While pulling in to park in the lot at a low speed- 5 MPH or less- I took my foot off the gas to apply the brake and the vehicle accelerated and hit the side of the building. The (tin) building was dented and my car was scratched on the bumper- below the grill and also the Subaru emblem was cracked.
2015 Subaru Forester cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Subaru Forester have filed 43 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 37,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
43
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Forester | 10 |
| 2012 Forester | 15 |
| 2013 Forester | 7 |
| 2014 Forester | 26 |
| 2015 Forester (this page) | 43 |
| 2016 Forester | 25 |
| 2017 Forester | 19 |
| 2018 Forester | 21 |
| 2019 Forester | 13 |
16crashes
8injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 43 cruise control complaints filed for the 2015 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 19 model years of Subaru Forester we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 43.
Owners have filed 43 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report three main categories of serious failure across 43 complaints: sudden unintended acceleration, power loss with stalling, and acceleration hesitation.
The unintended acceleration incidents happen mostly during low-speed parking and maneuvering—backing, turning into spaces, shifting to Drive or Reverse—where the engine surges and the vehicle accelerates despite brake pedal applied. Collisions have damaged nearby cars, structures, and in one case caused a rollover. Mileage ranges from 3,000 to 82,000 miles. No warning lights appear in most cases. One owner's accelerator pedal was replaced, then failed again 24,000 miles later with the same problem.
Power loss events occur at highway speeds (65–75 MPH), where the engine suddenly shuts down or revs uncontrollably while losing speed. The vehicle often won't restart immediately. Fuel gauges show remaining fuel; no warning lights alert drivers. These events strand owners on busy highways.
Acceleration hesitation—bucking, stumbling, or power loss lasting several seconds when starting from a stop or entering traffic—is intermittent but frightening. Subaru service personnel told owners this is normal CVT behavior and advised avoiding acceleration when dangerous.
Brake light and EyeSight system electrical faults cause multiple warning lights to illuminate together, prevent shifting out of Park, and disable cruise control. Owners manually reset electrical connections to regain function. Dealerships have consistently been unable to reproduce failures or identify causes, and owners report Subaru Corporation refused buyback or further assistance.
Same Subaru Forester cruise control reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration during low-speed maneuvering
Vehicle surges or accelerates uncontrollably while parking or at very low speeds (<5 MPH), often with brake applied. Owners cannot stop the vehicle with brakes alone and collide with objects, vehicles, or structures.
When: Occurs during parking, backing, low-speed turns; mileage ranges from 3,000 to 82,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs or surges without pedal input; Brake pedal ineffective or requires extreme pressure; Vehicle accelerates despite brake application; Happens when shifting to Park or Drive; No warning lights in most cases
Codes mentioned: P2138
Repairs/costs cited: Accelerator pedal replacement (performed twice on one vehicle, #10); throttle body and brake sensors identified as potential causes (#31); check engine light may appear (#13); many dealers unable to reproduce or diagnose
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple owners report Subaru dealer claimed no problem found; independent Bosch EEA investigation ruled out cause (#1); several dealers refused warranty work or said behavior was 'normal CVT operation' (#3); no recalls cited by owners
Power loss or stalling during highway driving
Engine loses power, stalls, or revs uncontrollably at highway speeds (65–75 MPH), sometimes while cruise control is active. Vehicle may not restart immediately or at all; fuel gauge shows remaining fuel. No diagnostic codes or warning lights appear.
When: Occurs at highway speeds during longer drives; mileage 37,000 to 100,000 miles; some incidents correlate with low fuel warning active
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power and speed; Engine shutdown without warning; Engine revs high while losing speed; Vehicle will not respond to accelerator; Delayed restart (minutes to hours); No check engine light or fuel warning in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealership diagnostics show no codes or defects; some owners speculated fuel pump or fuel system issue; one owner waited 30 minutes before successful restart
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers report no diagnostics found; no codes detected; owners not offered solutions
Hesitation or power loss during acceleration from stop
Vehicle hesitates, stumbles, bucks, shudders, or loses power when accelerating from a stop or at low speeds, particularly at intersections. Power loss can last several seconds and is intermittent. Subaru service personnel dismissed concerns as normal CVT behavior.
When: Intermittent; reported since purchase or early ownership; mileage 12,400 to 72,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation or stumble on acceleration from stop; Bucking and shuddering during initial acceleration; Power loss for several seconds; Intermittent occurrence; Dangerous in traffic or intersection situations
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed; Subaru service advisor claimed behavior is 'normal for CVT' and told owner to avoid accelerating or turning when power loss would be dangerous (#3); throttle response delayed at low speeds (#30)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru and dealers refused to acknowledge problem; dismissed as expected CVT operation; no warranty service offered
Unintended acceleration while shifting into Reverse
Accelerator pedal becomes stuck or vehicle accelerates uncontrollably immediately after shifting into Reverse, even with light pedal input. Crash results with brake unable to stop vehicle.
When: Upon shifting to Reverse; mileage 3,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden uncontrolled acceleration after Reverse shift; Accelerator pedal stuck or unresponsive to release; Brake ineffective to stop vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed in crash; no repair attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
EyeSight and brake-related electrical system failures
EyeSight system, traction control, cruise control, and brake-related warning lights illuminate together on highway. Brake light switch (stoplight switch) defects prevent shifting out of Park after restart. System resets vary.
When: During highway driving; some incidents occur after overnight parking and restart
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple warning lights simultaneously (EyeSight, traction control, cruise control off, hill assist); Rear brake lights non-functional; Vehicle stuck in Park and cannot shift out; EyeSight system disabled shutting off cruise control; Manual reset needed by pressing brake switch connection
Repairs/costs cited: Owners manually reset brake switch/stoplight switch (Part #83311FJ001); manual intervention in electrical connector required; brake light switch defective per owner diagnosis (#11)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru announced recall on 3/1/19; owner unsure if it addressed this specific part/issue
Synthesized from 43 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2015 Subaru Forester?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2015 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 43 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 37 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 16,552 and 72,000 miles, with the median around 37,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 16,552; a quarter make it past 72,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Subaru/Forester.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.