UsedScore

2015 Subaru Forester: Use caution

Owners filed 294 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Forester in its first five years on the road, about 172 for every 100,000 sold: 1.8× the rate of a typical Forester year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (25% of complaints, median 29,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.8×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Forester year
Rank
11th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
294
first five years; 172 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
3
campaigns
4th generation, 2014–2018 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i (U.S.-spec, photographed in the Netherlands)

Photo: 2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i (U.S.-spec, photographed in the Netherlands) · Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Engine25% · 74 complaints · median 29,000 miles
  2. Speed control15% · 43 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  3. Air bags9% · 25 complaints · median 33,000 miles
  4. Powertrain14% · 40 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  5. Brakes11% · 33 complaints · median 27,000 miles
  6. Electrical15% · 43 complaints · median 30,000 miles
  7. Fuel and propulsion10% · 29 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  8. Body and structure4% · 12 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  9. Suspension12% · 36 complaints · median 45,000 miles
  10. Steering2% · 7 complaints · median 38,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Many owners of this Forester report the front passenger air bag warning light coming on, meaning the system decided no one was in the seat even when someone was, and a few describe crashes where air bags never deployed. Dealers frequently point to a sensor or seat-bottom part needing replacement, and numerous owners say a related recall didn't cover their vehicle.

Warning signs:
Owners report a "Passenger Air Bag Off" or "SRS Airbag" warning light, sometimes with a seatbelt chime, occurring intermittently while driving or parked.
What shops did:
Dealers often diagnosed a faulty occupant detection sensor mat or harness and recommended replacing the passenger seat bottom, sometimes citing back-ordered parts, though many owners say their VIN was excluded from the related recall and they were asked to pay out of pocket.
Mileage:
most between 35,000 and 90,000 miles, among 41 complaints that give it

“Front passenger airbag system turned off. Doesn't recognize a passenger sitting in the seat therefore the seat belt reminder does not chime”

Engine

Owners of this Forester report the engine unexpectedly losing power or stalling, sometimes at highway speed, along with cases of high oil consumption. Many say dealers struggled to reproduce or fix the problem, leaving them uncertain the issue was resolved.

Warning signs:
Many report dashboard warning lights illuminating, hesitation or bucking during acceleration, engine revving without power, or rough idling before stalling or losing power.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently could not duplicate or diagnose the failure; some replaced batteries, throttle bodies, ECMs, oil pan seals, or performed oil consumption tests or engine replacements.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 75,000 miles, among 104 complaints that give it

“It felt like it downshifted and then completely stopped - almost as if we ran out of gas”

“Rpms begin to drop, car bucks back and forth until more throttle is given, then car lurches forward”

Speed control

Owners describe their Forester suddenly lunging forward while parking or unexpectedly losing power and stalling at highway speed, sometimes with no warning at all. Many say dealers could not find a cause or replicate the issue, leaving them uncertain the problem was fixed.

Warning signs:
Some owners report warning lights (check engine, ABS, EyeSight, traction/cruise control) illuminating, engine revving high, or hesitation/bucking before the failure, though many say no warning occurred.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate or diagnose the problem; some replaced accelerator pedals, throttle body or brake sensors, or reprogrammed the transmission with limited success.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 70,000 miles, among 58 complaints that give it

“The vehicle independently lunged forward without warning. On another occasion, while the vehicle was in the park position, it continued to rev.”

“The car lost all power. The rpms went up like it was in neutral (car was still in drive).”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (3)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 19V701000October 2019366,282 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

    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.

    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 the event of a crash.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V149000February 20191,303,530 vehicles

    Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

    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.

    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.

    Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 16V162000March 201618,187 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger

    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.

    Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: 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.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Subaru sent NHTSA 497 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2015 Forester. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 02-193-24R · June 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g.
  • 15-300-22R · January 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
  • 09-74-21R · December 2025This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g.
  • 18-226-25R · December 2025This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
  • 07-235-25 · September 2025In the interest of customer satisfaction Subaru of America, Inc.
  • Subaru Service Technical · August 2025Subaru Service Technical Support Newsletter special edition.
  • 02-192-24R · April 2025This Bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines.
  • 09-51-08R · March 2025The purpose of this bulletin is to advise of SOA’s revised Catalytic Converter Recycling Program shipping procedure.

All 2015 Forester bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2015 Subaru Forester reliable?
Owners filed 294 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Forester in its first five years on the road, about 172 for every 100,000 sold: 1.8× the rate of a typical Forester year. That's above average, so use caution. Ratings compare Forester years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2015 Forester problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (25%), speed control (15%) and the air bags (9%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2015 Subaru Forester been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2015 Subaru Forester, the most recent in October 2019 (air bags). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. The 2015 Subaru Forester on NHTSA.gov · How we rate