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 reports
47,000 miles · Sep 22, 2020
EngineExterior LightingService Brakes
THIS CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER CAMPAIGN 19V149000 ON JULY 27 FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ISSUE. SINCE THE REPAIR OF THE RECALL, I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR BACK TO INTERNATIONAL SUBARU IN TINLEY PARK, IL FOR FOLLOW UP SERVICE RELATED TO THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE PROBLEM I'VE ENCOUNTERED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS IS THE CAR ALERTS THAT TH…
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THIS CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER CAMPAIGN 19V149000 ON JULY 27 FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ISSUE. SINCE THE REPAIR OF THE RECALL, I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR BACK TO INTERNATIONAL SUBARU IN TINLEY PARK, IL FOR FOLLOW UP SERVICE RELATED TO THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE PROBLEM I'VE ENCOUNTERED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS IS THE CAR ALERTS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE STATING "HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED" WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE CAR THEN CUTS ALL THROTTLE CAPABILITIES FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS AND THE CAR JUST COASTS BEFORE RESUMING TAKING A THROTTLE INPUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR IS JUST COASTING AND DROPS 15+ MPH IN SPEED. THIS ALERT SEEMS TO BE TRIGGERED RANDOMLY AND IT CAUSES SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN WITHOUT WARNING MY CAR SUDDENLY LOSES ANY USAGE OF THE THROTTLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN TRACED BACK TO THE PART REPLACED IN THE RECALL AND THE DEALER FOUND THE RECORDS IN THE CAR'S COMPUTER SHOWING THE SWITCH WAS ACTIVE WHEN IT WASN'T BEING PRESSED. THIS ISSUE FIRST SURFACED ON 8/31/20 BUT HAS COME BACK NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THEN. FURTHERMORE, I HAD ISSUES WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON ON THE CAR OVERNIGHT WITH THE SWITCH ACTIVE WITH NO INPUT CAUSING A DRAINED BATTERY. THIS IS A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE THAN JUST LIGHTS BECAUSE THE CAR'S THROTTLE CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND THIS HAS BEEN TRACED BACK TO THE SWITCH ON MY CAR. I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE ORIGINAL RECALLED PART REPLACED IN MY CAR COMPARED TO THE RECALL REPLACEMENT PART.
NHTSA ODI #11360498
70,000 miles · Sep 20, 2020
Air Bags
BEEN HAVING REPEATED ISSUES WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR THINKING SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN UNOCCUPIED AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT AND TONE BEEPS. THEN THE AIRBAG SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWING PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF. MY VEHICLE HAS HEATED SEATS BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #11360088
85,000 miles · Sep 20, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH AND SUDDENLY THE GAS PEDAL SEEMED TO LOSE PRESSURE. THEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AS THE CAR STOPPED. I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND TRY RESTARTING 10+ TIMES UNTIL IT FINALLY WOULD STAY RUNNING AND ALLOW US TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. THIS OCCURED WITH 80 MILES LEFT UNTIL EM…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH AND SUDDENLY THE GAS PEDAL SEEMED TO LOSE PRESSURE. THEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AS THE CAR STOPPED. I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND TRY RESTARTING 10+ TIMES UNTIL IT FINALLY WOULD STAY RUNNING AND ALLOW US TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. THIS OCCURED WITH 80 MILES LEFT UNTIL EMPTY. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED ON A TRIP. WE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING 1.5 HOURS.
NHTSA ODI #11360086
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion System
CAR SURGES AT START UP AND LOW SPEEDS. NEITHER THE CAR DEALERSHIP OR SUBARU OF AMERICA CAN FIX IT. I SENT AN EMAIL IN ABOUT MY COMPLAINT TO YOU. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS. IT RANDOMLY HAPPENS. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT MANY TIMES DUE TO NO CODE EVEN THOUGH THEY DROVE IT AND COULD SEE THE ISSUE. WHEN IT DID CODE THEY…
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CAR SURGES AT START UP AND LOW SPEEDS. NEITHER THE CAR DEALERSHIP OR SUBARU OF AMERICA CAN FIX IT. I SENT AN EMAIL IN ABOUT MY COMPLAINT TO YOU. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS. IT RANDOMLY HAPPENS. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT MANY TIMES DUE TO NO CODE EVEN THOUGH THEY DROVE IT AND COULD SEE THE ISSUE. WHEN IT DID CODE THEY FIXED IT BUT ALWAYS A SURGE DIFFERENT CODES. THEY HAVE REPLACE FUEL SENSORS, VALUES, ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, MY KEY, FUEL LINE, SPARK PLUGS, ETC ALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUES. THERE ARE SEVERAL LAWSUITS IN OTHER STATES ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I JUST WANT THEM TO PURCHASE MY VEHICLE BACK OR REPLACE IT WITH ONE THAT WORKS PROPERLY. PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA ODI #11359985
1 miles · Sep 18, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control
CAR IN MOTION. HAPPENS ON A STOP, PARKING THE VEHICLE IN PROGRESS, DRIVING SLOW. WHEN PUSHING GAS PEDAL SLOWLY FROM START POINT; VEHACLE SPEED UP SO MUCH THAT I HAVE TO PRESS BRAKES PEDAL TO HOLD THE SPEED DOWN. HAPPENS ONCE EVERY OTHER TIME.
NHTSA ODI #11355729
20,000 miles · Sep 15, 2020
Engine
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY ACCELERATES REQUIRING A MUCH HARDER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE OR COMING TO A STOP SIGN. WHILE NOT A COMMON OCCURRENCE I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS MORE THA…
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WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY ACCELERATES REQUIRING A MUCH HARDER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE OR COMING TO A STOP SIGN. WHILE NOT A COMMON OCCURRENCE I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE 5 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11355100
65,000 miles · Sep 10, 2020
Steering
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS
NHTSA ODI #11354165
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
37,893 miles · Aug 19, 2020
Visibility/wiper
PRIOR TO DRIVING MY CAR ON AUGUST 18, 2020, THERE WERE NO OBSERVABLE DEFECTS IN MY WINDSHIELD. I DROVE ABOUT A QUARTER MILE TO THE POST OFFICE. WHEN ARRIVING, THERE WAS STILL NO DEFECT. ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES LATER, I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND FOUND A LARGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT EXTENDED FROM THE TOP MIDDLE, BEHIND THE REAR VIE…
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PRIOR TO DRIVING MY CAR ON AUGUST 18, 2020, THERE WERE NO OBSERVABLE DEFECTS IN MY WINDSHIELD. I DROVE ABOUT A QUARTER MILE TO THE POST OFFICE. WHEN ARRIVING, THERE WAS STILL NO DEFECT. ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES LATER, I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND FOUND A LARGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT EXTENDED FROM THE TOP MIDDLE, BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, DIAGONALLY DOWN TO THE LOWER CORNER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE CRACK AND TOLD ME THERE WAS A MINUSCULE CHIP AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH I COULDN'T EVEN SEE, ALONG THE CRACK AND THAT BECAUSE OF THE CHIP, THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE REPLACEMENT COST, INCLUDING THE REQUIRED RECALIBRATION OF THE "EYESIGHT" SAFETY SYSTEM WOULD COST ME MORE THAT $1,000.00. I NOW LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY FORESTER, AS WELL AS OTHER SUBARU MODELS (I.E., SUBARU OUTBACK). THE LEVEL OF COMPLAINTS, WHICH COMPROMISES DRIVER AND PASSENGER SAFETLY WARRANTS A RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #11350279
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2020
Suspension
2015 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR COIL SPRING SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE NHTSA WEBSITE STATES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANY OPEN RECALLS, SPECIFICALLY COIL SPRING. MEANWHILE, THE SUBARU WEBSITE DOES. THE CONSUMER STATED SUBARU WEBSITE IS ACCURATE. *JS
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.
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.
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 ↗