2015 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 614 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 53 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 34 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationOct 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 19V701000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 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.
Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
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.
Campaign 19V149000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, gasoline, turbo/superchargerMar 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.
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V162000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
135 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Jan 18, 2016
I'VE NOTICED I RUN EXTREMELY LOW ON OIL AT ABOUT 1,500 MILES BEFORE MY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. I'VE BEEN ADDING A QUART AT EVERY 5,000 AS TO NOT RUN DRY AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE. I MOSTLY DRIVE HIGHWAY MILES AND STARTING HAVING THIS ISSUE AT 30,000 MILES.
Engine, Dec 5, 2015
THE CURRENT MILEAGE OF MY CAR IS 45,751. I FAITHFULLY FOLLOW ALL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, PARTICULARLY, OIL CHANGES. ON TWO OCCASIONS NOW, MY OIL LIGHT HAS COME ON, THE LAST ONE 2,000 MILES BEFORE THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP SERVICE GUY ABOUT THIS, HE SAID, WELL, I NEED TO HAVE OIL CHANGES AT 5,000K INSTEAD OF THE RECOMMENDED 6000K. HE SAID 6000K IS FOR IDEAL DRIVING CONDITION - TEMPERATURE SHOULD NOT BELOW 30 DEGREES, NO STOPPING HERE AND THERE, NO IDLING, ETC. SYNTHETIC OIL IS EXPENSIVE ENOUGH AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT NEED TO BE PAYING SOMEONE TO TOP IT OFF EVERY TIME. AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE CAUGHT WITH THIS PROBLEM WHILE I'M TRAVELLING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND AT THIS MILEAGE, I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. FYI, THE MILEAGE OF THIS CAR IS MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES. FROM READING ONLINE, I LEARNED THAT OTHER FORESTER OWNERS ARE HAVING PROBLEM WITH OIL BURNING AS WELL. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SUBARU NEEDS TO REMEDY THIS. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE TO THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
Engine, Oct 3, 2015
AROUND 14000, ENGINE OIL LIGHT WAS ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SUBARU DEALER. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID IT WAS BECAUSE APPOX. ONE QUART OIL LEFT. HE SAID HE WILL DO THE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST FOR ME. THE TECHNICIAN FILLED THE ENGINE OIL IN NORMAL LEVEL. AFTER APPOX. 1000 MILES, I BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER FO MEASURING ENGINE OIL LEVEL.THEY FOUND ONE QUART OIL BURNOUT. THE ADVISOR SAID IT WAS NORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION UNDER THE RULE. OK, I DROVE AROUND ANOTHER 1500 MILES. THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK FOR ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND CHECK THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT. GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM THE ADVISOR." NORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION" I ASKED THE ADVISOR THAT MY CAR FILLS 4 QUARTS OIL FOR EACH OIL CHANGE, AND SUBARU RECOMMEND 6000 MILES TO CHANGE OIL. BUT MY CAR WILL BURN OUT THE WHOLE 4 QUARTS OF ENGINE OILS. THE ANSWER IS "YES". I NEED TO KEEP CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE AND NEED TO KEEP ADDING THE CHANGE OILS BEFORE EACH OIL CHANGE. IT IS BECAUSE THE OIL CONSUMPTION MET THE RULE. MY CAR WAS 2015 MODEL AND 17000 MILES NOW, AND I ONLY DROVE 14 MONTHS. I ASKED THE ADVISOR WHAT KIND OF THE RULE, THEN HE SAID IT WAS HARD TO EXPLAIN. ??? IS IT TRUE??? IF THE RULE IS TRUE, HOW COME I CAN'T SEE ANY INFO IN OWNER MANUAL. NOW, I AM WORRY ABOUT THE SITUATION WILL GET MORE WORST AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED.
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 24, 2015
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY 2015 FORRESTER.2.5I. INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER OF 4 SECONDS DURATION. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES IS NORMAL AND NOTHING IS NOTED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC HISTORY IN THE CAR. FELT DRIVING THIS WAS UNSAFE AND TOOK A LOSS AND TRADED IT IN FOR A 2015 CRV HONDA. I FEEL THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THIS, YOU NEED TO CHECK INTO THIS OR /AND DO A RECALL OR WHATEVER IS NECESSARY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS WEBSITE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 21, 2015
I'M HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2015 FORESTER 2.5I CVT THAT HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE TODAY I WAS DISMISSED WITHOUT BEING HELPED. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 24,700 MILES ON IT, SO IT'S THOROUGHLY BROKEN IN AND I'M USED TO THE WAY THE CVT WORKS. IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO, I'VE NOTICED BUCKING, SHUDDERING, AND POWER LOSS DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. SOMETIMES THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BUMPING, BUT OTHER TIMES IT'S A NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, LONG ENOUGH TO BE VERY DANGEROUS WHILE ACCELERATING OR ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, THE ADVISOR THERE STARTED TO TELL ME THAT THE BEHAVIOR IS NORMAL EVEN BEFORE ANYONE HAD STARTED TO LOOK AT THE CAR. AFTER A TECH TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, THE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT MY CONCERNS "DESCRIBE A PERFECT CVT" AND HE DOESN'T SEE A PROBLEM, AND THAT IT'S EXPECTED BEHAVIOR TO HAVE DANGEROUS POWER LOSS LIKE THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY PROBLEM IS NOT A PROBLEM AND SENT AWAY. POWER LOSS LIKE THIS DURING ACCELERATION IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM, DESPITE THE CLAIMS OF THE SUBARU EMPLOYEES, AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR. SUBARU REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SUGGESTED THAT I AVOID ACCELERATING OR TURNING ANY TIME POWER LOSS WOULD BE A DANGER OR ISSUE - THIS IS CLEARLY NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION.
Engine, Aug 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BURNED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE BURNED A QUARTER OF OIL EVERY 2,500 TO 3,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
Engine, Jun 11, 2015
I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT NORMAL RATE OF SPEED ON CITY STREET WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A SENSATION/SOUND OF GRAVEL AND THEN I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE CAR DIED AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE LIGHTS AND SENSORS WERE ALL FUNCTIONING, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD OIL CHANGE DONE AT 6000 MILES WITH SYNTHETIC OIL AS RECOMMENDED. DEALER SAYS ENGINE IS BLOWN. HAD NO WARNING PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING -- JUST STOPPED WORKING. UNACCEPTABLE FOR BRAND NEW CAR. *TR
Power train, Engine, May 12, 2015
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 TRANSMISSION. OTHER OWNERS , THAT I KNOW, HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE ALSO. FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE OUTBACK SAY ITS LESS PRONOUNCED. AS YOU MIGHT GUESS>> I HAVE A BUNCH OF SUBIE FANS !!! THIS IS MY 2ND SUBARU , AND WHILE I AM HAPPY WITH IT, I STILL CAN'T GET MY DEALER TO DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY SAY " ITS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST ! " I'M HOPING THERE WILL BE A SERVICE BULLETIN TO FIX THIS ANNOYING PROBLEM.
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Mar 12, 2015
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 CAR NEVER GOES OVER 45 DEGREES WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. IF THE TEMP IS OVER 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE, THE INSIDE WILL WARM UP TO ABOUT 55 DEGREES AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT REMOVE ACCUMULATED ICE OFF THE FRONT WINDOW DURING THE COLD TEMPS. I HAVE TO STOP ON THE ROAD, SCRAPE THE WINDSHIELD AFTER A FEW MILES AND THEN DO THAT REPEATEDLY DURING THE 45 MINUTE DRIVE EACH DAY. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN YOU ARE TOO COLD TO DRIVE, EVEN WITH GLOVES, AND YOUR FINGERS ARE NUMB AND YOUR BODY IS SHAKING FROM THE COLD. THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. MAYBE AN INCORRECT THERMOSTAT, OR SOMETHING. BUT, SUBARU SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 30, 2015
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 NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.