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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

613 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2019
Unknown Or Other

TODAY IS 6/5/2019. THE EARLIEST I CAN SCHEDULE MY URGENT IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL WITH FOX SUBARU IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI IS NOVEMBER 6TH, 2019------FIVE MONTHS FROM NOW! REALLY??? SO IF I DIE....BEFORE THEN...IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THE RECALL DOES MY FAMILY GET TO SUE FOX SUBARU AS WELL AS SUBARU …

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TODAY IS 6/5/2019. THE EARLIEST I CAN SCHEDULE MY URGENT IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL WITH FOX SUBARU IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI IS NOVEMBER 6TH, 2019------FIVE MONTHS FROM NOW! REALLY??? SO IF I DIE....BEFORE THEN...IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THE RECALL DOES MY FAMILY GET TO SUE FOX SUBARU AS WELL AS SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC FOR COMPENSATION FROM MY LIFE? HOW RIDICULOUS IS THIS 5 MONTH WAIT FOR URGENT IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALLS?????

NHTSA ODI #11217996

22,000 miles · Jun 3, 2019
Suspension

ON MAY 15, 2019 I APPROACHED MY FORESTER IN THE PARKING GARAGE AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION WAS LOW (I AM NOT SURE IF THE LEFT SUSPENSION BROKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY OF IF THE VEHICLE WAS STATIC). AS I DROVE DOWN THE RAMPS IN THE PARKING GARAGE, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. I STOPPED, INSPECTED…

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ON MAY 15, 2019 I APPROACHED MY FORESTER IN THE PARKING GARAGE AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION WAS LOW (I AM NOT SURE IF THE LEFT SUSPENSION BROKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY OF IF THE VEHICLE WAS STATIC). AS I DROVE DOWN THE RAMPS IN THE PARKING GARAGE, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. I STOPPED, INSPECTED THE REAR SUSPENSION AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RIGHT SIDE WAS NOW AS LOW AS THE LEFT. IT APPEARED THAT BOTH REAR SUSPENSIONS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM (RIGHT SUSPENSION FAILED AS THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING A LOW SPEED). I DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF AT A MULLER SUBARU IN HIGHLAND PARK, IL ON MAY 17. I REQUESTED THAT THE PARTS REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE WERE MADE AVAILABLE FOR MY INSPECTION. ON MAY 30 I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK UP THE FORESTER AND WAS ABLE TO INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS. BOTH OF THEM WERE CORRODED TO THE CORE AT THE BOTTOM END. THE COATING ON THE SPRING WAS RIPPED (SEE PICTURES). THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T MENTION OF THE FRONT SPRINGS WERE INSPECTED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK THIS COULD BE A MODEL/YEAR PROBLEM, BAD QUALITY CONTROL AND/OR MATERIAL USED ON THE SUSPENSION SPRINGS, AND IT COULD BREAK AT ANYTIME, LOW OR HIGH SPEED DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11217447

92,000 miles · May 28, 2019
Engine

I HAVE HAD MY FORESTER SINCE NOV 2014, AND DURING THE TIME OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO ADD A QUART OF OIL ROUGHLY EVERY 2500-3000 MILES IN BETWEEN SERVICES (5000 MILE SERVICE INTERVAL) AS THE CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL LIGHT ILLUMINATES. AT TWO POINTS THAT I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE (ROUGHLY 50000 AND 80000), I HAVE HAD OIL CON…

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I HAVE HAD MY FORESTER SINCE NOV 2014, AND DURING THE TIME OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO ADD A QUART OF OIL ROUGHLY EVERY 2500-3000 MILES IN BETWEEN SERVICES (5000 MILE SERVICE INTERVAL) AS THE CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL LIGHT ILLUMINATES. AT TWO POINTS THAT I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE (ROUGHLY 50000 AND 80000), I HAVE HAD OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS RUN ON THE VEHICLE, BOTH WERE RETURNED AS NORMAL, AND THAT THE AMOUNT OF OIL CONSUMED BY THE ENGINE WAS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE DESIGN. ON 24 MAY 2019, I TURNED THE VEHICLE IN TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN HAWAII FOR SERVICING (HAVE USED THIS LOCATION IN THE PAST), AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE OIL IS LEAKING INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM INSIDE THE ENGINE, AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE PULLED AND THE UPPER OIL PAN SEALS AND HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS ISSUE COULD GO UNDIAGNOSED FOR THE ENTIRETY THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT SUBARU DEALERSHIPS, THROUGH TWO OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS, AND JUST NOW THE ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE AMOUNT OF OIL MISSING FROM THE PAN MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN "CONSUMED" AS THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN MADE A POINT TO STATE, BUT I WOULD SAY A PRETTY GOOD INDICATOR OF AN ISSUE WITH THE OIL SYSTEM, IS THE SYSTEM LOSING OIL. ALSO, AFTER A CURSORY SEARCH OF INTERNET FORUMS, THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON TREND AMONG SUBARU FORESTERS, AND THE SYMPTOMS WERE COVERED IN A SIMILAR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB NO. 02-157-14R), WHICH INCLUDES MY YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL, BUT DIFFERS IN THAT IT ONLY COVERS THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS, NOT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE CVT.

NHTSA ODI #11210512

53,000 miles · May 24, 2019
Suspension

COIL SPRING OF REAR STRUT BROKE, ONLY 53K MILES AND NOT TAKEN OFFROAD. CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND IT JUST "POPPED" AND I FOUND A PIECE OF THE COIL ON THE GROUND. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE FOR 2014 AND 2015 FORESTERS AND THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF IT SNAPS WHILE TURNING. SUBARU NEEDS TO CORRECT TH…

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COIL SPRING OF REAR STRUT BROKE, ONLY 53K MILES AND NOT TAKEN OFFROAD. CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND IT JUST "POPPED" AND I FOUND A PIECE OF THE COIL ON THE GROUND. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE FOR 2014 AND 2015 FORESTERS AND THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF IT SNAPS WHILE TURNING. SUBARU NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T61866_DS789686

NHTSA ODI #11209604

39,500 miles · May 22, 2019
Engine

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE DIED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH AT THE TIME. I HAD TO COAST TO STOP ON THE INSIDE MEDIAN DURING VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON APRIL 19, 2019. THE CAR WOULD NOT START SO IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE: SEPT.…

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WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE DIED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH AT THE TIME. I HAD TO COAST TO STOP ON THE INSIDE MEDIAN DURING VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON APRIL 19, 2019. THE CAR WOULD NOT START SO IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE: SEPT. 17, 2016 AND OCT. 9, 2016. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED: COMPLAINT NUMBER: 10919048

NHTSA ODI #11209186

61,000 miles · May 20, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY (VEHICLE IN MOTION) AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. HAPPENED TWICE IN 24 HOURS. BOTH TIMES, VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, FORCING THE DRIVER TO PULL OVER (VEHICLE STATIONARY). VEHICLE THEN RESPONDS NORMALLY WH…

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WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY (VEHICLE IN MOTION) AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. HAPPENED TWICE IN 24 HOURS. BOTH TIMES, VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, FORCING THE DRIVER TO PULL OVER (VEHICLE STATIONARY). VEHICLE THEN RESPONDS NORMALLY WHEN RESUMING DRIVING AFTER PULLING OVER FOR 3-5 SECONDS.

NHTSA ODI #11208677

50,199 miles · May 17, 2019
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

TAKARA RECALL WUE-90 SAFETY ISSUE WITH GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU HAS UNREASONABLE TWO WEEK WAIT TIME TO REPLACE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURE AND RENDERING CONSUMER AT UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK OR UNUSABLE CAR. CAR LOCKS IN PARK OR ABS LIGHTS AND HILL START ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS DURING DRIVING UNPREDICTABLY. CAR WAS SERVICED FOR EXACT …

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TAKARA RECALL WUE-90 SAFETY ISSUE WITH GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU HAS UNREASONABLE TWO WEEK WAIT TIME TO REPLACE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURE AND RENDERING CONSUMER AT UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK OR UNUSABLE CAR. CAR LOCKS IN PARK OR ABS LIGHTS AND HILL START ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS DURING DRIVING UNPREDICTABLY. CAR WAS SERVICED FOR EXACT SAME SAFETY ISSUE PREVIOUSLY (7/22/2016 : SERVICE DEPT STATED "FOUND BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAULTY AND NOT WORKING") AND GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU'S FAILED TO REPAIR DEFECT SUCCUSSFULLY. GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU DISREGARDS DRIVER SAFETY AGAIN BY FAILING TO SERVICE SAME DEFECT IN A TIMELY MANNER, IN REGARDS TO CUSTOMER SAFETY COMPLAINTS AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSUMER PROTECTION SAFETY REGULATIONS AND LAWS.

NHTSA ODI #11208168

55,000 miles · May 16, 2019
Electrical System

THE HORN ON MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER FAILED TO FUNCTION AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. I DO NOT KNOW SPECIFICS ABOUT THE HORN FAILURE AS I DON'T ROUTINELY USE IT. APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS AFTER I LEARNED ABOUT THE HORN, THE RADIO, CLOCK, AND DOOR LOCK REMOTE FEATURE ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTM…

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THE HORN ON MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER FAILED TO FUNCTION AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. I DO NOT KNOW SPECIFICS ABOUT THE HORN FAILURE AS I DON'T ROUTINELY USE IT. APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS AFTER I LEARNED ABOUT THE HORN, THE RADIO, CLOCK, AND DOOR LOCK REMOTE FEATURE ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THE HORN PROBLEM AS A FAULTY STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR (SRC) AND REPLACED THE CONNECTOR. THE HORN NOW FUNCTIONS. THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT A MISPLACED FUSE (#8 - BACKUP) CAUSED FAILURE OF THE OTHER SYSTEMS. THEY IMPLIED THAT I HAD MISPLACED THE FUSE - I DID NOT - I CHECKED ONLY THE HORN AND RADIO FUSES. NO ONE ELSE HAS ACCESS TO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE LEARNED THAT SUBARU RECALLED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER MODELS OF THEIR VEHICLES IN 2010 DUE TO FAULTY SRCS. SUSPICIOUSLY, THE SYMPTOMS THEY BLAMED ON MY SUPPOSEDLY MISPLACED FUSE COINCIDE WITH SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAULTY SRCS IN THE 2010 RECALL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: A CAR HORN IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SAFETY COMPONENT AND SHOULD NOT BE PRONE TO FAILURE DUE TO A FAULTY CONNECTOR WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. SUBARU SERVICE STATED THEY RARELY ENCOUNTER SRC FAILURE, YET JUST 4 YEARS BEFORE MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, THEIR SRCS WERE RECALLED BY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS. SECONDLY, BLAMING ME FOR FAILURE OF OTHER SYSTEMS THAT ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL (RADIO VOLUME AND TUNING) OR HORN (HORN BEEPS IF YOU PUSH THE LOCK REMOTE 3 TIMES) APPEARS (IN MY OPINION) LIKE AN ATTEMPT TO COVER UP A PROBLEM WITH THE SRC THAT INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST THE HORN - WHICH IS ALREADY ENOUGH TO CAUSE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES IN ITSELF. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILE THIS SAFETY COMPLAINT - I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE IF SUBARU SRCS ARE STILL CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11208096

25,594 miles · May 16, 2019
Suspension

FAILED STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AT 25,594 MILES DUE TO TWO BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS.TOTAL COST TO REPLACE: $560.94 PLUS TAX.

NHTSA ODI #11207979

10,000 miles · May 15, 2019
Suspension

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR SPRINGS AND STRUTS BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11207815

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