IllustrationFuel gauge sending unit not functioning causing car to over report remaining gas mileage. Car runs out of gas though gas gauge still reports roughly 20% tank capacity remaining and ~60 miles or range left. This has happened to me multiple times,racing me stranded on highways at least 6 times.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forester years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1270–25K
10125–50K
9750–75K
5175–100K
29100–150K
5150K+
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
What owners actually said
613 reportsMerging onto a a 70mph highway and vehicle stopped accelerating around 45 mph. RMPs kept increasing, black smoke-type substance was coming out of the exhaust pipes when I tried to accelerate. No lights, warning noises, or any other indication of anything wrong with the car. Vehicle kept lurching and rev'ing but no acceleration…
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Merging onto a a 70mph highway and vehicle stopped accelerating around 45 mph. RMPs kept increasing, black smoke-type substance was coming out of the exhaust pipes when I tried to accelerate. No lights, warning noises, or any other indication of anything wrong with the car. Vehicle kept lurching and rev'ing but no acceleration.
I HAVE HAD A SUDDEN BATTERY DRAIN. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE BATTERY DRAINS OFTEN AND QUICKLY. IT HAPPENS LONG BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS UP ON THE BATTERY. THIS INTERRUPTS KEY SYSTEMS AND MAKE IT UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. EVEN CHARGING THE BATTERY DOES NOT HELP. IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE GONE THROUGH THREE BATTERIES IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. EACH TIME I HAVE TO HAVE A MECHANIC RESET ALL SY…
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THE BATTERY DRAINS OFTEN AND QUICKLY. IT HAPPENS LONG BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS UP ON THE BATTERY. THIS INTERRUPTS KEY SYSTEMS AND MAKE IT UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. EVEN CHARGING THE BATTERY DOES NOT HELP. IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE GONE THROUGH THREE BATTERIES IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. EACH TIME I HAVE TO HAVE A MECHANIC RESET ALL SYSTEMS.
AUTO ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER LEAVING CAR WASH BAY. AUTO SPED THROUGH PARKING LOT INTO STREET AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER AUTO TRAVELING ON A ROAD.
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65MPH, WHEN WITH NO WARNING MY CAR'S ENGINE STOP. I TOUGH IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT THE COMPUTER WAS TELLING ME I HAD 30 MORE MILES OF FUEL. AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PARK BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE FREEWAY. THIS UNFORTUNATE EVENT CAUSE 3 OTHER CARS TO BE INVOLVED…
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I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65MPH, WHEN WITH NO WARNING MY CAR'S ENGINE STOP. I TOUGH IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT THE COMPUTER WAS TELLING ME I HAD 30 MORE MILES OF FUEL. AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PARK BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE FREEWAY. THIS UNFORTUNATE EVENT CAUSE 3 OTHER CARS TO BE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. SOME HOW MY CAR WAS OK, I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE PRAYING THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. MY HUSBAND DROVE IT FOR A LITTLE TO SEE IF IT WILL BE OK TO DRIVE. SAME THING HAPPEN TO HEM, BUT THIS WAS IN A MUCH CONTROLLED WAY.
PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT, VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL, GAVE A LITTLE MORE GAS AND VEHICLE LAUNCHED FORWARD AND HIT CEMENT POLE. NO DAMAGE TO POLE CAR DAMAGE AROUND 8K.AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC ALSO
SUDDENLY IT STARTED TO ACCURATE AND THE OTHER WAS ALL IN BORD CONTROL SYSTEM DEFAULT ARE LIGHTING UP
CAR BURNS OIL. NO LEAKS AND OIL LIGHT COMES ON EVERY 2,000-3,000 MILES WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE CHANGED BUT EVERY 5000. AC MAKES HORRIBLE NOISE AND INTERMITTENTLY WORKS BUT HARDLY EVER. WILL RUN FOR A COUPLE MIN THEN NOT WORK THE REST OF THE DRIVE TIME
WHILE TAKING GROCERIES OUT OF BACK SEAT, I FOUND A 14MM SHINY NUT ON BACK FLOOR, LEFT BACK SIDE OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IT FELL OFF THE BOLT HOLDING THE FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT RETAINER (PART YOU CLICK BUCKLE INTO). AFTER PUTTING IT BACK ON, AND TORQUING THE HECK OUT OF IT, I FOUND THAT THE TWO BOLTS HOLDING FRONT PASSENGE…
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WHILE TAKING GROCERIES OUT OF BACK SEAT, I FOUND A 14MM SHINY NUT ON BACK FLOOR, LEFT BACK SIDE OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IT FELL OFF THE BOLT HOLDING THE FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT RETAINER (PART YOU CLICK BUCKLE INTO). AFTER PUTTING IT BACK ON, AND TORQUING THE HECK OUT OF IT, I FOUND THAT THE TWO BOLTS HOLDING FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOWN, WERE LOOSE AND STANDING ABOUT 0.75" ABOVE BRACKET SURFACE. I ALSO TORQUED THOSE DOWN TO AVOID SEAT BECOMING LOOSE. I THEN CHECKED ALL OTHER BOLTS FOR FRONT SEATS AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THE SEAT BELT NUT FALL WHERE IT DID, OR MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT.
Official recalls
319V701000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.