Is the 2015 Subaru Forester a bad year?
617 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Forester years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2015 Subaru Forester are in line with other Forester years. Air bags, speed control, suspension and 1 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2015 Forester owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 46,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 102 (17%) | 33k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 70 (11%) | 12k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 66 (11%) | 40k–62k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 57 (9%) | 24k–83k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Engine | 136 (22%) | 22k–75k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 95 (15%) | 18k–76k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 84 (14%) | 16k–60k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 36 (6%) | 23k–57k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Seats | 22 (4%) | 44k–87k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 20 (3%) | 12k–60k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 20 (3%) | 31k–67k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Steering | 19 (3%) | 16k–67k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Stability control | 14 (2%) | 24k–65k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 28 (5%) | 4k–38k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 46,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 617 complaints: 53 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 26 report an injury · 47 say the car was towed.
18 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The current mileage of my car is 45,751. I faithfully follow all maintenance schedule, particularly, oil changes.
I bought the car a month ago around march 10,2018 from glanzmann subaru. After 2 weeks of driving, the car was shaking and had trouble accelerating intermittently when at stop signs or at low speeds.
While driving on highway at 70MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost power. The engine revved but no response, like it was in neutral.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 46,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2015 Subaru Forester: 3
An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen. 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.
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. 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 turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Subaru: 238
Repair instructions Subaru sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 Subaru Forester. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES) failures for both Telematics and remote engine start equipped vehicles
Diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines
Diagnostic flow along with an IMPORTANT caution to follow for certain CVT solenoid related DTCs as listed
Design changes to the engine oil and CVT fluid drain plugs
Neighbouring years
2014 Forester: 403 complaints, keep it · 2016 Forester: 416 complaints, keep it.
Every Subaru Forester year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Forester years side by side
Other Subaru models: Subaru Ascent · Subaru Crosstrek · Subaru Impreza · Subaru Legacy · Subaru Outback · Subaru WRX · Subaru XV Crosstrek. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2015 Subaru Forester a bad year?
617 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Forester years. At 46,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru Forester?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (102), speed control (70), suspension (66), fuel system (57), engine (136).
How many recalls does the 2015 Subaru Forester have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-701), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 19V-149), Engine (NHTSA 16V-162). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.