2015 Subaru FORESTER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Subaru FORESTER has 889 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 11.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2015 subaru forester. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check oil warning light illuminated continuously. the failure recurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil needed to be changed. the vehicle was. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 68 crash reports 38 injuries

889

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

11.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

135 complaints

15%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS
• EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR, THE HEATER DOES NOT HEAT THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR VERY WELL. THE AIR BLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS IS WEAK AND COLD TO TEPID. EVEN AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR, IT IS STILL LUKEWARM. THIS IS FOR TEMPS BETWEEN 0 DEGREES AND 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THE TEMP INSIDE THE
• I HAVE A 2015 FORESTER PREMIUM WITH WINTER PACKAGE, I BOUGHT IT NEW WITH 10 MILES ON IT. WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A DEAD STOP. I STEP ON THE GAS AND THERE IS A DELAYED THROTTLE RESPONSE ( LIKE A HESITATION OR A SLOW SHIFT ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ) EITHER FROM THE COMPUTER MODULE OR TRANSMISSIO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 9 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

111 complaints

12%

• THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES WITH THE PASSENGER SITTING ON A THIN PILLOW. WHEN ARRIVING AT THE DESTINATION IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT IS VERY DIFFICULT IF EVEN POSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE SUNSHINE, SO IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN ILLUMINA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TREES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 17 crashes

“THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES WITH THE PASSENGER SITTING ON A THIN PILLOW. WHEN ARRIVING AT THE DESTINATION IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT IS VERY DIFFICULT IF EVEN POSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE SUNSHINE, SO IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN ILLUMINA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

94 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TREES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA
• I HAVE A 2015 FORESTER PREMIUM WITH WINTER PACKAGE, I BOUGHT IT NEW WITH 10 MILES ON IT. WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A DEAD STOP. I STEP ON THE GAS AND THERE IS A DELAYED THROTTLE RESPONSE ( LIKE A HESITATION OR A SLOW SHIFT ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ) EITHER FROM THE COMPUTER MODULE OR TRANSMISSIO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TREES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

82 complaints

• I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS. THEY PRAISE THIS CAR FOR RELIABILITY, SO THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS CAR. HOWEVER THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ARE SO SMALL YOU CAN'T READ THEM. ALSO, WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD TURN PINK
• WITHIN ONE HOUR OF GETTING THIS NEW VEHICLE, THE EYESIGHT WARNING AND BRAKING SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. THIS CONTINUES AFTER TWO DEALERS HAVE MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE SYSTEM. SUBARU HEADQUARTERS FORCED ME TO PAY FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD, BECAUSE THEY SAID I HAD PUT A NICK IN
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 03/30/15*LJ UPDATED 6/2

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS. THEY PRAISE THIS CAR FOR RELIABILITY, SO THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS CAR. HOWEVER THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ARE SO SMALL YOU CAN'T READ THEM. ALSO, WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD TURN PINK ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

75 complaints

• 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HER JACKET WITH A ZIPPER HAD A TENDENCY TO GET CAUGHT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SHE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE HER ARM, TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *JB
• THE BLUETOOTH DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MOST OF THE TIME IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. WHEN IT DOES IT KEEPS ON REPEATING ITSELF AND FREEZES THE SCREEN. THE ONLY WAY I CAN UN FREEZE THE SCREEN IS PULL THE CAR OVER AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN AND " I'LL JUST HAV
• I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM COLONIAL SUBARU IN DANBURY CT. ITS A 2015 SUBARU FORRESTER XT WITH ONLY 11 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS DISSATISFIED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON(S): I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JAN 2015 BUT THE EXHAUST ON THE VEHICLE HAS A LOT OF RUST BUILDING UP ON THE PIPE. I TOOK IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“2015 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HER JACKET WITH A ZIPPER HAD A TENDENCY TO GET CAUGHT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SHE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE HER ARM, TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *JB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 889 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES WITH THE PASSENGER SITTING ON A THIN PILLOW. WHEN ARRIVING AT THE DESTINATION IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT IS VERY DIFFICULT IF EVEN POSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE SUNSHINE, SO IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN ILLUMINA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TREES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS. THEY PRAISE THIS CAR FOR RELIABILITY, SO THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS CAR. HOWEVER THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ARE SO SMALL YOU CAN'T READ THEM. ALSO, WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD TURN PINK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)