This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Subaru Forester wheels problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $400 · see wheels across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
When does it fail?
Of the 14 wheels complaints filed for the 2015 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 8 model years of Subaru Forester we track for wheels problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 14.
No new NHTSA wheels complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering wheels 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 announces a change made to the wheel lug nuts.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces availability of new front wheel hub assemblies incorporating bearing surfaces having increased resistance to imperfections resulting from shock loads.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin announces a change made to the wheel lug nuts.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change made to the rear wheel / brake backing plates.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Subaru Forester shows a clear cluster of wheel and suspension failures. The most common issue is premature rear wheel bearing failure, reported across 46,800 to 74,000 miles—far shorter than normal service life. Owners describe loud humming noise at highway speeds, and one reported seeing multiple customers at a Subaru dealership having the identical repair done simultaneously.
Just as prevalent is wheel stud shearing and lug nut seizing. Studs snap during tire rotations and brake service despite proper hand-torquing and spec torque application (89 ft-lbs per manual). Owners report studs fracturing when lug nuts are removed with penetrating oil, and stripping when torque wrenches apply specification torque. Multiple studs fail on the same wheel. One owner detailed seizing lug nuts that broke three studs in a single service session—all hand-tightened minutes prior without over-torquing. Forum research revealed a dedicated Subaru thread with 168 posts on the same stud failure affecting 2014–2018 Foresters.
A separate failure involves brake caliper retainer bolts snapping during operation, nearly disabling rear brakes. Another owner reported a parking brake cable bullet-end detaching at highway speed, causing brake drums to tumble inside the wheel. Front tire shaking on turns was also documented. Subaru declined warranty coverage and investigation into these issues in multiple cases.
Same Subaru Forester wheels reports on nearby years: 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Wheel stud shearing and seizing
Wheel studs fracture, snap, or strip under normal hand-torquing and spec torque (89 ft-lbs per owner's manual). Lug nuts seize on studs despite proper installation technique. Failures occur during tire rotations, brake service, and routine wheel work, often with minimal torque applied.
When: During tire rotations, brake service, and wheel removal; some failures noted at low temperatures (20°F)
Symptoms owners cite: Studs snap when removing or torquing hand-tightened lug nuts; Lug nuts seize to studs despite proper installation; Studs strip when torque wrench is applied to spec; Multiple studs fail on same wheel during service
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement wheel studs required; dealer charges $200+ per stud replacement. Owners report aftermarket hardened racing studs recommended on Subaru forums as alternative to OEM replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru stated they do not investigate every concern reported; no recall or TSB mentioned in narratives; dealer declined warranty coverage in one case
Rear wheel bearing premature failure
Rear wheel bearings fail at unusually low mileage (46,800 to 74,000 miles), producing loud humming noise at highway speeds. Left and right bearings fail independently, sometimes within months of each other. Owner reports dealership stocked these as a popular replacement item.
When: 46,800 to 74,000 miles; one case noted bearing failed on opposite side within 2 months
Symptoms owners cite: Loud humming or grinding noise from rear, especially at highway speed; Noise increases with speed; Noise at speeds around 40 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Rear hub assembly replacement; repair cost reported as $500 to $1,000+
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru refused warranty coverage after new vehicle warranty expired; no recall or TSB mentioned
Brake caliper retainer bolt shearing
Brake caliper retainer bolts snap while vehicle is in motion, causing rear brakes to become nearly inoperable. Failure allowed only partial brake pad contact with rotor. Dealer supplied hardware store specification for replacement bolts rather than OEM parts; aftermarket bolts have held.
When: During vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Brake caliper retainer bolts snap; Rear brakes become inoperable or nearly inoperable; Reduced brake pad contact with rotor
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer provided hardware store bolt specification; owner obtained aftermarket replacement bolts which have remained in service
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer did not attempt to resolve under warranty
Front tire shaking on turns
Right front tire shakes during steering input, both at high and low speeds when turning left. Shaking persists below 40 mph on freeways.
When: During turns at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Right front tire shakes on left turn steering input; Shaking occurs at high and low speeds; Shaking below 40 mph on freeways
Parking brake cable end failure
Bullet-end of parking brake cable detached, allowing brake drums to fall loose inside the right rear wheel at highway speed. Failure occurred during braking for rest stop.
When: At highway speed during braking
Symptoms owners cite: Parking brake cable bullet-end detached; Brake drums fell loose inside wheel; Loss of parking brake function
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost $545
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I have had several occasions where the wheel lugs have snapped while the wheels were removed for tire replacement, rotation and replacement of brake pads and rotors. I have also had the brake caliper retainer bolts snap while the vehicle was in motion so that the rear brakes on the vehicle were next to inoperable as only a portion of the brake pad came in contact with the rotor. The dealer did…
Had wheels 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 wheels problem on the 2015 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $400 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, wheels issues most often appear around 62,755 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $400 for wheels 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 wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels 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.