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: suspension
66 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Wheels, Service brakes, Jun 24, 2019
THE CAR WAS WOBBLY AND WENT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY FOUND ONE REAR STRUT THE TECHNICIAN TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND THE OTHER ONE BROKE ON HIM. IT COSTS ME $1390 TO FIX IT AND I DROVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT STILL WOBBLY. SUBARU DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY SUBARU WHEN THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS. THIS CAR ALSO HAD ROTORS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE ARM CONTROL, WHEEL BEARINGS ALL UNDER 60,000. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, I COULD GET KILLED OR HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND SUBARU DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. *JS
Suspension, Jun 21, 2019
BROKEN LEFT REAR COIL SPRING AT 52,600 MILES. DEALER STATED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL YEAR.
Suspension, Jun 10, 2019
BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN AT THE LOWER PERCH OF THE STRUT. CAR HAS 9533 MILES. SUBARU REPLACED BOTH SPRINGS FOR NO COST BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. OWNER DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEM UNTIL CAR WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR BRAKE LAMP SWITCH RECALL. THE DEALER KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEFORE IT WENT ON THE LIFT.
Suspension, Jun 9, 2019
CAR WAS NOT MOVING AND SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I NOTICED THE LEFT REAR BODY FRAME LOW, ALMOST TOUCHING THE TIRE. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND FOUND BROKEN SPRING PIECES, THAT WAS TOTALLY RUSTED INSIDE OUT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 4 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 38K MILES. I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT DRIVING THE WHEN THIS FAILURE HAPPEN OR IT COULD OF LEAD TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I ALSO FOUND OUT THOUGH THE INTERNET THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME PROBLEM SUBARU IS HAVING WITH THESE SPRINGS BREAKING. I BELIEVE IT'S A MANUFACTURED MATERIAL DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOME ONE GETS INJURED! ALSO THE COST SHOULD BE BE HANDLED BY SUBARU..
Suspension, Jun 3, 2019
ON MAY 15, 2019 I APPROACHED MY FORESTER IN THE PARKING GARAGE AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION WAS LOW (I AM NOT SURE IF THE LEFT SUSPENSION BROKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY OF IF THE VEHICLE WAS STATIC). AS I DROVE DOWN THE RAMPS IN THE PARKING GARAGE, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. I STOPPED, INSPECTED THE REAR SUSPENSION AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RIGHT SIDE WAS NOW AS LOW AS THE LEFT. IT APPEARED THAT BOTH REAR SUSPENSIONS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM (RIGHT SUSPENSION FAILED AS THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING A LOW SPEED). I DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF AT A MULLER SUBARU IN HIGHLAND PARK, IL ON MAY 17. I REQUESTED THAT THE PARTS REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE WERE MADE AVAILABLE FOR MY INSPECTION. ON MAY 30 I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK UP THE FORESTER AND WAS ABLE TO INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS. BOTH OF THEM WERE CORRODED TO THE CORE AT THE BOTTOM END. THE COATING ON THE SPRING WAS RIPPED (SEE PICTURES). THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T MENTION OF THE FRONT SPRINGS WERE INSPECTED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK THIS COULD BE A MODEL/YEAR PROBLEM, BAD QUALITY CONTROL AND/OR MATERIAL USED ON THE SUSPENSION SPRINGS, AND IT COULD BREAK AT ANYTIME, LOW OR HIGH SPEED DRIVING.
Suspension, May 24, 2019
COIL SPRING OF REAR STRUT BROKE, ONLY 53K MILES AND NOT TAKEN OFFROAD. CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND IT JUST "POPPED" AND I FOUND A PIECE OF THE COIL ON THE GROUND. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE FOR 2014 AND 2015 FORESTERS AND THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF IT SNAPS WHILE TURNING. SUBARU NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T61866_DS789686
Suspension, May 16, 2019
FAILED STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AT 25,594 MILES DUE TO TWO BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS.TOTAL COST TO REPLACE: $560.94 PLUS TAX.
Suspension, May 15, 2019
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR SPRINGS AND STRUTS BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Suspension, May 14, 2019
REAR PASSENGER COIL SPRING CRACKED. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 29800 MILES. NEVER OVER LOADED AND ONLY DRIVEN ON PAVED ROADS. MAY HAVE BEEN FACTORY DEFECT. TOLD BY DEALER WAS SAFETY RELATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM FOUND WHEN REAR BRAKES WERE BEING DONE.
Suspension, Mar 4, 2019
THE CV AXLE JOINT WENT BAD AT 90K. CLICKING NOISE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN ISSUE FOR DOWN THE ROAD. SUBARU CORP GAVE ME A $500 COUPON FOR THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE GOING BAD. APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS LATER, THAT AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO BOTH BACK WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER SIDE CV JOINT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING BAD AGAIN. ABOUT 60K LATER. WEAK PARTS. THIS IS A PROGRESSIVE ISSUE AND NOT A SUDDEN ONE.
Suspension, Feb 18, 2019
DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAVE WORN OUT TWICE WITH IN 24 MONTHS. ON ANY STREET OR HIGHHWAY WAS GETTING A KNOCKING NOISE. FIRST TIME MY PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS BAD. TOOK IT TO DEALER THEIR MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. FEW WEEKS LATER WENT BACK TO DEALER FOR SAME REASON. THEN THEY ADMITTED IT WAS BAD AND REPAIRED. NOW ON 2/18/19 I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WENT TO THE DEALER THEIR MECHANIC SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE . EVERYTHING NICE AND TIGHT. TOOK THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS STILL MAKING THE NOISE FOR STATE INSPECTION HE STATED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BAD . NOW I MUST GO BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO GET WARRANTY APPROVAL TO REPAIR. THIS IS CONSTANTLY MAKING ME DO EVERYTHING TWICE BECAUSE THE DEALER MECHANIC FAILS TI BE HONEST.
Suspension, Power train, Engine, Feb 10, 2019
EXCESSIVE OIL LOSS, 1 QT PER 3,000 MILES. STARTED AROUND 90,000 MILES. MILEAGE NOW 129,000 MILES. AT 129,000 MILES, MAJOR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ISSUE. FOUND OIL IN COOLANT. AT OIL TEMPERATURE LIGHT FLASHING. EVALUATING COST OF REPAIR THIS WEEK OF FEB 12 2019. AT 126,000 MILES, BOTH FRONT AXLES WERE REPLACED. HEARD CLICKING AT 125,000 MILES. AT 100,000 MILES, UPPER AND LOWER FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS REPLACED.
Suspension, Nov 7, 2018
RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. CAR HAS ONLY 43,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING, OFF-ROADING, AND NO ACCIDENTS.
Suspension, Oct 18, 2018
REAR COIL SPRING BROKE AFTER CAR HAD ONLY 20,800 MILES
Suspension, Aug 10, 2018
RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ONLY ONE SPRING.
Suspension, Aug 19, 2016
DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING WEARING OUT PREMATURELY POOR DESIGN.