2015 Subaru Forester: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 883 complaints
883
Total Complaints
42,206mi
Median Mileage
Engine
Top Issue
89
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
19,100
25th Percentile
42,206
Median Mileage
71,545
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Engine
129
Air Bags
98
Power Train
91
Electrical System
78
Unknown Or Other
71
Vehicle Speed Control
66
Suspension
62
Fuel/Propulsion System
55
Service Brakes
34
Visibility/Wiper
23
Severity Assessment
89
Crashes
12
Fires
51
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS. THEY PRAISE THIS CAR FOR RELIABILITY, SO THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS CAR. HOWEVER THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ARE SO SMALL YOU CAN'T READ THEM. ALSO, WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD TURN PINK ..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. T..."
"THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES WITH THE PASSENGER SITTING ON A THIN PILLOW. WHEN ARRIVING AT THE DESTINATION IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT IS VERY DIFFICULT IF EVEN POSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE SUNSHINE, SO IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN ILLUMINA..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Engine
129 complaints
25th: 21,970 mi
Median: 46,340 mi
75th: 74,500 mi
Air Bags
98 complaints
25th: 32,143 mi
Median: 55,950 mi
75th: 88,625 mi
Power Train
91 complaints
25th: 15,000 mi
Median: 51,099 mi
75th: 76,000 mi
Electrical System
78 complaints
25th: 7,588 mi
Median: 40,000 mi
75th: 54,400 mi
Unknown Or Other
71 complaints
25th: 25,224 mi
Median: 38,000 mi
75th: 58,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 121
NY: 72
PA: 53
MA: 42
NJ: 41
NC: 41
MD: 36
TX: 32
CO: 32
OR: 29
Who Files Complaints?
1.5%
Original Owners
98.5%
Second+ Owners
Subaru Forester — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (3)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Switch
Campaign 19V149000 | 28/02/2019
Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
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.
Occupant Classification
Campaign 19V701000 | 03/10/2019
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.
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.
Turbo/Supercharger
Campaign 16V162000 | 21/03/2016
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
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 rec
Extend Your Engine Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change oil on schedule — this is the single most important thing you can do
- Use the manufacturer-recommended oil weight and type
- Replace the air filter every 15,000-30,000 miles
- Don't ignore the check engine light — small issues become expensive fast
- Let the engine warm up for 30 seconds before driving hard in cold weather
- Address coolant leaks immediately to prevent overheating damage
Vehicle Rankings
Looking for a replacement?
Based on the data above, here are relevant options.
Affiliate link
Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28