2015 Subaru Forester reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2015 Subaru Forester — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 889
- 269 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 130 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 89 reported crashes · 52 injuries · 12 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#484
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+707
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2013-2017
+599
median 290 complaints in 624 records
Top component share
15%
Engine: 130 complaints
What owners report fails — 2015 Subaru Forester
- ENGINE 130
- AIR BAGS 99
- POWER TRAIN 93
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 78
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 72
3 recalls on record for the 2015 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 19V701000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the ri
- NHTSA 19V149000 · 2019 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, incre
- NHTSA 16V162000 · 2016 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLIN An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2015 Subaru Forester
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2015 Subaru Forester units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 889 consumer complaints on record for the 2015 Subaru Forester and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (130 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2015 Subaru Forester units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (130), air bags (99), power train (93), electrical system (78). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2015 Subaru Forester?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.