2015 SUBARU FORESTER Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2015 Subaru Forester. This model year has 606 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2015 Subaru Forester Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Airbag Malfunctions
Transmission / Drivetrain
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2015 Subaru Forester. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 134 | 9 | 3 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 99 | 17 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 93 | 6 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 82 | 1 | 3 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 71 | 5 | 2 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 70 | 26 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 66 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 55 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 35 | 4 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 23 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 22 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 19 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 19 | 4 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 18 | 7 | 2 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 15 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 14 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 8 | 2 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
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.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 606 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
Front passenger airbag sensor light stays on continuously
Vehicle: 2015 Subaru Forester Mileage at Failure: 85,000 miles Component: Powertrain – CVT Transmission My 2015 Subaru Forester is experiencing a premature safety‑related CVT transmission failure at approximately 85,000 miles. The vehicle developed a pronounced whining noise that…
This has now happened twice to my daughter, both times on the highway. One time the car shut down completely and the 2nd time the car just started slowing while pressing the gas and coasted to a stop. Luckily she was able to avoid other cars and get to the shoulder. The car resta…
On 3 different occasions the car randomly accelerated at a high speed without stepping on the gas pedal. The first time was in a parking lot. The second time was on a busy road while traveling at 35 mph. The car accelerated to about 60 mph, fortunately once applying the brakes th…
I bought a used 2015 subaru forester with 117,000 miles from an auto shop/used car dealer in March of 2024. In September of 2025, 11,000 miles of driving later, a bunch of lights came on my dash. Check engine, traction control, ABS, at oil temp, and incline assist. I took it to …
REPORT OF FAILED RECALL REMEDY (RECALL 19V-149 / WUE-90) My 2015 Subaru Forester experienced a total recurrence of the defect addressed in 2019. The vehicle became trapped in 'Park' intermittently on several occasions before remaining immobilized. During one incident, the manual…
Passenger airbag sensor intermittently works and turns off when passenger is in the seat. Dashboard light for airbag is constantly on and passenger airbag is constantly off. Issues with seat sensor going off when no one is sitting in the passenger seat. Abs system error message. …
Airbag light intermittently turns on to indicate that airbag may not deploy even if there is someone in the passenger seat. This is a known safety issue with a recall in 2019 but for some reason is affecting a much larger set of vehicles than in the recall, including mine.
Getting an SRS Airbag system needs to be checked. Took the 2015 Subaru Forester to Williams Subaru in Lansing MI and they stated the code B1760 for the occupant detection system Mat was determined. The seat has not been wet and nothing spilled on it and was also determined dry…
PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF EVEN IF THERE IS NO ONE SITTING IN THE SEAT
My passenger and rear airbags are not working due to a failure in this part: CUSHION AY OCPANTRH 64139SG002. I have been waiting for the part for around 10 months. My safety is put at risk as my airbags are not working and Subaru has not provided a solution while we are waiting f…
I am reporting a recurring safety defect in my 2015 Subaru Forester (VIN: [XXX] ) that directly relates to Recall WUM-98 / NHTSA Recall 19V-701 (Occupant Detection System wiring harness). Original Recall (2019–2020): The Occupant Detection System (ODS) failed, disabling the pass…
The ignition key kept getting stuck in the ignition. Subaru acknowledged a defect in the shifter plate and parking range switch. They replaced it on 8/30/25 under service bulletin 16-12-18R but the dealer charged me $584.94 and Subaru North America refused to reimburse, stating t…
SRS air bag system needs to be checked Alert on
The rear door hinges do not open fully and it is easy to hit your head. I hit my head unloading groceries, and my boyfriend did as well. It is dangerous.
I own a 2015 Subaru Forester that was involved in the NHTSA recall ID 19V-701 - Subaru safety recall WUM-98 in 2020. My VIN is [XXX] and my dealer is Lancaster County Subaru in Lancaster, PA. For about four months in the end of 2019 until February of 2020 we were unable to use t…
Sounds like the differential in the transmission is making a horrendous noise
My vehicle has a capacitive sensor in the passenger seat that determines if someone is sitting in the seat and turns the airbag on or off accordingly. Starting towards the beginning of March, my vehicle stopped detecting if someone was sitting in that seat and permanently disable…
The wheel hub bolt stud and nut freeze/lock up. They break apart when the technician attempts to remove to perform tire rotation. It is a common problem with the Subaru Forester. I have had to replace 2, so far. Dealer charges $200+ for replacing it. Subaru has not stepped u…
UNKNOWN. Often when I attempt to accelerate after stopping at a stop sign, the car hesitates, sometimes lunges ahead and then sometimes practically dying before accelerating normally. There have been times when It simply feels like a fuel pump problem and I know that Toyotas with…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2015 Subaru Forester.
Recalls for 2015 Subaru Forester
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2015 Subaru Forester. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2015 Subaru Forester — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2015 Subaru Forester reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2015 Subaru Forester has 606 NHTSA owner complaints, 52 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (134 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru Forester?▾
#1: Engine Problems (134 complaints). #2: Airbag Malfunctions (99 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (93 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2015 Subaru Forester?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2015 Subaru Forester?▾
The 2015 Subaru Forester has 52 crash-related complaints and 7 fire reports out of 606 total NHTSA complaints. 33 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2015 Subaru Forester have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2015 Subaru Forester. The largest issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2015 Subaru Forester?▾
The 2015 Subaru Forester has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Subaru Forester reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2015 Subaru Forester
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.