Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2015 Subaru Forester
NHTSA data on file today
The 2015 Subaru Forester has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 616 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #19V701000 Occupant Detection System May Deactivate Airbag NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V149000 Brake Lights May Not Illuminate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V162000 Turbocharger Intake Duct Crack may cause Stall NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 131 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).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2015 Subaru Forester has an average reliability rating, with 615 complaints and three recalls. The main issues concern the engine, air bags, and power train, but the complaint numbers are moderate for a vehicle of this age, and the data is somewhat limited.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 75,000–100,000 miles | $1,000–$4,000 | common |
| Power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $800–$2,500 | occasional |
| Air bags | Unknown | $200–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 7,500 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Coolant replacement every 60,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine knocking or ticking
- Delayed gear shifting
- Illuminated airbag warning light
- Brake light malfunction
- Decreased fuel efficiency
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2015 Subaru Forester at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.