NHTSA vehicle safety data
2015 Subaru Forester Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2015 Subaru Forester has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 616 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Subaru dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2015 Subaru Forester, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2015 Subaru Forester owner complaints
Owners have filed 616 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Forester, describing incidents dated April 21, 2014 to October 12, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Engine 135 complaints
- Air Bags 102 complaints
- Power Train 95 complaints
- Electrical System 83 complaints
- Unknown or Other 73 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 70 complaints
Of the 616 complaints on file, 53 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 616 complaints, owners report 34 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11773793 · Filed
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.
ODI #11769468 · Filed
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…
ODI #11767237 · Filed
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…
Owner-reported
2015 Subaru Forester mileage at failure
407 of the 616 complaints on file for the 2015 Subaru Forester give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Median 50,000 miles | Middle half 20,000–75,000 miles | Based on 104 complaints |
| Vehicle Speed Control | Median 45,000 miles | Middle half 16,000–70,000 miles | Based on 57 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
Occupant Detection System May Deactivate Airbag
NHTSA #19V701000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification · NHTSA notice
Reported October 3, 2019 · Subaru of America, Inc.
Potentially affected: 366,282 vehicles
Repair completion: 87.69% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Subaru campaign WUM-98 · Owners notified February 11, 2020 · Vehicles built January 20, 2015 – August 1, 2017 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Brake Lights May Not Illuminate
NHTSA #19V149000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice
Reported February 28, 2019 · Subaru of America, Inc.
Potentially affected: 1,303,530 vehicles
Repair completion: 78.3% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Subaru campaign WUE-90 · Owners notified April 15, 2019 · Vehicles built December 18, 2012 – April 28, 2016 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Turbocharger Intake Duct Crack may cause Stall
NHTSA #16V162000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Gasoline — Turbo/Supercharger · NHTSA notice
Reported March 21, 2016 · Subaru of America, Inc.
Potentially affected: 18,187 vehicles
Repair completion: 89.31% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Subaru campaign WTA-62 · Owners notified April 15, 2016 · Vehicles built April 10, 2015 – June 5, 2015 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Other Subaru Forester model years
Check your 2015 Subaru Forester VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Subaru Forester at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Subaru VIN