IllustrationI HAVE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER XT WHILE I WAS STOPPED ON A CITY STREET. THERE IS ALSO A "LUNGING" FEELING WHENEVER YOU PRESS THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER PROCEEDING FROM A COMPLETE STOP.
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 reportsI HAVE EXPERIENCED ON OCCASION TO WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION. I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN HILL, MY FOOT IS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE WAY BUT BEFORE MY VEHICLE REACHES THE STOP SIGN, IT WILL STOP BRAKING AND GO. MY FOOT NEVER LEFT THE BRAKE PEDAL. NEVER CHANGED THE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT AL…
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I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON OCCASION TO WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION. I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN HILL, MY FOOT IS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE WAY BUT BEFORE MY VEHICLE REACHES THE STOP SIGN, IT WILL STOP BRAKING AND GO. MY FOOT NEVER LEFT THE BRAKE PEDAL. NEVER CHANGED THE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE MY VEHICLE IS RELEASING SOME SORT OF PRESSURE. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, FORTUNATELY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE SEATBACK EMITTED A LOUD "BANG" SOUND. IT THEN LOST ALL SUPPORT AND STRUCTURE, FORCING ME TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE I WAS NOT ADJUSTING ANY ELEMENT OF THE SEATBACK -- I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO SET IT ONCE WHEN I BOUGHT THE …
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE SEATBACK EMITTED A LOUD "BANG" SOUND. IT THEN LOST ALL SUPPORT AND STRUCTURE, FORCING ME TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE I WAS NOT ADJUSTING ANY ELEMENT OF THE SEATBACK -- I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO SET IT ONCE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HASN'T TOUCHED THE ADJUSTMENTS SINCE THEN. I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THAT THE SEAT FRAME BROKE INTERNALLY AND THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS PURE LUCK THAT IT OCCURRED AT A MOMENT WHERE I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DESPITE SUDDENLY FALLING BACKWARDS.
ENGINE USING TO MUCH OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO FINAL GEAR UNTIL DRIVEN FOR 10-15 MILES
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 7AM, AND I HAD STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEAR THE SOUND OF GLASS CRACK AND OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE, I SEE A HUGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. IT JUST CONTINUED TO SPREAD THE REST OF THE DRIVE HOME. HAD TO GET IT REPLACED, OEM QUOTED ME OVER $800 AND EVEN MORE IF I HAD THE EYESIG…
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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 7AM, AND I HAD STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEAR THE SOUND OF GLASS CRACK AND OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE, I SEE A HUGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. IT JUST CONTINUED TO SPREAD THE REST OF THE DRIVE HOME. HAD TO GET IT REPLACED, OEM QUOTED ME OVER $800 AND EVEN MORE IF I HAD THE EYESIGHT OPTION.
WINDSHIELD CRACK APPEARED IN MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE FROM A STONE OR OBJECT STRIKING THE GLASS. NOT DRIVING MUCH DUE TO COVID. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDSHIELD THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED IN THE FIVE YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS CAR.
CAR ACCELERATES BOTH WHEN IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT SHOOTS STRAIGHT UP TO 2 ON IT'S ON. CAR HAS ACCELERATED WHEN EASING IN AND OUT OF PARKING SPACES, I HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSE TO HITTING OTHER CARS BECAUSE OF THIS.
DRIVING ON ACCESS ROAD AT ABOUT 25 MPH. LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY FLOPPING NOISE. PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHIN ABOUT 200 YARDS. DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. PUT ON SPARE TIRE. CURSORY EXAMINATION SHOWED LARGE TEAR THROUGH THE SIDEWALL ON THE INTERIOR SIDE. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. TIRES HAVE 15,320 MILES ON THEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT OTHER SUBARU VEHICLES WITH HEATED SEATS WERE KNOWN TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED SUBARU OF MORRISTOWN (175 RIDGEDALE AVE, MORRISTOWN, NJ 07960;…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT OTHER SUBARU VEHICLES WITH HEATED SEATS WERE KNOWN TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED SUBARU OF MORRISTOWN (175 RIDGEDALE AVE, MORRISTOWN, NJ 07960; (866) 910-3466) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASED INDEPENDENTLY TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. DURING THE SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER, NO WARNING MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE LOCAL DEALER SCHOMP SUBARU LOCATED AT 580 S HAVANA ST, AURORA,…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASED INDEPENDENTLY TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. DURING THE SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER, NO WARNING MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE LOCAL DEALER SCHOMP SUBARU LOCATED AT 580 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80012 WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
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.