2015 Subaru Forester Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2015 Subaru Forester has a complaint index of 90 and ranks 3rd worst among 21 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Engine complaints (191, 31% of total) and sudden-acceleration reports drive the ranking, with 3 recalls covering airbags, electrical, and turbocharger issues.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 90/100
- #3 of 21 Forester years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 613
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 53
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 7
- Injuries
- 34
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 23 city / 28 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 34 / 0
Top 2015 Subaru Forester problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine191 (31%)
- Airbags101 (16%)
- Transmission & Powertrain95 (15%)
- Electrical System93 (15%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires88 (14%)
- Other75 (12%)
- Fuel System56 (9%)
- Brakes45 (7%)
- Structure & Body43 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers24 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration after shifting from park to drive or reverse, sometimes crashing into walls, poles, or fences.
- Some report the vehicle rolling away or lurching forward while parked or idling, even with the transmission in park.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during low-speed and moderate-speed crashes, including a side-impact collision.
- Several complaints describe the car accelerating unexpectedly right after leaving the dealer lot, with very low mileage at failure.
- A few owners noticed lane-departure and auto-braking warning lights flashing erratically before an unintended acceleration event.
2015 Subaru Forester recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V701000Oct 3, 2019Airbags366,282 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 19V149000Feb 28, 2019Electrical System1,303,530 vehicles
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 16V162000Mar 21, 2016Engine18,187 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
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.
Risk: 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.
2015 Subaru Forester fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 25 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2015 compared with other Forester years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 Subaru Forester reliable?
- Compared to other Forester model years, the 2015 ranks 3rd worst out of 21 years tracked, with a complaint index of 90 and an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Subaru Forester?
- Engine complaints are the largest category, making up 191 of 613 total complaints (31%) and linked to 33 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 40,000 miles.
- Does the 2015 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2015 Forester covering an airbag occupant detection sensor, a brake light switch electrical issue, and a turbocharger air intake duct problem on 2.0XT models. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2015 Forester compare to other years?
- The 2015 Forester's complaint index of 90 is close to the worst years, 2019 (100) and 2020 (95), and far above earlier years like 2008, which scored 0 and earned a Good verdict.