2015 Subaru Forester UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The ignition key kept getting stuck in the ignition. Subaru acknowledged a defect in the shifter plate and parking range switch. They replaced it on 8/30/25 under service bulletin 16-12-18R but the dealer charged me $584.94 and Subaru North America refused to reimburse, stating that they had extended the warranty period to 2022, and therefore I was not covered for repair. However, they acknowledged that the original parts had failed for certain customers and that they had better parts available IF the original parts failed before the extended warranty period lapsed in 2022. They should have issued a recall and replaced the original parts. I was unable to remove the keys and could not secure and lock my car. I was also concerned that the steering wheel would lock up while driving.
An off market part from API snapped after just 10 months and 7000 miles of driving on gentle paved roads. It was the lower control arm bolt. (2703-535960) Would have caused a very dangerous situation if happened at speed! We got lucky but this was a very dangerous part to break.
The horn stopped working. I have yet to determine exact fix. Subaru forums suggest that it may be the clock spring, a relay, the horn itself, or a fuse.
After replacing the valve body (part of cvt transmission). The car was released to me. Immediately upon leaving the dealership, the car kept jolting and shuddering, but no maintenance lights were lit on the dashboard. Upon returning it to the dealership, we were notified that the whole transmission would need to be replaced. Subaru is aware of the faulty transmission as they increased the cvt transmission warranty for approx 2010-2017 forester/outback/impreza/etc. cars to 10yr/ 100,000 miles. Upon further review, several other Subaru owners have expressed their transmissions needing to be replaced around 110,000-120,000 miles, most after just replacing the valve body. It appears Subaru knew the transmission was about to die, but they encouraged replacing just the valve body causing me to invest $2,200 knowing it would not fix the actual problem.
When pulling up to park behind another car in the street, the car had a burst of acceleration about 5 ft from behind the next car. I slammed on my brakes and stopped the car inches from the next car. I was not gunning the gas at that point. I was just applying lighter pressure as I was pulling up behind that parked car. Scared the heck out of me. I have had surges of acceleration in the Subaru in the past after a lag in acceleration when I first push down the pedal. But this is the first time I’ve had it surge as I was letting up on the gas pedal.
In the parking lot of my condo/home I was slowly approaching and driving in to my regular assigned parking space. As I applied the brakes preparing to stop, the car suddenly and without warning quickly accelerated and crashed into the building causing extensive damage to the building and the vehicle. The air bag did not react.
A/C continue not to work. Blowing out warm air followed by bad odor. AC compressor assembly replaced 5/2022 now having the same problem after new repair AC clutch and repair/ placed the A/C pressure switch on 8/25/2023. Not one day went by same problems recurred returned back to Glanzmann Subaru. Has the AC SYSTEM need to be recalled. I researched and found complaints of ac issues with the 2015 Subaru forester a/c
The transmission triggered a warning light suggesting a problem. After taking it to the dealership, it was determined that the valve body solenoid had failed and the entire valve body needed to be replaced. This was a very expensive job for a very inexpensive part. This seems to be a known issue for Subarus of this era (based on internet research) and Subaru has yet to issue a recall.
Our steering wheel clock spring is malfunctioning causing the vehicles horn not to work in certain positions (intermittently). more of a preventative to warn others, as we first noticed when we tried using it to help warn a car to stop for the light while we were making a left turn the car nearly ran through the red light which would of hit us. I dont know if the problem has been reproduced but I do see plenty of posts online for the same issue for subarus. the vehicle has nor component has been inspected by anyone else except myself (owner) nothing gave pre-warning just suddenly stopped working
Car does not respond when accelerating/attempting to accelerate. Takes 3-5 seconds to engage when press on gas from stopped/brake position, also very slow to accelerate when changing speeds. Took car in for service and was told not transmission, but still having issue. Dealer stated they couldn't reproduce issue when was in for service, but nearly immediately upon driving away, it had same issue. No warming lights, sounds or smells occur when this happens. Nearly got T-boned on road due to slowness to respond. Unknown component causing issue.
Check engine light keeps coming on for an O2 sensor that has been recently replaced.
Vehicle was in a front end collision, vehicle was able to safely pull over to the shoulder and be shut down. Impact did not result in airbag deployment and damage to vehicle appeared to be moderate. Within minutes of the accident while waiting for police to arrive on the scene, smoke became visible followed by vehicle becoming engulfed in flames leading to a complete vehicle fire and total loss of vehicle.
WINDSHIELD CRACK APPEARED IN MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE FROM A STONE OR OBJECT STRIKING THE GLASS. NOT DRIVING MUCH DUE TO COVID. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDSHIELD THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED IN THE FIVE YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS CAR.
MY WIFE AND I WERE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE 2014-2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WE LOOKED OVER 25 OF THE SAME CAR AND MOST OF THEM HAD THIS NOISE COMING FROM THE AC COMPRESSOR. THE ONE WE BOUGHT WAS 27000 MILES ONLY AND DID NOT HAVE THE LOUD NOISE ON THE AC COMPRESSOR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, BUT ABOUT 2000 MILES LATER THE NOISE STARTED, AND AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT IS SUPER COMMON ON THOSE YEARS MODELS TO HAVE THE ISSUE, AND EVENTUALLY IT CAUSES AC COMPRESSOR TO FAILURE. I WOULD ATTACH A VIDEO IF POSSIBLE.
AFTER 4HRS OF DRIVING WITH 2 PIT STOPS IN BETWEEN, I WAS IN 3 LANE TRAFFIC AND DOWN TO 1 BAR ON FUEL GAUGE STATING I HAD 50MI LEFT OF DRIVING REMAINING IN TANK.. LOW FUEL LIGHT HADN'T EVEN TURNED ON YET, ONLY TO FIND THAT THE CAR HAD LOST POWER AND REDUCED SPEED AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE WHEN I USED HAS PEDAL. HOWEVER THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOWS STILL WORKED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND NOTHING TO BE OUT OF SORTS. NO DASH LIGHTS WENT OFF EITHER SUCH AS BATTERY OR CHECK ENGINE. I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP IN 5MINS AND FUELED MY CAR UP. ALSO, DURING THE TRIP MY FUEL MILEAGE WAS CONSISTENTLY GOING DOWN WHICH THE LOWEST READING DAYS 17MPG WHEN NORMALLY 30MPG. THIS HAPPENED THE DAY AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE IN FOR NEW TIRES AT A CORPORATE TIRE COMPANY. 2 WEEKS LATER CAR HAVING TROUBLES STARTING. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED OUT GOOD, SO SUSPECTED FUEL PUMP. CAR DEALERSHIP STATES FUEL FILTER INSIDE THE PUMP AND EVEN IF THERE WAS A WAY TO TEST THE PRESSURE IT MAY NOT BE ACCURATE BECAUSE IT COULD BE INTERMITTENT FAILURE AND DOESN'T RECOMMEND ME REPLACING IT. THEY WANTED ME TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN BEFORE LOOKING INTO IT ANY FURTHER. THEY CHECKED FOR DTC CODES AND FOUND NONE. ALSO SUGGESTED I JUST UPGRADE TO A NEWER VEHICLE AND I STATED THAT AT 138,000 THE CAR SHOULD STILL BE REPAIRABLE AND DRIVEABILITY OTHERWISE WHAT'S THE POINT OF PURCHASING TO OWN THE VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY THE SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS AND COULD LEAD TO A SLEW OF PROBLEMS SUCH AS STANDING, ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH.
MY HORN IS NOT WORKING UNLESS MY STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT/RIGHT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL.. THE INTERNET SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS BIG SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED SUBARU THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.
LOSS OF POWER. IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS SIMPLY NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. IT HAS HAPPENED AFTER TURNING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AT LOW SPEED (< 40 MPH) AND MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED (> 60 MPH). PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL JUST RESULTS IN CONTINUED VEHICLE DECELERATION. THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING BUT NO RESPONSE TO THROTTLE. AFTER SEVERAL CYCLES OF BACKING OFF THROTTLE AND PRESSING, THE ENGINE WILL JUST SUDDENLY START RESPONDING. SOMETIMES THE HILL ASSIST AND ABS LIGHTS ON THE DASH WILL ILLUMINATE, SOMETIMES NOT. THERE IS NEVER BEEN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. SCARY, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY.
THE CAR WAS PARKED ON A CITY STREET, NOT RUNNING. WHEN I APPROACHED TO ENTER THE CAR IN THE MORNING, AFTER CLICKING THE UNLOCK BUTTON BUT BEFORE TOUCHING THE CAR, THE REAR WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED INTO HUNDREDS OF PIECES. NOTHING HIT OR FELL ON THE CAR, NO ONE WAS TOUCHING IT NOR IN IT. IT SIMPLY SHATTERED AND BROKE AS IT WAS SITTING THERE STATIONARY AND OFF.
RECALL NOTIFICATION FOLLOWUP --- THIS VEHICLE HAS A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH RECALL. I CALLED THE DEALER --BOB BAKER SUBARU IN CARLSBAD CA -- AND THEY REQUIRE AN APPOINTMENT TO CHANGE THE SWITCH. TODAY IS JULY 9, 2019, AND THEY CANNOT SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL NOVEMBER, 2019. TO ME THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO WAIT FOR A VEHICLE RECALL THAT IS A VERY MINOR PART REPLACEMENT. I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE RECALL NOTICE AND THIS WEBSITE BOTH MENTION THAT THE REPAIR SHOULD BE DONE IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
THE TIRE LOW PRESSURE INDICATOR CAME ON THE DASH BOARD. THE AIR PRESSURE WAS LOW, SO THAT WAS WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I CAN'T RESET THE TIRE LOW PRESSURE INDICATOR UNLESS I PAY THE DEALER $50. SO, I HAVEN'T HAD A FUNCTIONING LOW PRESSURE INDICATOR FOR TWO YEARS.
MY AC HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT NEVER REALLY COOLED TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEARS. LOUD NOISES WHEN AC IS TURNED ON, BLOWING COOL THEN AFTER 30 MINS GETS COLD. NOW IT STOPPED COOLING. BLOWING HOT AIR
PERIODICALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN THE CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE POWER AND ACTS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. IT IS INCONSISTENT WHEN IT HAPPENS. CAR CAN BE COLD OR HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FOR OVER AN HOUR. SUBARU MECHANICS COULD NOT REPLICATE AND I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO KEEP PAYING THEM WHEN THEY CAN'T FIND IT. PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN IN WINTER BUT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN PAST 4 MONTHS
TODAY IS 6/5/2019. THE EARLIEST I CAN SCHEDULE MY URGENT IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL WITH FOX SUBARU IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI IS NOVEMBER 6TH, 2019------FIVE MONTHS FROM NOW! REALLY??? SO IF I DIE....BEFORE THEN...IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THE RECALL DOES MY FAMILY GET TO SUE FOX SUBARU AS WELL AS SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC FOR COMPENSATION FROM MY LIFE? HOW RIDICULOUS IS THIS 5 MONTH WAIT FOR URGENT IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALLS?????
WHEN DRIVING AFTER SOME TIME THE AC GOES WARM. THIS HAPPENED WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING, WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND ON CITY RDS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER THE SYSTEM HAD BEEN ON FOR A BIT. IT ALSO STARTS BACK TO COLD ON ITS OWN AFTER A WHILE
EYESIGHT DRIVING ASSIST CAMERAS FAILED, INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST THEN COMPLETE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE ALSO TAKES OUT THE REAR BACKUP CAMERA AND CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKE ASSIST FUNCTIONS.
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Quick Summary
The 2015 Subaru Forester has 39 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.