This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers). (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Subaru Forester engine problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Subaru Forester have filed 72 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 50,200 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
72
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Forester | 50 |
| 2012 Forester | 22 |
| 2013 Forester | 22 |
| 2014 Forester | 41 |
| 2015 Forester (this page) | 72 |
| 2016 Forester | 32 |
| 2017 Forester | 23 |
| 2018 Forester | 14 |
| 2019 Forester | 60 |
1crash
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 72 engine complaints filed for the 2015 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 72.
Owners have filed 72 engine 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two broad categories of engine failure on the 2015 Subaru Forester: sudden loss of power at highway speeds, and excessive oil consumption.
Stalling and loss of power: Multiple owners report the engine shutting off without warning while driving at highway speeds (65–75 mph), forcing them to coast to the shoulder. The vehicle typically restarts after waiting minutes to hours. No warning lights precede these events. Dealers and Subaru have been unable to reproduce the failures, leaving the root cause undiagnosed. One owner reported the stall happening three separate times; another twice. Owners have speculated about fuel-system issues, condensation in fuel lines, battery weakness, and moisture ingestion, but no definitive cause has been confirmed.
Excessive oil consumption: Owners report burning a quart of oil every 1,500–3,000 miles, requiring frequent top-ups between scheduled changes. Some mention a burning-oil smell inside and outside the cabin. When dealers ran oil-consumption tests, results typically came back as "normal" within Subaru's stated parameters, despite obvious oil loss. One owner had a short block replaced but continued experiencing the same issue. A separate owner's compression and leak-down test revealed severe internal degradation at 82,000 miles. Service bulletins exist addressing cam-carrier and head-gasket oil leaks on some model variants.
Related driveability issues: Several owners report hesitation, lurching, bucking, and power loss during acceleration—problems sometimes tied to low oil or electrical issues. One owner experienced an engine knock followed by complete power loss and rough idle shortly after an ECM flash update for surging issues. Dealers found an air intake hose disconnected from the intercooler but owners remain skeptical the root problem was addressed.
Same Subaru Forester engine reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden engine stall at highway speed
Engine shuts off completely without warning while driving at highway speeds (65–75 mph), forcing driver to coast to shoulder. Vehicle typically restarts after waiting several minutes to hours. No warning lights before stall. Dealers unable to reproduce or diagnose.
When: Various mileages from 15,888 to 120,000 miles; incidents span 2016–2019
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine power at highway speed; No warning lights before failure; Vehicle restarts after delay; Hazard lights remain functional during stall
Codes mentioned: P0016 (cam/crankshaft timing mismatch), Various electrical codes noted by some owners
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump/relay failure suspected by some owners; air intake hose disconnection found in one case. Most failures undiagnosed at dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru offered extended CVT warranty to some owners. No recalls issued for this condition. One dealer offered vehicle buyback coupon (declined by owner).
Excessive oil consumption
Engine consumes oil at abnormally high rate, requiring top-ups every 1,500–3,000 miles between scheduled oil changes. Oil-consumption tests by dealers return results within 'normal' parameters despite obvious loss. Owner burning oil smell reported in cabin and from engine bay.
When: Can begin as early as 3,000 miles; persists throughout ownership. Issues documented from 14,000 miles onward; some owners report problem from first 3,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine oil light illuminates frequently; Burning oil smell inside cabin and exterior; Oil level drops 1 quart per 1,500–3,000 miles; Black/darkened oil within 1,200 miles of fresh change
Repairs/costs cited: Owners mention short-block replacement, head gasket and upper oil pan seal replacement, cam-carrier seal repair (labor-intensive, requiring engine removal). Dealer estimates cited $3,700+ for cam-carrier/related repairs. One owner's compression/leak-down test revealed severe cylinder degradation (160–165 PSI cylinders #1 and #3; 148–153 PSI cylinders #2 and #4; 5–25% leakage past rings and valves) at 82,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 02-157-14R addresses oil leaks on manual-transmission 2015 Foresters only; CVT-equipped models not covered. Subaru told owners excessive oil consumption is 'within design parameters' and 'normal.' Extended warranty available in some cases. Offered engine replacement on one vehicle.
Hesitation, bucking, power loss during acceleration
Vehicle hesitates or lurches when accelerating from stop, especially in stop-and-go traffic or during left-turn merges. Engine power drops unexpectedly, then returns with shudder. Problems worsen after oil warning light activates. One owner reported sudden loud engine knock followed by complete power loss after ECM flash for surging issues.
When: Can occur from early ownership; recurring issue over multiple years. One incident occurred within 2 weeks of ECM flash update.
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed response when pressing accelerator; Bucking or lurching during acceleration; Abrupt slowdown when foot removed from accelerator; Power loss/hesitation during merges and turns; Engine knock and rough idle after power loss; Shaking as if stalling
Codes mentioned: Check engine light illuminated (various codes noted)
Repairs/costs cited: ECM flash update applied in one case to address surging; issue recurred 3–4 weeks after repair. Air intake hose disconnection diagnosed in another case; owner skeptical this was root cause. Multiple dealers replaced fuel sensors, valves, electronic components, spark plugs, and fuel lines without resolving underlying issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru advised one owner they were 'aware of the problem and there was a fix' but problem returned within weeks. No permanent resolution provided across multiple repair attempts.
Cam-carrier and engine seal oil leaks
Oil leaks from cam-carrier/front cover seals, dripping onto downstream components including O2 sensors, VVT solenoids, and catalytic converter. Oil runs down wiring harness, triggering sensor failures and check-engine codes.
When: Reported at 65,000 miles; continued leaking at 105,000 miles. Can occur within 100,000-mile warranty period.
Symptoms owners cite: Oil dripping from engine compartment; Oil-soaked sensors and electrical components; Check engine light illuminated; Cruise control malfunction; Burning oil smell when idling or in traffic; System running lean (lean fuel trim code)
Codes mentioned: O2 sensor codes, VVT solenoid codes
Repairs/costs cited: Cam-carrier seal and head-gasket replacement; labor-intensive engine removal required. Dealer estimate $3,700+ for seal repair plus sensor/solenoid replacement. Parts: O2 sensor, VVT solenoid.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB issued in 2019 (02-157-14R) but covers only manual-transmission vehicles. CVT-equipped 2015 models not included despite shared engine platform. Dealer refused warranty coverage for secondary sensor failures until oil leak repaired.
Engine low oil pressure or seizure
Engine seizes or fails suddenly with low oil pressure warning light. One owner heard cracking sound from engine, lost motive power, and engine seized during stop. Another experienced sudden complete engine failure at stop sign.
When: Can occur as early as 6,000 miles (brand new car with recent oil change); reported up to 59,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Cracking/grinding sound from engine; Complete loss of power; Low oil pressure warning light illuminated; Engine seized
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required. One dealer declared engine 'blown' after owner described gravel-like sensation and loss of acceleration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised repair would not be covered under warranty. One owner sold vehicle to dealer rather than pursue warranty claim.
Engine surge, unintended acceleration, and idle issues
Engine surges at startup and low speeds or accelerates unexpectedly despite brakes applied. Vehicle has been subject to multiple repair attempts with recurring issues and different fault codes each time.
When: Recurring intermittently over several years
Symptoms owners cite: Engine surges at startup; Surging at low speeds; Unintended acceleration despite brake pressure; Engine revs with no driver input while braking
Codes mentioned: Various codes including fuel sensor codes (repeated repairs with different codes)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple parts replaced including fuel sensors, valves, electronic components, key, fuel line, spark plugs without resolving underlying issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru aware of surging problem and offered ECM flash fix; issue returned within weeks. Multiple repair attempts by dealerships have not resolved issue permanently.
Synthesized from 72 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
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 and the engine shakes for the vehicle to even start moving forward. There appears to be slippage as well. This is a…
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, it was raining and the 'eyesight cameras; were on. At first we thought this was the issue. The second occasion, it was…
Vehicle consumes oil at irregular pace. 1 quart needs to be added every 1,500-2,000 miles. This means using 3 additional quarts of oil in between oil changes. I am concerned about the environmental impact and for catastrophic engine failure.
My 2015 forester consumes a 1/2 quart of oil every 4000 miles. My oil light comes on.
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2015 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 72 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 52 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 21,000 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 50,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 21,000; a quarter make it past 70,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.