NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 614 owner complaints for the 2015 Subaru Forester.
Recalled components: air bags, exterior lighting, and engine and cooling. Most-described problem: suspension part problems (62 complaints, 10%). Most-reported area: engine (131 complaints, 21%; median mileage when it happened: 46,300).
Fewer complaints than a typical Forester year
The 2015 drew 141 owner complaints in its first three years, against 164 for a typical Forester year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2019 and 2020; best years: 2016, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA listing: FORESTER. Subaru campaign WTA-62.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2015 Subaru Forester.
What owners report
Owners have filed 614 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Forester. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Suspension parts (struts, ball joints, control arms)62 · 10%
Median 52,600 miles at failure, from 54 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off53 · 9%
Median 35,000 miles at failure, from 39 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode42 · 7%
Median 44,700 miles at failure, from 32 reports with mileage
Unintended acceleration or surging39 · 6%
Median 16,900 miles at failure, from 28 reports with mileage
Airbag warning light or airbag fault36 · 6%
Hesitation or slow acceleration29 · 5%
Median 30,000 miles at failure, from 24 reports with mileage
Rust or corrosion25 · 4%
Median 48,300 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
Check engine light24 · 4%
Median 42,200 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Median 46,300 miles at failure, from 100 reports with mileage
Air bags102 · 17%
Most named: sensor, occupant classification (7); sensor, occupant classification, front passenger (5) · Median 59,900 miles at failure, from 41 reports with mileage
Powertrain95 · 15%
Median 51,100 miles at failure, from 66 reports with mileage
Electrical system82 · 13%
Median 40,000 miles at failure, from 51 reports with mileage
Speed control70 · 11%
Most named: accelerator pedal (5) · Median 36,000 miles at failure, from 58 reports with mileage
Suspension66 · 11%
Median 52,100 miles at failure, from 60 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system55 · 9%
Median 50,000 miles at failure, from 41 reports with mileage
Unknown or other73 · 12%
Median 38,000 miles at failure, from 45 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Subaru Forester recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2015 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Forester drew the most (525) and the 2015 drew 141.
Owner complaints
2015: 614 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Subaru Forester
Model year
Complaints
2010
262
2011
147
2012
105
2013
77
2014
403
2015
614
2016
414
2017
587
2018
495
2019
833
2020
601
2021
207
2022
98
2023
73
2024
29
2025
95
2026
22
Safety recalls
2015: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Subaru Forester
Model year
Recalls
2010
17
2011
16
2012
15
2013
12
2014
2
2015
3
2016
3
2017
1
2018
3
2019
3
2020
0
2021
0
2022
1
2023
1
2024
2
2025
4
2026
3
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 614 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Subaru Forester, the problems described most are suspension part problems (62), stalling or shutting off (53), and loss of power or limp mode (42). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2015 Subaru Forester safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2015 Subaru Forester earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2015 Subaru Forester?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2015 Subaru Forester.
How do I check if my Forester has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Subaru dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: FORESTER.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.