repaired · 2021 Q2
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. 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…
2015 Subaru ForesterProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 617 owner complaints about the 2015 Subaru Forester, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-149 the manufacturer reports only 76% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: EurovisionNim, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2015 Subaru Forester has problems
617 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
131Engine13 crash/fire/injury
102Air bags17 crash/fire/injury
95Power train6 crash/fire/injury
84Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
70Vehicle speed control26 crash/fire/injury
66Suspension
56Fuel/propulsion system4 crash/fire/injury
34Service brakes
23Visibility/wiper
15320 other systems23 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 131 | 13 |
| Air bags | 102 | 17 |
| Power train | 95 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 84 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 70 | 26 |
| Suspension | 66 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 56 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 34 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 23 | 0 |
| 20 other systems | 153 | 23 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2015 Subaru Forester recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Brake lights: switch
Risk. Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Gasoline: turbo/supercharger
Risk. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
46kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 100 engine complaints. 90% were reported before 100,000 miles.
33under 30k miles90under 100k miles10100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
14 owners mentioned a cost$1,200median
Middle half: $992 – $1,500
Suspension
8 owners mentioned a cost$750median
Middle half: $558 – $1,019
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2015 vs. every other Forester year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Forester median. How we score
'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2015 Subaru Forester safety ratings
2015 Subaru Forester SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Forester owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I was parking at the dentist office in their parking lot going slow, turned into a parking space and thought i was slowly braking but my car lunged forward and hit a tree. I would normally be minimally braking, so I'm not sure what happened but it was sudden. I could have hit the gas pedal but i…
I was pulling into a parking spot almost stopped when the vehicle suddenly surged forward. I slammed on the brake and put the car in reverse since it had driven upon the walkway. This happened earlier today and I plan to have it checked out as soon as possible. Never have had this problem before,…
This has now happened twice to my daughter, both times on the highway. One time the car shut down completely and the 2nd time the car just started slowing while pressing the gas and coasted to a stop. Luckily she was able to avoid other cars and get to the shoulder. The car restarted both…
Own a 2015 Forester?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.