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The 2015 Subaru Forester has 613 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 3 active recall campaigns.
The 2015 Subaru Forester has 613 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 92 complaints, typically surfacing around 69,199 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Forester | 105 | 15 |
| 2013 Forester | 77 | 12 |
| 2014 Forester | 403 | 2 |
| 2015 Forester (this page) | 613 | 3 |
| 2016 Forester | 407 | 3 |
| 2017 Forester | 579 | 1 |
| 2018 Forester | 490 | 3 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2015 Subaru Forester SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 69,199 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
For the past few weeks I have been having major issues with this vehicle. The vehicle shakes as if it is going to stall. While on the highway or the street the rpms and power will suddenly drop and when I push on the accelerator the RPM revs up to a 5 or 6 but with little power…
On two occasions: traveling at approx 65-70mph the engine suddenly stalls and we have been forced to stop on the shoulder. The steering works, but there is no power going to the engine which eventually stalls. It starts after 2 attempts and then drives normally. First occasion,…
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Subaru forester. While driving 20 MPH through a green light, a vehicle crashed into the driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained injuries to the head and neck that required…
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while pulling out of the driveway, he heard an abnormal grinding sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the driver’s side wheel bearing had failed and…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
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.
Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 613 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Subaru Forester has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2015 Subaru Forester is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: Powertrain: 90 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 19,100–76,000 mi; Engine: 72 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 21,000–70,000 mi; Reliability score 6.4/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 92 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 69,199 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 613 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 69,199 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 92 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 69,199 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 69,199 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 613 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.