2015 Subaru Forester Problems, Recalls & Reliability
897 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2015 Subaru Forester, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 92/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 44,400 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2015 Subaru Forester sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1998–2000, 2002, 2005–2008, 2012–2013, 2022.
Avoid
Where 2015 sits among all Forester years
What owners report
“Smell of burning oil from the engine. Dealer says head gasket needs to be replaced at a cost of $5500.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Forester
“SRS airbag light with and without passenger in front passenger seat. Brought to dealer for diagnostic and code B1650 is coming up.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Forester
“Battery drains while parked. Battery needs to be replaced more frequently than it should”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Forester
“Car has jerky acceleration with hesitation, momentary power loss when accelerating from stop or at low speed.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Forester
“Dashboard warning lights lit up "like a christmas tree"! Safety features are disabled. No eye sight, traction control, lane deviation. I have been to the dealer multiple times with no success. This has been going on for several months. Lights come on and go off, seemingly at random. Mostly stay on…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Forester
“Vehicle may accelerate on its own. Stopped at stop sign and vehicle accelerated hard after removing foot from brake. Had to reapply brakes hard to stop car and maintain control. Luckily there was no traffic. As i ended up a lane further than were i intended. .”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Forester
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 572 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 44,825 miles. Half of those reports fall between 23,000 and 73,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2015 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2015 Subaru Forester drew 897 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 92/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2015 Subaru Forester problems?
The top reported problems for the 2015 Subaru Forester are engine (136 complaints), airbags (113), and electrical (97).
At what mileage do 2015 Subaru Forester problems show up?
Owners most often report 2015 Subaru Forester problems around 44,825 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 23,000 and 73,000 miles.
Does the 2015 Subaru Forester have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2015 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.