What 613 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Forester Wilderness

This vehicle currently has about 65,000 miles on it. I have had to replace the battery twice since owning it (new). The first replacement was at 50283 miles and then again at 57335 miles. I have recently been made aware that it is alleged that this Subaru model is defective in such a way to precipitate early battery failure. I want my experience added to that of others. I have documentation of these two battery replacements which I could supply upon request.

NHTSA ODI 11419658

I HAVE HAD A SUDDEN BATTERY DRAIN. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC.

NHTSA ODI 11416785

THE BATTERY DRAINS OFTEN AND QUICKLY. IT HAPPENS LONG BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS UP ON THE BATTERY. THIS INTERRUPTS KEY SYSTEMS AND MAKE IT UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. EVEN CHARGING THE BATTERY DOES NOT HELP. IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE GONE THROUGH THREE BATTERIES IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. EACH TIME I HAVE TO HAVE A MECHANIC RESET ALL SYSTEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11416747

SUDDENLY IT STARTED TO ACCURATE AND THE OTHER WAS ALL IN BORD CONTROL SYSTEM DEFAULT ARE LIGHTING UP

NHTSA ODI 11407997

I'M WRITING EVERY OFFICE I CAN THINK OF. THIS IS ABOUT THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRIES DECISION TO PUT SOY IN THE PLASTIC OF ALL MAKES AND MODEL CARS AFTER 2012. WHO EVER THE GENIUS IS THAT THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA SHOULD START PAYING FOR ALL THE DAMAGE THE RATS ARE DOING TO THE WIRING SYSTEMS, WIRING HARNESS AND FUEL LINES. I BOUGHT A 2015 SUBARU FORRESTER IN JUNE OF 2015. BY SEPT. I HAD MY FIRST OF 7 VISITS TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE BY RATS. I UNDERSTAND RATS HAVE BEEN CHEWING ON WIRING EVER SINCE CARS WERE INVENTED. BUT THE RATS HAVE NEVER CHEWED ON THE FUEL LINES BECAUSE THEY USE TO BE MADE OF STEEL BELTED CABLE COVERED IN THICK RUBBER. NOW, YOUR FUEL LINES RESEMBLE PLASTIC DRINKING STRAWS. I'VE HAD MY FUEL LINES REPLACED 3 TIMES, MY WIRING HARNESS 2 TIMES AND I'VE HAD A LITTER OF NEW BORN RATS BORN IN A NEST MADE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HINGE! I'VE PUT OUT EVERY RAT OR MICE TRAP KNOW TO MAN BUT THE RATS GO RIGHT AROUND IT AND GET INTO THE FUEL LINE BOX. I UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND THE SOY PLASTIC. MORE ECONOMICAL, MORE LIGHTWEIGHT AND COST LESS TO USE. THAT'S FINE BUT YOU SHOULD PAY FOR MY DAMAGE. YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED??? WE, THE CONSUMERS ARE STUCK WITH YOUR BRIGHT IDEA. WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS IS NOT FAIR AND I'M ANGRY. I CAN'T SELL MY SUBARU AND BUY A TOYOTA OR FORD OR NISSAN BECAUSE THEY ALL ARE USING SOY. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST EVERY MAKER. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. SOMEONE HAS TO PRESSURE THE CAR MAKERS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. HONDA AT LEAST HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND COME OUT WITH RAT TAPE SOAKED IN CAPSAICIN. I BOUGHT THIS TO WRAP AROUND MY FUEL LINES. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY 40 TO 50 DOLLARS A ROLL WHEN IT'S NOT MY FAULT? I ALSO SPRAY MY ENGINE AND TOP OF TIRES WITH COYOTE URINE. RAT PROBLEM STARTED IN 2015 AND STILL GOING ON TO THIS DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11403754

FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONING, IT TAKES COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE IT GOES UP AFTER FULL TANK. SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO CRANK AFTER YOU TURN THE KEY. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL SCARY. ALSO LEFT SIDE DRIVER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONING, THE AUTO DOWN NOT WORKING AND WHEN YOUR PRESS UP THE WINDOW GOES UP 2 INCHES AT A TIME TAKES AWHILE TO GO UP.

NHTSA ODI 11398669

AT 40,000 MILES THE EYE SIGHT CAMERAS HAVE FAILED, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THAT SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS NOR DO I HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $2,306.58.

NHTSA ODI 11398019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT OTHER SUBARU VEHICLES WITH HEATED SEATS WERE KNOWN TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED SUBARU OF MORRISTOWN (175 RIDGEDALE AVE, MORRISTOWN, NJ 07960; (866) 910-3466) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11384574

FIRST MY BATTERY WENT AND I HAVE 56,000 MILES. MY GAUGE FOR GASOLINE IS NOT WORKING ALSO THE MONITOR ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN IS WRONG. MY WINDOW IS NOT WORKING ON THE AUTOMATIC ON THE DRIVER SIDE, NOW IT DOES NOT GO UP WITH LIFTING THE BUTTON IT HASS TO BE LIFTED SEVERAL TIMES. IT SEEMS NOW THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED I HAVE MANY ISSUES. WHEN I CALLED SUBARU TO INSTALL A NEW BATTERY I WAS TOLD IT WAS 49.95 TO INSTALL. UNACCEPTABLE

NHTSA ODI 11365324

ALWAYS THE DRAINS ON THE MOON ROOF GET CLOGGED AND IN A HEAVY RAIN, THE BACK OF THE CAR ROOF SERIOUSLY LEAKS INTO THE CAR. WE DO NOT USE THE ROOF. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. NOW THE ELECTRONICS BOX (CONTROLS REMOTE KEY LOCKS, TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE, ETC) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN WET. THIS IS A $500+ REPAIR THAT HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE ROOF LEAKS IN SERIOUS RAIN. WE BELIEVE SUBARU SHOULD REIMBURSE US FOR THE COST OF THE ELECTRONIC BOX REPLACEMENT.WE ALSO HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE ROOF DRAIN UNGLOGGED.

NHTSA ODI 11342563

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. CAR WILL START AND RUN BUT WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF YOU CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS INVOLVING TURNING THE MOTOR BACK ON AND PULLING THE KEY OUT AS I'M TURNING THE MOTOR OFF. IT MAY GO A COUPLE OF DAYS AND BE FINE THEN DO IT SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW

NHTSA ODI 11337281

AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH WIRING IN THE CLUTCH, AS ACKNOWLEDGED BY SUBARU. BLOWS COOL AIR ONLY SOMETIMES, BECAUSE THE CONDENSER DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. EVERY CONDENSER BEFORE A CERTAIN DATE IS DESTINED TO FAIL, LEAVING THE DRIVER TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR DESPITE THE FACT THAT SUBARU HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE IS DUE TO BAD WIRING AND HAS CORRECTED IT. PER NHTSA ID NUMBER 10120975. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11337338

WENT OUTSIDE BECAUSE I SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW SMOKE POURING OUT OF MY PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. DOUSED WITH HOSE, NOW CAR WON'T LOCK. CAR IN DRIVEWAY. NO PHOTO BECAUSE IMPORTANT TO PUT OUT ANY FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11319699

I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS (SPEED LIMIT 45MPH) TO RUN SIMPLE ERRANDS WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND TO GO HOME WHICH WAS JUST A MINUTE OR TWO AWAY. AS I SAT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS IDLING A BIT ROUGH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND SPOKE WITH SUBARU AS WELL AS OUR MECHANIC AT NEW DIMENSIONS AUTOMOTIVE. APPARENTLY, SUBARU HAD ISSUED A MECHANICS NOTICE TO BE AWARE THAT ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS EXISTED. WE ULTIMATELY HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED AT NEW DIMENSIONS ON 8/6/19 IN THE AMOUNT OF $877.53. OUR MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THIS MECHANICAL ISSUE MAY WELL BECOME A RECALL, AND TO KEEP OUR RECEIPT FOR JUST THAT REASON.

NHTSA ODI 11287424

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN PRESSED. THE CONTACT CALLED COLONIAL SUBARU (761 E CHESTER ST, KINGSTON, NY 12401, 845-339-3330) AND WAS INFORMED THAT IF HE WERE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT, THE HORN WOULD WORK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11243965

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SEVENTY MILES STILL REMAINING ON THE FUEL GAUGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO WILLIAMS SUBARU OF SAYRE (222 SPRING ST, SAYRE, PA 18840, (570) 888-9691) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH THE DEALER FOR NEXT WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ODI 11233416

WHILE STATIONARY, HORN QUIT WORKING. FUSE UNDER HOOD REPLACED TWICE AT $16 EACH. FUSE BLOWS AFTER BLOWING HORN ONCE. WHEN YOU HIT THE PANIC BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB THE HORN BLOWS FINE. LIKELY A SHORT IN THE STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR. OTHER SUBARU'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS ONE SHOULD BE ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11221313

WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY (VEHICLE IN MOTION) AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. HAPPENED TWICE IN 24 HOURS. BOTH TIMES, VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, FORCING THE DRIVER TO PULL OVER (VEHICLE STATIONARY). VEHICLE THEN RESPONDS NORMALLY WHEN RESUMING DRIVING AFTER PULLING OVER FOR 3-5 SECONDS.

NHTSA ODI 11208677

TAKARA RECALL WUE-90 SAFETY ISSUE WITH GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU HAS UNREASONABLE TWO WEEK WAIT TIME TO REPLACE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURE AND RENDERING CONSUMER AT UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK OR UNUSABLE CAR. CAR LOCKS IN PARK OR ABS LIGHTS AND HILL START ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS DURING DRIVING UNPREDICTABLY. CAR WAS SERVICED FOR EXACT SAME SAFETY ISSUE PREVIOUSLY (7/22/2016 : SERVICE DEPT STATED "FOUND BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAULTY AND NOT WORKING") AND GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU'S FAILED TO REPAIR DEFECT SUCCUSSFULLY. GRAND FORKS ND SUBARU DISREGARDS DRIVER SAFETY AGAIN BY FAILING TO SERVICE SAME DEFECT IN A TIMELY MANNER, IN REGARDS TO CUSTOMER SAFETY COMPLAINTS AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSUMER PROTECTION SAFETY REGULATIONS AND LAWS.

NHTSA ODI 11208168

THE HORN ON MY 2015 SUBARU FORESTER FAILED TO FUNCTION AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. I DO NOT KNOW SPECIFICS ABOUT THE HORN FAILURE AS I DON'T ROUTINELY USE IT. APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS AFTER I LEARNED ABOUT THE HORN, THE RADIO, CLOCK, AND DOOR LOCK REMOTE FEATURE ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THE HORN PROBLEM AS A FAULTY STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR (SRC) AND REPLACED THE CONNECTOR. THE HORN NOW FUNCTIONS. THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT A MISPLACED FUSE (#8 - BACKUP) CAUSED FAILURE OF THE OTHER SYSTEMS. THEY IMPLIED THAT I HAD MISPLACED THE FUSE - I DID NOT - I CHECKED ONLY THE HORN AND RADIO FUSES. NO ONE ELSE HAS ACCESS TO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE LEARNED THAT SUBARU RECALLED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER MODELS OF THEIR VEHICLES IN 2010 DUE TO FAULTY SRCS. SUSPICIOUSLY, THE SYMPTOMS THEY BLAMED ON MY SUPPOSEDLY MISPLACED FUSE COINCIDE WITH SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAULTY SRCS IN THE 2010 RECALL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: A CAR HORN IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SAFETY COMPONENT AND SHOULD NOT BE PRONE TO FAILURE DUE TO A FAULTY CONNECTOR WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. SUBARU SERVICE STATED THEY RARELY ENCOUNTER SRC FAILURE, YET JUST 4 YEARS BEFORE MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, THEIR SRCS WERE RECALLED BY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS. SECONDLY, BLAMING ME FOR FAILURE OF OTHER SYSTEMS THAT ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL (RADIO VOLUME AND TUNING) OR HORN (HORN BEEPS IF YOU PUSH THE LOCK REMOTE 3 TIMES) APPEARS (IN MY OPINION) LIKE AN ATTEMPT TO COVER UP A PROBLEM WITH THE SRC THAT INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST THE HORN - WHICH IS ALREADY ENOUGH TO CAUSE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES IN ITSELF. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILE THIS SAFETY COMPLAINT - I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE IF SUBARU SRCS ARE STILL CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11208096

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED WITH ALARMS AND SEVERAL BEEPING SOUNDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE AND THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND BECAME AWARE OF AN ABNORMAL BURNING ELECTRICAL ODOR COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ADDITIONALLY, THE BATTERY LOST ITS CHARGE AND WAS REPLACED. FLEMINGTON SUBARU LOCATED AT 167 NJ-31, FLEMINGTON, NJ 08822, (908) 824-2334, WAS CONTACTED AND AN ARRANGEMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE PICKED UP AND TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 14 DAYS THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS OFFERED A REPURCHASE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE BLUE BOOK VALUE PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A DECISION WAS NOT MADE AS WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCEPT THE REPURCHASE ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 900.

NHTSA ODI 11207462

CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 75MPH FOR 2 HOURS WHEN GOING UP AND SMALL GRADE INCLINE. ENGINE STARTED REVVING AND CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN VERY QUICKLY. WAS IN TRAFFIC, SO HAD TO TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS ON, AND GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THOUGH IT WAS BRAKING. THE HILL DESCENT CONTROL LIGHT LIT UP, BUT NO OTHER LIGHTS. CAR DID NOT STALL. I THEN TURNED IT OFF, OPENED THE HOOD AND EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL. CAR WAS AT NORMAL OPERATIONAL TEMPERATURE AND HAD 1/4 TANK IF FUEL LEFT. CAR WAS INFO FOR SERVICE WITHIN 500 MILES AT SUBARU. AFTER CHECKING THE ENGINE, I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND TOOK OFF. 30 MINUTES LATER, THE EXACT SAME ISSUE OCCURED.

NHTSA ODI 11205881

WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS AND HAVE HAD TO GET 2 NEW BATTERIES WITH LESS THAN 2500 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE SENIORS AND HAVE BEEN IN PLEASE WHERE WE HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY CHARGED AT LEAST TWICE NOT INCLUDING THE TIMES IT FAILED ON US. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS A VERY SAFE VEHILE FOR SENIORS. OUR WARRANTY WILL BE UP IN A YEAR. IS THIS NORMAL FOR A VEHICLE WITH SO MANY ELECTRONICS, THEY SHOULD HAVE A STRONGER BATTERY IF IT IS USED SO MUCH. WE HAVE NOT USED IT FOR LONG TRIPS, AS WE ARE UNSURE OF OUR SAFETY.. IS THERE ANY FIX THAT SUBARU IS WORKING ON. WE NOW KEEP ALL OUR LIGHT SWITCHES IN THE OFF POSITION.

NHTSA ODI 11204462

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 ODI 11196155

CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, 70MPH, ON INTERSTATE. CAR SPEED IMMEDIATELY STARTED DROPPING. CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11194400