2015 Subaru Forester body problems

Filed Jul 13, 2026 · Body, Engine · CA · crash

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.

Filed May 26, 2026 · Body · NY · 1 injury

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.

Filed Aug 29, 2025 · Body · PA

The rear door hinges do not open fully and it is easy to hit your head. I hit my head unloading groceries, and my boyfriend did as well. It is dangerous.

Filed Feb 19, 2024 · Body · NY

While driving i noticed my hood bouncing up and down as if the hood latch was pulled. I havent pulled the hood latch in a while and thought it couldn't be open. Upon pulling off the roadway i noticed it was able to be opened simply by sliding the lever to open the hood. I then shut the hood thinking maybe I accidentally pulled the lever somehow with my foot. This was not the case because I then tested it by pulling up on the hood and it released again as if the lever was pulled. I checked the lever and it looks as it is ok and i gave it a pull to see if it seemed broken but it does not appear that way. I have not gone to a dealer yet and will bring it to my mechanic as soon as im able to safely get it there.

Filed Sep 28, 2023 · Body · IN · crash

I experienced unintended acceleration while parking my car. The car surged ahead, over a curb and collided with a metal lamppost. Damage was on the body of the car’s right front. While no one was injured the car went across a space used by pedestrians including schoolchildren. There was no warning before the car surged. A friend later told me that she had experienced the same thing when she had stopped her 2018 Subaru Forester .

Filed Nov 17, 2021 · Body · CT

Rear hatch lift struts failed (pneumatically) unexpectedly causing hatch to fall down on me while loading groceries.

Filed Feb 29, 2020 · Body · 29,000 miles · MA

The driver's side interior door handle no longer functions. When the door is shut, and unlocked, and the interior door handle is pulled, nothing happens. The exterior door handle still functions, but the interior handle does not. This is a critical safety issue. We have less than 30,000 miles on the odometer. We contacted the dealership and subaru u.s. Corporate office via email for assistance, but received no replies.

Filed Feb 24, 2020 · Body · 80,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 subaru forester. The contact stated that after discovering a crack at the base of the front windshield the crack had expanded approximately 16 inches over 3 days. The cause of the crack was not determined. The local dealer new motors subaru located at (8670 peach st. Erie, pa) was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The front windshield was replaced at window and glass establishment. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed Sep 11, 2019 · Body · 62,170 miles · NY

Strut on rear hatch, subaru 2015 forester, broke at attachment point, hatch fell with great force, nearly hit my head. Vehicle was stationary. I called subaru's customer service number, but after going through many menus, got an automated message that the call could not be completed.*dt

Filed Sep 7, 2019 · Body · 40,000 miles · NJ · 1 injury

Yesterday 9/5/19 the tailgate strut on our 2015 subaru forrester suddenly failed causing the rear gate which was open to abruptly fall onto my spouse's head while she was unloading groceries. The metal bolt with the round ball that fits into the end of the strut cracked off and appeared rusted at the edges. This appears to be the same/similar issue as the federal safety agency recall no. 08v‑135 for the subaru impreza. As far as I know there has not been a recall for this on the 2015 forrester for this issue. I will bring the vehicle to a subaru dealer to have them inspect it. My wife has not seen a doctor for this (yet) but her head still hurts the next day and she was dizzy afterwards.