U.S. public vehicle records

2015 Subaru FORESTER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

613 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

43,919 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 410 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 131 of 613 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	126	20.6%
Transmission and shifting	66	10.8%
Engine operation	49	8.0%
Electrical and battery issues	48	7.8%
Steering behavior	33	5.4%
Fuel system concerns	14	2.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine

131

Air Bags

101

Power Train

Electrical System

Unknown Or Other

Vehicle Speed Control

Suspension

Fuel/Propulsion System

Engine: 131; Air Bags: 101; Power Train: 94; Electrical System: 78; Unknown Or Other: 73; Vehicle Speed Control: 66; Suspension: 62; Fuel/Propulsion System: 55

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

127

25,000 to 49,999

101

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 127; 25,000 to 49,999: 101; 50,000 to 74,999: 97; 75,000 to 99,999: 51; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 5

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (127). 203 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

131

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2014: 7; 2015: 47; 2016: 45; 2017: 42; 2018: 53; 2019: 131; 2020: 81; 2021: 57; 2022: 49; 2023: 46; 2024: 22; 2025: 20; 2026: 13

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 126 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 66 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 49 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10630298 · 2014-09-03 (September 3, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630298 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10662955 · 2014-12-08 (December 8, 2014)

I WAS TURNING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT MY CONDO, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CAR STOP AND THE SIDEWALK AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT A WALL AND PALM TREE. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP. I KEPT THINKING "WHY ISN'T IT STOPPING". I KNOW I WAS GOING SLOW BECAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE A TURN TO GO INTO MY SPACE, AND AS MY NEIGHBORS SAID, I NEVER DRIVE FAST COMING INTO THE PARKING LOT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10662955 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10678454 · 2015-01-23 (January 23, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CERVICAL NERVE DAMAGE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10678454 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10716073 · 2015-05-12 (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…

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10716073 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10750259 · 2015-08-21 (August 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…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10750259 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10758786 · 2015-08-24 (August 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

Owner-reported narrative. 6,540 miles reported. Look up ODI 10758786 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10760335 · 2015-08-31 (August 31, 2015)

THIS IS NOT EXACTLY A SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT COULD BE A CRITICAL ISSUE. WE LEFT THE BRAND NEW SUBARU 1015 FORESTER FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE WE WERE ON VACATION. WHEN WE CAME BACK THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. AAA TECH TOLD US THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM IN 2015 CARS WITH FULL COMPLEMENT OF FEATURES, AND TYPING "SUBARU BATTERY DRAINAGE PROBLEM" INTO GOOGLE BRINGS UP A LITANY OF COMPLAINTS. APPARENTLY ALL THE ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR DRAIN THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR ISN'T RUNNING. SUBARU IMPLIED IT WAS OUR FAULT FOR NOT STARTING THE CAR. THAT'S ABSUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10760335 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10821572 · 2016-01-21 (January 21, 2016)

I HAD A REMOTE STARTER INSTALLED BY SOME ONE OTHER THAN SUBARU. THE STARTER FAILED REPEATEDLY SO I TOOK IT IN. WAS TOLD AND GIVEN A PRINT OUT REFLECTING A LOW BATTERY. I TOOK IT TO NORTH TOWNE SUBARU ON SHERIDAN DR. IT IS A 20 MILE TRIP ONE WAY, THEY SAID "NO PROBLEM, CHARGED THE BATTERY ANY WAY AND SENT ME HOME. I PURCHASED THE FORESTER IN SEPT.2014, GOT THE STARTER FOR CHRISTMAS,AND AFTER THE VISIT TO SUBARU IT WORKED SOMETIMES. THIS WINTER AGAIN IT FAILED TO START. NOW THAT THE WINTER HAS BECOME EXTREMELY COLD I RETURNED TO THE INSTA…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821572 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10666941 · 2015-02-12 (February 12, 2015)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10666941 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10724486 · 2015-06-10 (June 10, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BEFORE THE GLASS BEGAN TO CRACK. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND EXTENDED UPWARDS APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES BEFORE EXTENDING TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE REPLACEMENT WINDOW. SINCE OBTAINING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10724486 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10682364 · 2015-02-09 (February 9, 2015)

I HAD MY NEW VEHICLE ONLY 4 DAYS WITH 120 MILES OR SO THAT I PERSONALLY PUT ON IT. I WAS OUT ONE DAY AND CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND STOPPED. THE CAR JUST POWERED DOWN TO NOT RUNNING AT ALL. I PUT IT IN PARK, RESTARTED, PUT IT IN DRIVE TO MOVE ON AND IT DID IT AGAIN. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND HAD SOMEONE PUSH ME TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I WOULD BE OUT OF THE WAY. THIS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 5 TIMES WHEN FINALLY IT TOOK HOLD AND I MANAGED TO GET HOME OK. THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO GO OUT AND IT SEEMED TO BE OK AND HAD TO PUT GAS IN IT. I TOOK IT IN…

Owner-reported narrative. 240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10682364 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10747238 · 2015-08-08 (August 8, 2015)

WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON I-80 IN IOWA JUST EAST OF EXIT 220 (WILLIAMSBURG) OUR CAR LOST POWER BUT, BECAUSE IT HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND COAST TO THE LEFT ROAD MARGIN. THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR HAD COME ON A FEW MILES BEFORE BUT THE DISPLAY INDICATOR SHOWED THAT WE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL TO DRIVE 60 MILES AT THE DISPLAYED AVERAGE OF 30.5 MILES PER GALLON. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECT AS THE MANUAL STATES THAT WHEN THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR COMES THERE ARE 2.6 GALLONS REMAINING. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AS THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,177 miles reported. Look up ODI 10747238 at NHTSA ↗