IllustrationSAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA ID#'S 11299582, 11297748 & 11297188. DEALER FIRST DID DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TWO WEEKS LATER SAME ISSUE. REPLACED THROTTLE PEDAL/POSITION SENSOR ($600) AND PROBLEM FIXED.
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 reportsREAR LEFT COIL BROKE ON SUBARU FORRESTER. 2015 FORRESTER SHOULD NOT SEEMINGLY HAVE THIS ISSUE. THE BROKEN COIL WAS RUSTED THROUGH. I NEVER NOTICED ANY THE DAMAGE WAS NOTICED WHILE MY CAR WAS ON A LIFT AT GOODYEAR GETTING A TIRE PLUGGED.
SEVERAL ISSUES: 1) REPLACE REAR STRUT ASSEMBLIES. 04/22/19. (THE CAR SEEMED FINE BUT WHEN THEY PUT IT ON A LIFT TO WORK ON BRAKES MECHANICS SAW THIS. 2) THE THE ENGINE SHIMMIES AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. THIS HAS GONE ON SINCE 2016. THIS HAPPEN WHEN GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT THEY FOUND NOTHING.…
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SEVERAL ISSUES: 1) REPLACE REAR STRUT ASSEMBLIES. 04/22/19. (THE CAR SEEMED FINE BUT WHEN THEY PUT IT ON A LIFT TO WORK ON BRAKES MECHANICS SAW THIS. 2) THE THE ENGINE SHIMMIES AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. THIS HAS GONE ON SINCE 2016. THIS HAPPEN WHEN GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT THEY FOUND NOTHING. IT STILL FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. 3) BEARINGS IN REAR PASSENGER SIDE IN 2017. REAR WHEELS WERE MAKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING AROUND 40 MPH. (DIFFERENT MECHANIC LOOKED AT THIS. 4) RIGHT FRONT AXLE SHAFT REPLACED 06/26/19 THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS USED FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING.
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT REGISTERS THAT NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND IT DISABLES THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. SOMEONE CAN BE SITTING IN THE SEAT BUCKLED UP AND THEN IT WILL RANDOMLY POP-UP WITH A WARNING MESSAGE THAT THERE IS AN AIRBAG ISSUE AND THAT NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT.
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION FAILED.
TWO TIMES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH, MY CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE CAR SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT SIMPLY SLOWED DOWN. BOTH TIMES THE HIGHWAY WAS EMPTY ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT INTO …
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TWO TIMES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH, MY CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE CAR SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT SIMPLY SLOWED DOWN. BOTH TIMES THE HIGHWAY WAS EMPTY ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT INTO THE SHOULDER. ONCE I PULLED OVER, I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE CAR STARTED AND ACCELERATION WORKED AS NORMAL. BOTH TIMES I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP, AND AFTER RUNNING SOME TESTS SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES, AND COULDN'T HELP ME ANY FURTHER. I'VE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE HAS FOUND A SOLUTION.
2015 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS
I HAVE HAD AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON IN MY CAR FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR AND I AM PAST WORRIED ABOUT THIS FAULTY AIRBAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY IF MY FAMILY IS EVERY IN THE CAR DURING AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS A BEGUN RECALL BUT I HAVE RECIEVED NO NOTICE AND AS IT DESCRIBES IS EXACTLY WHAT DEALERSHIP TOLD ME WAS WRONG 600$ IS THE COST OR THE LIFE OF MY…
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I HAVE HAD AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON IN MY CAR FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR AND I AM PAST WORRIED ABOUT THIS FAULTY AIRBAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY IF MY FAMILY IS EVERY IN THE CAR DURING AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS A BEGUN RECALL BUT I HAVE RECIEVED NO NOTICE AND AS IT DESCRIBES IS EXACTLY WHAT DEALERSHIP TOLD ME WAS WRONG 600$ IS THE COST OR THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY... PLEASE RECALL MY AIRBAG SENSOR..
NOVEMBER OF 2019 LEFT REAR COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED NOT SURE WHEN THIS ONE HAPPENED. JANUARY 11, 2020 BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY STARTED GOING FORWARD AND THE RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE. ONLY 29000 MILES ON CAR
LESS THAN TWO DAYS AFTER HAVING ROUTINE SERVICE MAINTENANCE DONE AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP, I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER WITH JUST OVER 46,000 MILES ON IT ON A CITY STREET WHEN I HEARD A THUMP AND NOTICED SOMETHING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING ON FLAT PAVEMENT AND DID NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT WO…
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LESS THAN TWO DAYS AFTER HAVING ROUTINE SERVICE MAINTENANCE DONE AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP, I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER WITH JUST OVER 46,000 MILES ON IT ON A CITY STREET WHEN I HEARD A THUMP AND NOTICED SOMETHING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING ON FLAT PAVEMENT AND DID NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION I COULD SEE THE LEFT REAR OF THE CAR WAS ALMOST RESTING ON THE TIRE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. SUBARU OF AMERICA DID PAY A PORTION TO REPLACE THE BROKEN SPRING AND THE ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE. IT SEEMS ODD THAT A COIL SPRING ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT WOULD SO SUDDENLY FAIL AND IT WOULD SEEM THIS WOULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN IF YOU WERE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS.
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.