Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Subaru Forester submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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. I would normally be minimally braking, so I'm not sure what happened but it was sudden. I could have hit the gas pedal but i would have pressed it a lot I think for the sudden lunge to happen.
Subaru part # 63269SG002 "hatch lift support / stay tailgate (rear gate, right)". Pin that attaches hydraulic lift to rear tailgate snapped in half when closing trunk - available for inspection. Lift extended fully, preventing closure of rear tailgate. Failure left tailgate solely held up with (1) remaining lift which could not fully support weight, letting door sag/droop and causing injury to scalp of (1) person. A 4 year old child was not injured, but was present - safety was at risk based on proximity to the door at the time of failure. Dealer advised no active recalls open on vehicle 5/26/26. Manufacturer does appear to have issued service bulletin 12-289-20 in 2020 providing warranty extension for this component. Component was not inspected. No warnings or symptoms were observed - corrosion noted on attachment point of life gate after removal.
The rear door hinges do not open fully and it is easy to hit your head. I hit my head unloading groceries, and my boyfriend did as well. It is dangerous.
While driving i noticed my hood bouncing up and down as if the hood latch was pulled. I havent pulled the hood latch in a while and thought it couldn't be open. Upon pulling off the roadway i noticed it was able to be opened simply by sliding the lever to open the hood. I then shut the hood thinking maybe I accidentally pulled the lever somehow with my foot. This was not the case because I then tested it by pulling up on the hood and it released again as if the lever was pulled. I checked the lever and it looks as it is ok and i gave it a pull to see if it seemed broken but it does not appear that way. I have not gone to a dealer yet and will bring it to my mechanic as soon as im able to safely get it there.
I experienced unintended acceleration while parking my car. The car surged ahead, over a curb and collided with a metal lamppost. Damage was on the body of the car’s right front. While no one was injured the car went across a space used by pedestrians including schoolchildren. There was no warning before the car surged. A friend later told me that she had experienced the same thing when she had stopped her 2018 Subaru Forester .
Rear hatch lift struts failed (pneumatically) unexpectedly causing hatch to fall down on me while loading groceries.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT, AND UNLOCKED, AND THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS PULLED, NOTHING HAPPENS. THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE STILL FUNCTIONS, BUT THE INTERIOR HANDLE DOES NOT. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU U.S. CORPORATE OFFICE VIA EMAIL FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT RECEIVED NO REPLIES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DISCOVERING A CRACK AT THE BASE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THE CRACK HAD EXPANDED APPROXIMATELY 16 INCHES OVER 3 DAYS. THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER NEW MOTORS SUBARU LOCATED AT (8670 PEACH ST. ERIE, PA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT WINDOW AND GLASS ESTABLISHMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
STRUT ON REAR HATCH, SUBARU 2015 FORESTER, BROKE AT ATTACHMENT POINT, HATCH FELL WITH GREAT FORCE, NEARLY HIT MY HEAD. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I CALLED SUBARU'S CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER, BUT AFTER GOING THROUGH MANY MENUS, GOT AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE THAT THE CALL COULD NOT BE COMPLETED.*DT *TR
YESTERDAY 9/5/19 THE TAILGATE STRUT ON OUR 2015 SUBARU FORRESTER SUDDENLY FAILED CAUSING THE REAR GATE WHICH WAS OPEN TO ABRUPTLY FALL ONTO MY SPOUSE'S HEAD WHILE SHE WAS UNLOADING GROCERIES. THE METAL BOLT WITH THE ROUND BALL THAT FITS INTO THE END OF THE STRUT CRACKED OFF AND APPEARED RUSTED AT THE EDGES. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME/SIMILAR ISSUE AS NHTSA RECALL NO. 08V-135 FOR THE SUBARU IMPREZA. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ON THE 2015 FORRESTER FOR THIS ISSUE. I WILL BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SUBARU DEALER TO HAVE THEM INSPECT IT. MY WIFE HAS NOT SEEN A DOCTOR FOR THIS (YET) BUT HER HEAD STILL HURTS THE NEXT DAY AND SHE WAS DIZZY AFTERWARDS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE CONTACT'S WIFE LIFTED THE HATCHBACK, THE LEFT SUPPORT ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARBONE SUBARU OF TROY (800 HOOSICK RD, TROY, NY 12180, 518-312-4300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEFT HATCHBACK SUPPORT ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *TT CONSUMER REPLACED NEW LIFT ARM. BALL-HEADED BOLT HAD SNAPPED.* JB *DT *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT SIDE STRUT HAS ALSO FAILED. *JS*DT *JB
I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHEN THE BATTERY DIED. WHILE SITTING IN MY CAR USING THE ACCESSORIES TO CHARGE MY PHONE, THE CAR BATTERY DIED AND I WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS TO GET OUT. THE KEY FOB DID NOT WORK EITHER. THERE IS NO INSIDE HANDLE ON THE REAR HATCH. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED A COUPLE TIMES AND AFTER ABOUT THREE MINUTES THE DOOR DID UNLOCK. WHAT IF THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD? WHAT IF I DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A CELL PHONE AND IT WAS COLD TEMPERATURES? I DO NOT THINK I WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH TO KICK OUT THE WINDOWS. I AM CONCERNED AND HOPE YOU WILL INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU.
CAR STARTED AND BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE. WHEN GEAR SHIFT WAS PLACED IN DRIVE THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD 50 FEET AND DROVE THRU AN ALUMINUM RAIL AND MESH OVER HEAD ELECTRIC ACTIVATED DOOR. AT 81 MORE FEET THE CAR HIT A 4 X 4 STEEL COLUMN HOLDING UP TWO 27 FOOT STEEL BEAMS OF A CARPORT ROOF STRUCTURE AND COLLAPSED THE COLUMN. THE SOUTHERLY BEAM FELL ON TOP OF THE CAR AND PULLED THE NORTHERLY BEAM WITH IT. THE CAR CONTINUED FORWARD 9 FEET STRIKING THE FIRST PARKED CAR IN THE REAR QUARTER. THE CAR CONTINUED ABOUT 4 FEET MORE AND STRUCK A SECOND PARKED CAR IN ITS HIND QUARTER AND PUSHED IT UNTIL IT WAS AGAINST THE NEXT CARPORT SUPPORT COLUMN. THE TWO OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR WERE ABLE TO EXIT FROM THE CAR AT EACH OF THE FRONT DOORS WHICH OPENED WITHOUT PROBLEM. EXPERIENCING LIMITED BRUISING ON THEIR LEGS BELOW THE KNEE. A MIRACLE. THE CAR TRAVELED ABOUT 145 FEET NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE DRIVER. THE CAR DEALER HAD BEEN QUESTIONED ON WHY THE CAR DID NOT MOVE FREQUENTLY DURING A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN EVERY TIME IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE CAR. THE SERVICE REVIEW WAS FIVE TIMES AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. I WAS TOLD 'IT WAS THE WAY THE CAR WORKED'. I WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH TEST RESULTS FOR THIS CONDITION. THE CAR HAD THE EYESIGHT DEVICE AND DID NOT STOP THE CAR AT EITHER AT THE DOOR OR THE COLUMN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT IMPLODE ON EITHER IMPACT LOCATION. ONE RECALL WTA-62 FOR SUBARU FORESTER 2015 AND 2016. ENGINE, MARCH 21, 2016. TURBOCHARGER AIR INTAKE DUCT CRACK STALLS ENGINE (16V162000). I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THIS RECALL. I THINK THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE BEGINNING AND A FIX WAS NOT INITIATED TO CORRECT A FAULTY CONDITION. FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON A BUSY STREET OR HIGHWAY. THIS ACCIDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I HAVE PICTURES THAT I CAN FORWARD FOR YOUR USE ON JPG FORMAT. *BF *TR
CAR PASSED STATE INSPECTION ON 8/3/2017 WITH 18500 MILES. ONE WEEK LATER, CAR WAS TAKEN ON SHORT ERRAND AND BURST INTO FLAMES WITH DRIVER INSIDE UPON BEING PLACED IN PARK. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE ASSESSED THE SITUATION.
MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER XT WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS VISITS TO THE FOR AN ISSUE IN WHICH THE CARS ENGINE LIGHTS AND WARNINGS WOULD DISPLAY, VIOLENTLY SHAKE, SHUDDER AND LOSE POWER WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AM AUTHORIZED SUBARU MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE, THEY DID AN ECM COMPUTER UPDATE...UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEMS DID NOT GO AWAY AFTER THE UPDATE. I RE-VISITED THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINING THAT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED, AT WHICH POINT THEY DECIDED TO TRY TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER A WEEK, THE SUBARU DEALER SENT ME HOME IN THE CAR, SAYING THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. LESS THEN 4 DAYS LAYER, WHILE ON MY MORNING COMMUTE TO WORK, THE SAME PROBLEMS WHICH HAD PLAGUED THE CAR STARTED TO OCCUR, HOWEVER THIS TIME, I HEARD A LOUD POP/BANG AND SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN OF THE CAR. VERY SHORTLY AFTER SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN, I WITNESSED FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ABOVE THE WINDSDHIED. I EXITED THE FREEWAY LANES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AND WITHIN 10 SECONDS THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAVE PAPERWORK FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH MY EXPRESSED CONCERNS, AND THE SUABARU MECHANIC'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ISSUE.
WHILE PARKING AND APPLY THE BRAKES THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. MY WIFE WAS PARKING THE CAR AND WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING STALL SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND RAMMED INTO A STEEL CABLE THAT SEPARATED THE PARKING STALLS.
VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVER WAS PARKING WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE HIT HOUSE AND PORCH, SHEARING OFF THE GAS METER WHERE IT MEETS THE UNDERGROUND LINE. EYESIGHT OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE.
CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, ABOUT 10-15 FEET, FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE INTO A BRICK BUILDING,IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT CAUSING 7K DAMAGE TO MY CARS. PRIOR TO THIS CRASH, THE LANE DEPARTURE AND AUTO BREAKING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF. I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE CRASH PREVENTED THAT. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND TAKEN TO THE SUBARU DEALER WHERE PURCHASED, AND THEY EXAMINED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. SINCE THEN, MY SCREEN DATE WAS SET AND THEN REVERTED BACK TO FEB 4, 2010. ALSO, THE LANE DEPARTURE AND AUTO BRAKING LIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING TWICE SINCE GETTING THE CAR BACK. ADDITIONALLY, THE SCREEN NOW DISPLAYS ADDITIONAL MESSAGES THAT IT HADN'T IN THE PAST, SUCH AS VEHICLE AHEAD HAS MOVED, AND ROAD CONDITIONS MIGHT BE ICY. THE LATTER SHOULD HAVE SHOWN UP PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT, LIVING IN THE SNOW BELT OF NE OHIO. HAS THERE BEEN ANY "SILENT RECALLS" PLACED ON THIS CAR SINCE 2010 REGARDING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A FORMAL RECALL ON, RATHER THAT SUBARU HAS ISSUED THIS INFORMATION TO IT'S TECHS ONLY? I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS GAS PEDAL ISSUE HAS BEEN DISMISSED DUE TO WEATHER MATS, DRIVERS AGE OR DRIVER'S FOOT MISSING THE CORRECT PEDAL. I AM AN EXPERIENCED AND SAFE DRIVER WHO DOES NOT LIKE GETTING SCAMMED BY A MANUFACTURE OF INFERIOR PRODUCT. SUBARU IS LOVE....QUESTIONABLE SINCE IT SEEMS TO ME THEY ARE MAKING CHANGES WITHOUT INFORMING THE GOVERNMENT OF THESE PROBLEMS.
CAR WAS DRIVEN OUT OF NEW CAR DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT BY DRIVER WITH 50 PLUS YEARS EXPERIENCE. APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MILES INTO TRIP CAR EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER GOING THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. CAR PROCEEDED INTO WOODED AREA AND HIT TREE CAUSING LOWER LEG INJURIES TO DRIVER AND MODERATE TO SEVERE DAMAGE TO CAR. DRIVER WAS NOT ENTRAPPED UPON EMT ARRIVAL. ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED. DRIVER IS CONFIDENT CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND /OR ENGINE COMPUTER. CAR TRAVELED AT OVER 40 MPH DURING INCIDENT AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED THROUGH NORMAL BRAKING ACTION.
THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT RUNNING IN PARK ON A SLIGHT UPHILL GRADE IN A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY WHILE THE DRIVER RAN INTO THE HOUSE TO DROP SOMETHING OFF. SHE CAME RIGHT OUT OF THE HOUSE TO FIND THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ITSELF FORWARD UP THE GRADE INTO A GARAGE DOOR. IT WAS STILL RUNNING IN PARK WEDGED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. ONLY MINOR DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND GARAGE DOOR. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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