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 needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred while driving.…
2015 Subaru Forester suspension problems
moderate 64 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
64
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
When does it fail?
Of the 64 suspension 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
Owners have filed 64 suspension 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.
Among the 12 model years of Subaru Forester in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Rear strut spring failed without warning. I have retained the failed spring and its counterpart. Looks like a metal fracture. Vehicle was not subject to any acute trauma (e.g. Pothole), has never been in an accident, and has never been used for towing, hauling, or off-roading. Vehicle has 62k miles.
Mechanic noticed a small piece of the left rear suspension spring had rusted through and broken off while the car was up on a lift. Unclear exactly when the spring had broken.
In may of 2018, with 59000 miles on my Subaru, the right rear coil spring broke. It was replaced, free of charge, by Subaru. At the time, I stated that it must be a defect and the left spring should be changed but it was stated that it was inspected and was fine. This week, december 2019 with 79,000 miles, the car was not handling well. When I took it in to service (a different dealership), I was…
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2015 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 64 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 59 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 40,000 and 63,236 miles, with the median around 52,120. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 63,236. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.