NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
613 reports10,067 miles · Aug 23, 2016
Engine
WHILE DRIVING 75-80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE LANES ( I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE WHEN I LOST POWER) AND PULL OVER. ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON (CHECK ENGINE, AT OIL TEMP, BATTERY,ECT) AND WHAT I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, IT STALLED. EVERY TIME I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, IT …
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WHILE DRIVING 75-80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE LANES ( I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE WHEN I LOST POWER) AND PULL OVER. ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON (CHECK ENGINE, AT OIL TEMP, BATTERY,ECT) AND WHAT I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, IT STALLED. EVERY TIME I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, IT WOULD STALL. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE SAME THING HAPPENED EXCEPT WITHOUT THE LIGHTS AND STALLING. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT I PROBABLY WAS HITTING THE GAS AND BREAK AT THE SAME TIME. I DRIVE WITH ONE FOOT, ALWAYS HAVE.
NHTSA ODI #10898057
40,172 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Suspension
DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING WEARING OUT PREMATURELY POOR DESIGN.
NHTSA ODI #10897197
5,000 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MISFIRED AND HESITATED. IN ADDITION, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. AFTER CONSULTING WITH A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM TO THE TURBO CHARGED ENGINE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MISFIRED AND HESITATED. IN ADDITION, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. AFTER CONSULTING WITH A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM TO THE TURBO CHARGED ENGINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
NHTSA ODI #10897051
44,000 miles · Aug 17, 2016
Electrical SystemService Brakes
OUR 2015 SUBARU FOREST WILL RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING HAVE ALL OF IT WARNING LIGHTS COME ONE. EYESIGHT, HILL ASSIST, ABS, LANE DEPARTURE, ECT. IF YOU STOP AND PUT IT IN PARK THEN IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK UNLESS OVER RIDDEN. I CALLED IN TO SUBARU AND THEY SAID "2015 SUBARU FORESTER RIGHT? IT PROBABLY HAS A BAD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH…
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OUR 2015 SUBARU FOREST WILL RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING HAVE ALL OF IT WARNING LIGHTS COME ONE. EYESIGHT, HILL ASSIST, ABS, LANE DEPARTURE, ECT. IF YOU STOP AND PUT IT IN PARK THEN IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK UNLESS OVER RIDDEN. I CALLED IN TO SUBARU AND THEY SAID "2015 SUBARU FORESTER RIGHT? IT PROBABLY HAS A BAD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH OR BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR, WHICH MEANS YOUR BRAKES WILL NOT LIGHT UP WHILE DRIVING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE TO SUBARU AS I HAVE SEEN MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE ON SUBARU BOARDS. I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY 170 DOLLARS JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE WHEN THEY CLEARLY KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARD, IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO LIGHT UP WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT, I OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE MY BRAKING.
NHTSA ODI #10896525
18,000 miles · Aug 10, 2016
EnginePower Train
VEHICLE SURGES WHEN TRYING TO LIGHTLY ACCELERATE IN HOT WEATHER. RPMS BEGIN TO DROP, CAR BUCKS BACK AND FORTH UNTIL MORE THROTTLE IS GIVEN, THEN CAR LURCHES FORWARD. THERE SEEM TO BE TSBS OUT TO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE, BUT THEY FEEL LIKE A BANDAID REPAIR AND JUST MASK IT. NOW INSTEAD OF BUCKING BACK AND FORTH, THE VEHICLE JUST ACCE…
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VEHICLE SURGES WHEN TRYING TO LIGHTLY ACCELERATE IN HOT WEATHER. RPMS BEGIN TO DROP, CAR BUCKS BACK AND FORTH UNTIL MORE THROTTLE IS GIVEN, THEN CAR LURCHES FORWARD. THERE SEEM TO BE TSBS OUT TO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE, BUT THEY FEEL LIKE A BANDAID REPAIR AND JUST MASK IT. NOW INSTEAD OF BUCKING BACK AND FORTH, THE VEHICLE JUST ACCELERATES VERY LIGHTLY. THROTTLE IS VERY UNRESPONSIVE. THE INCONSISTENT THROTTLE RESPONSE CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE VEHICLE CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE WHEN ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A POTENTIAL HAZARD (ACCELERATING TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE, ACCELERATING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, ETC.).
NHTSA ODI #10894948
20,000 miles · Aug 8, 2016
Visibility/wiper
WINDSHIELD PROBLEM ON NEW VEHICLE. WITHIN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON 3 (THREE) SEPARATE OCCASSIONS TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO BE REPLACED WITH SUBARU GENUINE GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE DAMAGE OCCURRED. THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO UNKNOWN ROAD DEBRIS (GRAVEL/ROCK), BUT…
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WINDSHIELD PROBLEM ON NEW VEHICLE. WITHIN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON 3 (THREE) SEPARATE OCCASSIONS TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO BE REPLACED WITH SUBARU GENUINE GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE DAMAGE OCCURRED. THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO UNKNOWN ROAD DEBRIS (GRAVEL/ROCK), BUT INSTEAD OF DINGS IN THE WINDSHIELD, THE GLASS AUTOMATICALLY CRACKED AND RESULTED IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ON ALL 3 OCCASIONS WITH SUBARU GENUINE GLASS. IS THERE A WINDSHIELD DESIGN FLAW ON THE SUBARU FORESTER LIMITED? IT THE DESIGN FLAW AND WINDSHIELD BREAKAGE DUE TO THE HEATING ELEMENT? WHAT IS CAUSING THE WEAKNESS IN THE WINDSHIELD OF THE 2015 SUBARU FORESTER LIMITED? WINDSHIELD BREAKAGE INCIDENTS: 1. JUNE 2015 - IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY @60 MILES 2. 12/28/2015 - IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY @60 MILES 3. 04/28/2016 - IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY @60 MILES
NHTSA ODI #10894174
15,000 miles · Jul 30, 2016
EnginePower TrainService Brakes
OUR 2015 FORESTER TURBO HAS 15,00 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES NOW ASKING THEM TO FIND OUT WHY IT IS LOOSING POWER IN TIMES OF NEED. THE DEALERS FROM 2 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS HAVE SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IT BACK THIS WEEK, IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 M…
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OUR 2015 FORESTER TURBO HAS 15,00 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES NOW ASKING THEM TO FIND OUT WHY IT IS LOOSING POWER IN TIMES OF NEED. THE DEALERS FROM 2 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS HAVE SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IT BACK THIS WEEK, IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT SHUTS OFF, CARS TRAVELING ALONG SIDE AND BEHIND HAD TO SKID THE BRAKES TO STOP. THIS HAS BECOME A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR. IT LOOSES POWER IN TURNS AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA ODI #10891818
2,000 miles · Jul 16, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, WHEN AT INTERSECTIONS, CAR HESITATES AND STUMBLES ON ACCELERATION WHEN REQUIRING INSTANT ACCELERATION TO AVOID COLLISION WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. I REPORTED THIS AT THE FIRST OIL CHANGE, THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AND DOES IT INTERMITTENTLY, AND ALSO REPORTED IT TO SUBARU DEALERS AT MY SECO…
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SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, WHEN AT INTERSECTIONS, CAR HESITATES AND STUMBLES ON ACCELERATION WHEN REQUIRING INSTANT ACCELERATION TO AVOID COLLISION WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. I REPORTED THIS AT THE FIRST OIL CHANGE, THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AND DOES IT INTERMITTENTLY, AND ALSO REPORTED IT TO SUBARU DEALERS AT MY SECOND AND THIRD OIL CHANGES, AND LEFT CAR FOR 3 DAYS BUT DEALER CANT DUPLICATE. IT SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME NOT KNOWING IF CAR WILL RESPOND OR NOT AND GETTING HIT FOR CUTTING IN FRON OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. SUBARU OF AMERICA BELIEVES THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM BUT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND REFUSE TO BUY BACK CAR. I DRIVE DEFENSIVELY UNTIL I CAN GET RID OF VEHICLE DUE TO THIS SAFETY PROBLEM, CAR ITSELF DOES FINE BUT THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM IS TOO DANGEROUS TO KEEP VEHICLE FOR ME OR ANYONE THAT WOULD BUY IT IF TRADED IN WITHOUT BEING INFORMED OF PAST HISTORY. I LIKE SUBARU BUT FAILURE TO BUY BACK CAR IS PUTTING OTHER DRIVERS AT RISK, AND WHY WOULD A DEALER WANT TO TAKE MY CAR IN TRADE WITH THIS HISTORY SINCE AUGUST OF 2014. SUBARU NEEDS TO BUY BACK THIS CAR OR RISK LIABILITY OR NEGLIGENCE ON SUBARU OF AMERICA AND ITS DEALERS. JUST BUY BACK THE CAR AND GET IT OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS THE SECOND REPORT BECAUSE I DID NOT PUT THE FULL VIN NUMBER PREVIOUSLY WHICH WAS FH403648
NHTSA ODI #10885259
15,444 miles · Jul 1, 2016
Power Train
CAR WAS IN PARK. LEFT RUNNING TO COME BACK & GET SOMETHING IN HOUSE. WHEN WENT BACK TO CAR, OPENED DOOR & VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. BY TIME I WAS ABLE GET IN, THE CAR ROLLED IN DITCH & DAMAGED DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF 3 MINUTES TOPS. BOTTOM OF DRIVER'S DOOR WAS FOULED IN ON SIDE OF BANK.
NHTSA ODI #10882046
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2016
Engine
THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP ON 12/05/15 (NHSTSA ID 10808561) - PROBLEM ON CHECK ENGINE OIL AROUND 1,500 MILES BEFORE THE NEXT SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. REPORTED TO SUBARU AND DID AN OIL CONSUMPTION STUDY, BASICALLY BRINGING THE CAR TO A SUBARU DEALER AT 1,200 MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. ASKED THE TECHNICIAN AT DEALER WHAT THEY DID. I WAS TOL…
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THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP ON 12/05/15 (NHSTSA ID 10808561) - PROBLEM ON CHECK ENGINE OIL AROUND 1,500 MILES BEFORE THE NEXT SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. REPORTED TO SUBARU AND DID AN OIL CONSUMPTION STUDY, BASICALLY BRINGING THE CAR TO A SUBARU DEALER AT 1,200 MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. ASKED THE TECHNICIAN AT DEALER WHAT THEY DID. I WAS TOLD THEY JUST LOOKED AT THE OIL DIP STICK LEVEL - HOW VERY SCIENTIFIC. SO, HE SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK AND THAT WAS IT. SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN PUTTING A QUART OF OIL AROUND 1,300 MILES BEFORE MY NEXT OIL CHANGE. MILEAGE OF MY CAR IS NOW OVER 58,000 MILES. I AM CONCERNED THAT AT 60,000 MILES, THE WARRANTY WILL BE OVER AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AS THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES. SUBARU STILL CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. PREVIOUS CARS I OWNED NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHY IS SUBARU NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT?
NHTSA ODI #10877056
Official recalls
3Oct 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.
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.
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 ↗