Representative model. Photo: EurovisionNim, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2015 Subaru Forester recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2015 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 615
Latest campaign: Oct 3, 2019

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	1	Oct 3, 2019	19V701000
Exterior lighting	1	Feb 28, 2019	19V149000
Engine and engine cooling	1	Mar 21, 2016	16V162000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Oct 3, 2019Latest campaign


Oct 3, 201919V701000	Air bags: sensor occupant classification If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event… DetailsHide details for campaign 19V701000 What's wrong Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen. Risk If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash. Remedy Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98. Campaign NHTSA 19V701000 · Oct 3, 2019
Feb 28, 201919V149000	Exterior lighting: brake lights switch Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V149000 What's wrong Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park. Risk Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash. Remedy Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90. Campaign NHTSA 19V149000 · Feb 28, 2019
Mar 21, 201616V162000	Engine and engine cooling: engine gasoline An engine stall increases the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V162000 What's wrong Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall. Risk An engine stall increases the risk of a crash. Remedy Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62. Campaign NHTSA 16V162000 · Mar 21, 2016

Oct 3, 201919V701000

Air bags: sensor occupant classification

If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event…

DetailsHide details for campaign 19V701000

What's wrong: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
Risk: If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Campaign: NHTSA 19V701000 · Oct 3, 2019

Feb 28, 201919V149000

Exterior lighting: brake lights switch

Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 19V149000

What's wrong: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Campaign: NHTSA 19V149000 · Feb 28, 2019

Mar 21, 201616V162000

Engine and engine cooling: engine gasoline

An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 16V162000

What's wrong: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.
Campaign: NHTSA 16V162000 · Mar 21, 2016

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Subaru recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component615

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

615Complaints filed

53Involving a crash

7Involving a fire

34Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Engine	131	21	10	3	7
Air bags	102	17	17	0	12
Power train	95	15	6	0	1
Electrical system	82	13	1	3	0
Unknown or other	73	12	6	2	2
Vehicle speed control	70	11	26	0	10
Suspension	66	11	0	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	56	9	3	1	5
Service brakes	36	6	4	0	2
Visibility/wiper	23	4	0	0	0
Seats	22	4	1	1	2
Structure	20	3	8	2	5
Wheels	20	3	0	0	0
Steering	19	3	4	0	2
Exterior lighting	15	2	1	0	0

16 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Fuel/propulsion system
“I started to have problems with my Forester, and reading upon what could be the issue, I ran across recall 16V162000, on which describes exactly what my car simptoms are.”
Filed 10/06/2026 · ODI 11769468
Air bags
“The passenger seat belt went off when my beagle was jumping around on the front seat and I had made an appointment to bring it into the shop the dealer and the light was off but I had the appointment so I brought it in…”
Filed 09/27/2026 · ODI 11767237
Structure
“I was parking at the dentist office in their parking lot going slow, turned into a parking space and thought i was slowly braking but my car lunged forward and hit a tree.”
Filed 07/13/2026 · ODI 11750125

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2015 Subaru Forester recall questions

How many recalls does the 2015 Subaru Forester have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2015 Subaru Forester. The most recent, 19V701000 (reported October 3, 2019), concerns air bags. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2015 Subaru Forester?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 131 complaints out of 615 filed with NHTSA (21%). Across all complaints, owners reported 53 crashs and 7 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2015 Subaru Forester?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Subaru recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Subaru dealer.

Check a specific Subaru by VIN

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