2022
Unknown Or Other

Check engine light keeps coming on for an O2 sensor that has been recently replaced.

NHTSA ODI #11495950

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2022
SteeringUnknown Or Other

My Vehicle's horn stop working about six months ago, not long after I had to replace the battery. I took it to dealership and they had to replace the clock spring , roll connector. I use the horn only when absolutely necessary. I have never had a cars horn go out. I think they ought to last at least ten years if not longer. …

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My Vehicle's horn stop working about six months ago, not long after I had to replace the battery. I took it to dealership and they had to replace the clock spring , roll connector. I use the horn only when absolutely necessary. I have never had a cars horn go out. I think they ought to last at least ten years if not longer. Is this a defect? I just wanted to let you know.

NHTSA ODI #11494411

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2022
Unknown Or Other

Car does not respond when accelerating/attempting to accelerate. Takes 3-5 seconds to engage when press on gas from stopped/brake position, also very slow to accelerate when changing speeds. Took car in for service and was told not transmission, but still having issue. Dealer stated they couldn't reproduce issue when was in fo…

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Car does not respond when accelerating/attempting to accelerate. Takes 3-5 seconds to engage when press on gas from stopped/brake position, also very slow to accelerate when changing speeds. Took car in for service and was told not transmission, but still having issue. Dealer stated they couldn't reproduce issue when was in for service, but nearly immediately upon driving away, it had same issue. No warming lights, sounds or smells occur when this happens. Nearly got T-boned on road due to slowness to respond. Unknown component causing issue.

NHTSA ODI #11470663

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2022
Unknown Or OtherCrashFire

Vehicle was in a front end collision, vehicle was able to safely pull over to the shoulder and be shut down. Impact did not result in airbag deployment and damage to vehicle appeared to be moderate. Within minutes of the accident while waiting for police to arrive on the scene, smoke became visible followed by vehicle becoming e…

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Vehicle was in a front end collision, vehicle was able to safely pull over to the shoulder and be shut down. Impact did not result in airbag deployment and damage to vehicle appeared to be moderate. Within minutes of the accident while waiting for police to arrive on the scene, smoke became visible followed by vehicle becoming engulfed in flames leading to a complete vehicle fire and total loss of vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11451926

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