2015 Subaru Forester Exterior lighting Problems

I bought a used 2015 subaru forester with 117,000 miles from an auto shop/used car dealer in March of 2024. In September of 2025, 11,000 miles of driving later, a bunch of lights came on my dash. Check engine, traction control, ABS, at oil temp, and incline assist. I took it to Autozone to get the codes read and the part it suggested was the transmission oil pressure sensor. I then took it to a trusted mechanic who said they weren’t able to get the lights to turn back on and told me to come back when the lights reappeared. In December of 2025, the lights came on and they were on long enough to take it back to the mechanic. The mechanic told me that it looked to be the transmission valve body and recommended a local transmission shop. I took it there and the mechanic told me there was a speed sensor that was failing and the transmission and valve body would need to be replaced. He said that they don’t sell the speed sensor anywhere and it is impossible to obtain. I got quoted 9,100 to fix my car (I originally paid around 8,500 for it). I was told it would not be worth my time or money to fix the transmission. The transmission guy told me that Subaru cvt transmissions are horrendous and to take this is a lesson to never buy a Subaru. I heeded to this advice and traded her in for $2000 towards a 2010 rav4. Additional info: It had a rebuilt title and had been in an accident before I got it. Lived its entire life between kentucky and tennessee. I replaced the engine oil and filter every 4,000-6,000 miles. Tire treads were very mismatched for the time I had it (almost two years) which I was told by a subaru dealership can damage the transmission. Back tires had significantly lower tread than front. I had front left lower control arm, rear spring coils, brake switch lamp, and one of the battery terminals replaced during the time I had it. My TPMS light was always on. My front right headlight went out frequently. My brake light assembly also broke and wasn’t worth fixing

NHTSA ID

11713143

Incident

Jan 15, 2026

I had a problem. arming the remote control. with forester subaru 2014 -2015 model car w/n arm. with key or electronically. I had changed battery you can arm manually sometimes , alarm will go off if you use the key to open door and shut it off with key. in ignition. had a diagnostic test done. with CODE B1500. tpms lights stays on also. tires are good. pressure good. extra remote key is good batteries changed. any info concerning this. Thank you. this happen week and half ago nov 11,2024. have an appt will subaru dealer on dec 5 to toubleshoot. is there any recalls for this matter

NHTSA ID

11626881

Incident

Nov 11, 2024

THIS CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER CAMPAIGN 19V149000 ON JULY 27 FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ISSUE. SINCE THE REPAIR OF THE RECALL, I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR BACK TO INTERNATIONAL SUBARU IN TINLEY PARK, IL FOR FOLLOW UP SERVICE RELATED TO THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE PROBLEM I'VE ENCOUNTERED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS IS THE CAR ALERTS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE STATING "HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED" WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE CAR THEN CUTS ALL THROTTLE CAPABILITIES FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS AND THE CAR JUST COASTS BEFORE RESUMING TAKING A THROTTLE INPUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR IS JUST COASTING AND DROPS 15+ MPH IN SPEED. THIS ALERT SEEMS TO BE TRIGGERED RANDOMLY AND IT CAUSES SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN WITHOUT WARNING MY CAR SUDDENLY LOSES ANY USAGE OF THE THROTTLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN TRACED BACK TO THE PART REPLACED IN THE RECALL AND THE DEALER FOUND THE RECORDS IN THE CAR'S COMPUTER SHOWING THE SWITCH WAS ACTIVE WHEN IT WASN'T BEING PRESSED. THIS ISSUE FIRST SURFACED ON 8/31/20 BUT HAS COME BACK NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THEN. FURTHERMORE, I HAD ISSUES WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON ON THE CAR OVERNIGHT WITH THE SWITCH ACTIVE WITH NO INPUT CAUSING A DRAINED BATTERY. THIS IS A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE THAN JUST LIGHTS BECAUSE THE CAR'S THROTTLE CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND THIS HAS BEEN TRACED BACK TO THE SWITCH ON MY CAR. I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE ORIGINAL RECALLED PART REPLACED IN MY CAR COMPARED TO THE RECALL REPLACEMENT PART.

NHTSA ID

11360498

Incident

Aug 31, 2020

Mileage

47,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT. REMOVED LIGHTING ASSEMBLY AND FOUND BLACKENED BULB AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE BURN MARKS ON THE LAMP HOLDER. INSPECTED OTHER BULB HOLDERS IN THE SAME ASSEMBLY AND FOUND NO OTHER BLACKENED BULBS OR BURNED HOLDERS. INSPECTED THE PASSENGER SIDE ASSEMBLY AND FOUND SIMILAR CONDITIONS (BLACKENED BULB, BURNED HOLDERS), BUT LAMP WAS STILL FUNCTIONAL. CLEANED BOTH CONNECTORS AND REPLACED BOTH BULBS WITH PHILIPS 7443LL.

NHTSA ID

11298371

Incident

Jan 9, 2020

Mileage

80,207 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. EVANSTON SUBARU (3340 OAKTON ST, SKOKIE, IL 60076, (847) 869-5700) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11234451

Incident

Jul 24, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TUCSON SUBARU (4901 N ORACLE RD, TUCSON, AZ 85704, (520) 422-2111) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11218295

Incident

Jun 6, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT CALLED CARLSEN SUBARU AT 888-520-5916 (LOCATED AT 480 VETERANS BLVD, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11218095

Incident

Feb 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DON MILLER SUBARU EAST (5401 HIGH CROSSING BLVD, MADISON, WI 53718 (877) 257-3233) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11207242

Incident

Feb 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HASSETTE SUBARU (3520 SUNRISE HWY, WANTAGH, NY 11793, (516) 785-7800) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE RECALL WAS FIXED ON MAY 14TH. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *BF *JB

NHTSA ID

11205039

Incident

Apr 20, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MORRIE'S MINNETONKA SUBARU (12520 WAYZATA BLVD, MINNETONKA, MN 55305, (612) 284-5696) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WAS NOT UNTIL AUGUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11204823

Incident

Apr 30, 2019

DRIVERS ARE NOT SEEING MY BRAKE LIGHTS OFF AND ON AND PULLING ME OVER TO TELLING US TO GET OUR LIGHTS FIXED. I JUST LOOKED UP RECALLS TO FIND OUT THAT WE HAVE A RECALL THAT NO ONE NOTIFIED US OF FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS. WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR GRAND KIDS AND EVERYONE ELSES IN THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS WHICH CAN BE A DEADLY SITUATION... PLEASE ASSIST.

NHTSA ID

11196155

Incident

Apr 13, 2019

Mileage

25 mi

THIS COMPLAINT IS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO NHTSA RECALL ID NUMBER :19V149 WHILE WE HAVE NOT NOTICED BREAK LIGHTS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REAR ENDED TWICE, IN 2017 AND IN 2018, POSSIBLY INDICATING THAT BREAK SWITCH WAS INTERMITTENTLY FAULTY.

NHTSA ID

11184256

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

55,000 mi

THE ELECTRICAL KEEPS HAVING PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF THE FORESTER. I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE HASN'T ALREADY BEEN A RECALL. THERE WILL BE A BE A BEEP, USUALLY WHEN DRIVING - SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR OR MOVE OUT OF PARK, AND ABOUT ANY "SAFETY" FEATURE THAT THIS CAR HAS EXHIBITS A LIGHT AND/OR WARNING. WHILE THIS HAPPENS OVER DAYS, SOMETIMES THE GEARS STICK IN PARK. I HAVE TO TAKE A TOOL AND PRESS BESIDE THE GEAR STICK TO GET OUT OF PARK. THE LIGHTS WILL STAY LIKE THIS FOR DAYS OR WEEKS AND THEN IT JUST STOPS. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED, BUT IT IS JUST RESET UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS. JUST THE OTHER NIGHT, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING BEHIND ME AND TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING CONSISTENTLY. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!! WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE IS NOT WORKING WHEN THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE OCCURS.

NHTSA ID

11109975

Incident

Jul 2, 2018

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER LET US KNOW THAT OUR TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ON EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING. ALSO, THE BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. BRAKE LIGHTS, EMERGENCY FLASHERS, AND TURN SIGNALS ARE STILL WORKING. WHEN WE HAVE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT UNTIL PROBLEM IS FIXED, WE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH FLASHERS ON. CHECKED ALL FUSES AND ALL ARE OK.

NHTSA ID

11010079

Incident

Jul 20, 2017

Mileage

18,000 mi

THIS MODEL VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE SPEEDOMETER IS LOCATED UNDER A VISOR WHICH LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT FALLING ON THE INSTRUMENT, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT HAVE ANY BACK LIGHTING UNDER DAYLIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE RESULT IS THAT UNDER MOST DAYTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER AND DETERMINE THE SPEED THAT THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT. THIS IS A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM AS DEALER STAFF HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAS NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SAFETY DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO DISCUSS THIS DEFECT, AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY SOLUTION.

NHTSA ID

10750097

Incident

Jun 25, 2015