2015 Subaru Forester Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2015 Subaru Forester. Part of Generation 4 — 2014–2018.

20142016
Complaints
884
Crashes
89
Fires
12
Injuries
51
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2015 Subaru Forester Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1129 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:51,483 mi
Crash-related:9
Fires:3
#298 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:58,337 mi
Crash-related:17
#392 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:51,599 mi
Crash-related:6
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2015 Subaru Forester.

Engine Problems
129
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
3
Avg Miles
51,483
Airbags
98
complaints
Crashes
17
Fires
Avg Miles
58,337
Transmission / Drivetrain
92
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
51,599
Electrical Faults
78
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
37,153
Unintended Acceleration
66
complaints
Crashes
23
Fires
Avg Miles
41,657
Suspension Failures
62
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
55,633
Fuel System
55
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
49,597
Brakes
34
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
38,122
Wipers & Visibility
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
32,273
Seat-Related Issues
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
55,368
Wheel Issues
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
54,332
Steering Defects
18
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
41,793
Body Structure
17
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
2
Avg Miles
33,921
Headlight/Taillight Failures
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
32,890
Electronic Stability Control
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
43,897
Seat Belt Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,326
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
79,750
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
5
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
45,800
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Horn
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Rear
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Camera System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2015 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2015 Subaru Forester

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,687,999 vehicles.

19V701000Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
~366,282 affected

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.

19V149000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
~1,303,530 affected

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.

16V162000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
~18,187 affected

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.

Other Subaru Forester Years

2015 Subaru Forester — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2015 Subaru Forester reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2015 Subaru Forester has 884 NHTSA complaints, 89 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 129 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2015 Subaru Forester?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (129 complaints, avg 51,483 mi); Airbags (98 complaints, avg 58,337 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (92 complaints, avg 51,599 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2015 Subaru Forester?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 48,427 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2015 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA complaints for the 2015 Subaru Forester include 89 crash-related reports, 12 fire reports, 51 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2015 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,687,999 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2015 Subaru Forester?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2015 Subaru Forester shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Subaru Forester reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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