This page covers 5 recalls, 607 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2015 Subaru Forester.
25–27 mpg combined
8.7–9.4 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints for the 2015 Subaru Forester cluster most heavily around the engine and airbag systems. On the engine side, owners frequently report sudden unintended acceleration, the vehicle surging forward without pedal input, occurring in parking lots, at low speeds, and occasionally on open roads. A separate but recurring engine complaint involves the vehicle losing power or shutting off entirely while driving, sometimes requiring a wait before restarting. The airbag category is dominated by reports of the passenger seat sensor warning light staying on persistently, suggesting the occupant detection system isn't reading correctly. Suspension complaints round out the top three, though those reports are more diffuse in nature. The unintended acceleration pattern is the most consistently described symptom across the engine complaints, with owners reporting it happening repeatedly across different driving situations rather than as a one-time event.
607
Total Complaints
52
Crash-Related
7
Fire-Related
25
With Injuries
By System
The 2015 Subaru Forester has 5 recalls, the most serious being a passenger seat occupant detection system that can incorrectly shut off the front passenger airbag even when someone is sitting in the seat.
This issue affects vehicles with heated front seats, where an electrical connection in the passenger seat can loosen and cause the airbag to deactivate, leaving a passenger without that protection in a crash. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue, which is why more than one recall addresses it. On the engine side, this applies only to 2.0XT turbocharged models: the air intake duct on the turbocharger can crack, causing rough idle, reduced power, or a stall while driving. There is also a brake light switch concern affecting a range of Subaru models from this era, where the brake lights may fail to illuminate when the pedal is pressed, leaving drivers behind with no warning that the vehicle is slowing down.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger occupant detection system may fail, causing the front passenger airbag to deactivate even when someone is sitting in that seat.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect the ODS sensor mat harness and replace it if needed.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electrical connection for the front passenger seat's Occupant Detection System may loosen, affecting how the seat detects occupancy.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the ODS sensor mat harness and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Contaminants can damage the brake light switch, stopping brake lights from working and preventing some vehicles from starting or shifting out of Park.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the brake light switch at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The turbocharger air intake duct may crack, potentially causing the engine to stall.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the turbocharger air intake duct if necessary, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The turbocharger air intake duct may crack due to incorrect material used in production. A crack can cause rough idling, reduced engine power, or stalling.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the air intake duct and replace it if cracked.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
