YearToAvoid

2015 Subaru Forester Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

87/100

#3 most-complained of 16 Forester years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2015 Subaru Forester ranks 3rd worst of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 87 and 613 NHTSA complaints. Engine issues lead at 31% of complaints, with 3 recalls covering airbags, electrical, and turbocharger air intake components.

Complaints
613
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
53 / 7
Injuries / deaths
34 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
23 city / 28 hwy

Top 2015 Subaru Forester problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine191 (31%)
  2. Airbags101 (16%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain95 (15%)
  4. Electrical System93 (15%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires88 (14%)
  6. Other75 (12%)
  7. Fuel System56 (9%)
  8. Brakes45 (7%)
  9. Structure & Body43 (7%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers24 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration when shifting from park to drive or into reverse, sometimes resulting in a crash into walls, trees, or poles.
  • Several drivers report the vehicle rolled or lurched forward while in park, striking objects such as garage doors or trees.
  • In multiple crash reports, airbags failed to deploy despite frontal or side impacts, leading to injuries in at least one case.
  • Owners report the accelerator pedal became stuck after shifting into reverse, causing loss of control.
  • One owner noted lane departure and auto-braking warning lights flashing erratically before an unintended movement incident.
2015 Subaru Forester complaints: complaints filed per quarter522014 Q22016 Q12017 Q42019 Q32021 Q22023 Q12024 Q42026 Q3
854 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q2 (52).

2015 Subaru Forester recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Best7771223
2014Caution67403225
2015Avoid87613325
2016Caution53414325
2017Caution73587125

All Subaru Forester years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Subaru Forester reliable?
Compared to other Forester model years, the 2015 ranks 3rd worst out of 16 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 87 and a verdict of Avoid based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Subaru Forester?
Engine problems are the top complaint area, accounting for 191 complaints (31% of the total) and a median failure mileage of 40,000 miles, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2015 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2015 Forester covering airbag occupant detection sensors, brake light switch electrical issues, and turbocharger air intake ducts. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2015 Forester compare to other years?
The 2015 model has a Complaint Index of 87, worse than most other Forester years except 2019 (100) and 2020 (93), both also rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Subaru Forester?
The 2015 Forester gets an EPA-rated 25 mpg combined (23 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.