2015 Subaru Forester problems and recalls

Owners have filed 613 complaints on the 2015 Subaru Forester, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (131 complaints).

613
Complaints
3
Recalls
53
Crash reports
7
Fire reports
34
Injuries
82.3
Severity index

Severity index 82.3 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 82.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 42 of 143 by severity index among 2015 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 71% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2015 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 131 complaints (21.4%)131 21%Air BagsAir Bags: 101 complaints (16.5%)101 16%Power TrainPower Train: 95 complaints (15.5%)95 15%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 82 complaints (13.4%)82 13%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 73 complaints (11.9%)73 12%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 70 complaints (11.4%)70 11%SuspensionSuspension: 66 complaints (10.8%)66 11%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 55 complaints (9.0%)55 9%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE13121.4%
AIR BAGS10116.5%
POWER TRAIN9515.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8213.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7311.9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7011.4%
SUSPENSION6610.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM559.0%

Complaints filed per year

0701402014: 72015: 472016: 452017: 422018: 532019: 1312020: 812021: 572022: 492023: 462024: 222025: 202026: 13 (partial year)14151617181913120212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20147
201547
201645
201742
201853
2019131
202081
202157
202249
202346
202422
202520
2026 (year to date)13
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (88 against 187).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V14900028/02/2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHSubaru 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 malf
19V70100003/10/2019AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONSubaru 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.
16V16200021/03/2016ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGERSubaru 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

Other Subaru Forester model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.