2015 Subaru FORESTER: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ON BLACK. WITHOUT THE RUNNING LIGHTS THE NUMBERS ARE A PALE GRAY ON BLACK. WITH THE DIAL TO BRIGHTEN...THAT IS A JOKE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS OVERSIGHT. I WISH I HAD REALIZED THIS BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. I AM A SENIOR …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10595021 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE INDICATION THAT WAS NOTICED. THE VEHICLE'S MANUAL WAS LATER READ WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS AS THE VEHICLE IS BUILT, THAT A PASSENGER NEEDING A PILLOW MUST USE THE BACK SEAT. WITHOUT THAT KNOWLEDGE BEFOREHAND AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641030 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT RUNNING IN PARK ON A SLIGHT UPHILL GRADE IN A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY WHILE THE DRIVER RAN INTO THE HOUSE TO DROP SOMETHING OFF. SHE CAME RIGHT OUT OF THE HOUSE TO FIND THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ITSELF FORWARD UP THE GRADE INTO A GARAGE DOOR. IT WAS STILL RUNNING IN PARK WEDGED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. ONLY MINOR DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND GARAGE DOOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10654869 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667330 at NHTSA ↗

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 VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE SPECIFICS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 625. UPDATED 07/06/15.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 625 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669126 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-03-21 (March 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.

Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2019-02-28 (February 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.

Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2019-10-03 (October 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.