The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an auto body shop after striking a deer, and it was determined that the ECM system had malfunctioned. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced sudden unintended acceleration. The contact stated that after the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle stopped as intended; however, when the brake pedal was released, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the failure was associated with a tire. The contact stated that replacing the tires failed to correct the failure. The contact stated that the insurance company had inspected the vehicle but could not determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
The worst 2015 Subaru Forester problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine136
- Airbags102
- Transmission95
- Electrical84
- Acceleration70
- Suspension66
- Fuel system57
- Brakes36
- Visibility28
- Driver assistance25
- Seats22
- Body20
- Wheels20
- Steering19
- Lights15
- Seat belts9
- Tires5
- Locks1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2015 Subaru Forester
Stalling 43Airbag light 42Loss of power 40Coil spring 38Check engine light 30Sudden acceleration 28Adaptive cruise 23Jerking 23No deployment 21Oil consumption 21Warning lights 21ABS 20Hesitation 20CVT failure 19Engine failure 16Fuel gauge 14Won't start 14Windshield crack 13Ball joint 10Fuel pump 9Shudder 9Battery drain 8Fire or smoke 8Door locks 7Power steering loss 6Misfire 5Won't shift 5Transmission failure 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2015 Subaru Forester mention
B1760 5B1650 3
Recalls 3
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 19V701000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 19V149000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 16V162000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2015 Subaru Forester 510
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This is an update announcement regarding the TechShare & NorthStar Integration
- This announcement provides information on the connected services platform for Subaru EVs.
- This bulletin provides a step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES)...
- This Service Information Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but...
- This announcement provides information on DCM replacememts due to a parasitic draw.
- This announcement provides information on an outage affecting the Subaru Select Monitor 5 application.
- This Service Information Bulletin announces the availability of ThreeBond 1216J (SOA868V9640) designed for...
- This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a...
- This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
2015 Subaru Forester fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | AWD | 22-24 | 28-31 | 25-27 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | AWD | 23 | 27 | 25 |
What 2015 Subaru Forester owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Subaru Forester. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 74,700, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 184,064.
I started to have problems with my Forester, and reading upon what could be the issue, I ran across recall 16V162000, on which describes exactly what my car simptoms are. I went into different sites, and my car does not show to be part of the recall. Can you help me with the reason on why my car is not part by the recall, when in fact is the same car, same engine, and having the same problem. Thank you so much for your time.
The passenger seat belt went off when my beagle was jumping around on the front seat and I had made an appointment to bring it into the shop the dealer and the light was off but I had the appointment so I brought it in anyway and now the lights on all the time now and it's coming up on the screen too they just made the whole problem even worse and it did have the initial fix for the harness already but that did not work
I was parking at the dentist office in their parking lot going slow, turned into a parking space and thought i was slowly braking but my car lunged forward and hit a tree. I would normally be minimally braking, so I'm not sure what happened but it was sudden. I could have hit the gas pedal but i would have pressed it a lot I think for the sudden lunge to happen.
The contact's spouse owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop or at various speeds on several occasions, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate as intended. The Hill Assist and Automatic Transmission Oil Temperature warning lights flashed, and the ABS, Traction Control, and VDC warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off to cool down on each occurrence. After approximately 45 minutes, the vehicle was restarted and was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated, and the air bag module warning light was illuminated. The air bag occupant classification system was not operating as intended. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and an occupant detection system malfunction code was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V701000 (Air Bags); as a possible cause for the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,684.
Codes for B1760 and B1650 present, intermittent SRS light for the passenger airbag. Passengers put at risk in event of crash. SRS sensor issues seem to be common for this vehicle according to online databases and dealership technicians.
2 rear wheel bearings failed on low milage vehicle.although car is 10 years old it is well maintained and has 57k miles on od.never driven off road or in water. Perhaps worse three studs and lugs had to be replaced due to snapping off. Apparently this is common as the same story was told to others waiting at dealership
Subaru part # 63269SG002 "hatch lift support / stay tailgate (rear gate, right)". Pin that attaches hydraulic lift to rear tailgate snapped in half when closing trunk - available for inspection. Lift extended fully, preventing closure of rear tailgate. Failure left tailgate solely held up with (1) remaining lift which could not fully support weight, letting door sag/droop and causing injury to scalp of (1) person. A 4 year old child was not injured, but was present - safety was at risk based on proximity to the door at the time of failure. Dealer advised no active recalls open on vehicle 5/26/26. Manufacturer does appear to have issued service bulletin 12-289-20 in 2020 providing warranty extension for this component. Component was not inspected. No warnings or symptoms were observed - corrosion noted on attachment point of life gate after removal.
Compare the 2015 Subaru Forester
Forester vs Ford EscapeForester vs Honda CR-VForester vs Jeep CherokeeForester vs Toyota RAV4Forester vs Chevrolet EquinoxForester vs Nissan RogueForester vs Hyundai TucsonForester vs Kia Sportage
Other model years
19981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Questions about the 2015 Subaru Forester
Is the 2015 Subaru Forester reliable?
Owners have filed 617 complaints about the 2015 Subaru Forester, 3.5 times a typical Forester model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2015 Subaru Forester year score?
The 2015 Subaru Forester scores 29 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Subaru Forester: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Subaru Forester?
Engine and cooling, with 136 complaints, typically around 44,400 miles. Next is airbags (102).
How many recalls does the 2015 Subaru Forester have?
3 recalls, covering air bags, exterior lighting and engine and engine cooling.
Was there a recall on the 2015 Subaru Forester engine?
Yes, 1 recall: 16V162000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Subaru Forester have bad engine?
The Subaru Forester model years with the most engine complaints are 2015 (136 complaints), 2019 (111 complaints) and 2020 (85 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2015 Subaru Forester get?
Official estimates for the 2015 Subaru Forester range from 25 to 27 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 4-cyl, AWD) gets 22-24 city and 28-31 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2015 Subaru Forester?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history