What 613 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Forester Wilderness

The vehicle hit a patch of ice at about 55mph, spun out, and left the road. It rolled onto its right side (a total roll rotation of 90 degrees), and the side airbags deployed at some point during the roll. When the front passenger-side airbag deployed from above the side window, it pinned the passenger's head to the window, causing significant bruising and a possible mild concussion. The real danger, though, was if there had been some projectile or debris that impacted the window while the passenger's head was trapped against it. The way the airbag deployed actually exposed the passenger to much more danger, and caused more more injury, than if it had not deployed at all. The passenger was awake and upright in her seat at the time of the incident. A county sheriff reported to the scene, and the vehicle was towed to a lot. The vehicle is otherwise untouched and available for inspection. No inspection of any kind has taken place yet (the officer at the scene did not examine the vehicle at all, and insurance has not seen the vehicle yet). There were no symptoms of the problem prior to the incident. The only warning light that was on was for a malfunctioning TPMS system, but the tires were confirmed to be at correct pressure by external gauge.

NHTSA ODI 11625052

The contact owned a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while his wife was driving at approximately 25 MPH, and moving into an intersection following a traffic sign stop, the contact's vehicle was crashed into by another vehicle that ran a stop sign. The other vehicle crashed the contact's vehicle on the passenger side front door. The contact stated that all the air bags had deployed. The contact stated that his wife had broken her right thigh and right ankle. The contact stated he suffered severe whiplash and concussion. The contact stated that he and his wife were transported to the emergency room. The contact stated that he later had to undergo a fusion of several neck vertebrae. The contact stated that the air bag on the passenger side had exploded and he had burns and abrasions on the right side of his face due to the exploding air bag. The contact stated that the exploding air bag fragments had penetrated the right side of his face and neck. The vehicle had been towed away and later declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 11551551

I was parking the car it suddenly accelerated jumped the curb and was heading towards the building entrance dore. I could not stop it. To avoid entering the building I turned the vehicle tight and it collided against the wall. The air bags inflated.

NHTSA ODI 11515233

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. While the contact's wife was driving at 30 MPH, she crashed into another vehicle causing damage to the front driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact's wife was injured. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that "there are many types of collision that are not necessary for the deployment of the air bag". The manufacturer used "if the vehicle hits a parked vehicle it would not deploy" as an example. The failure mileage[ was 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11467842

PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT, VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL, GAVE A LITTLE MORE GAS AND VEHICLE LAUNCHED FORWARD AND HIT CEMENT POLE. NO DAMAGE TO POLE CAR DAMAGE AROUND 8K.AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC ALSO

NHTSA ODI 11413243

DRIVER WAS REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN AT A DEAD STOP BY A VEHICLE GOING AROUND 60-70 MPH. THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT JERKED FORWARD AND IMPACTED DRIVER LEG CAUSING CONTUSIONS AND THE BACK SUPPORT AND HEAD REST PORTION FLEW BACKWARDS, CAUSING DRIVER GLASSES AND HAT TO COME OFF AND LAND TOWARD THE BACK HATCH OF THE VEHICLE. SPARE TIRE WAS DISLODGED FROM TRUNK AREA AND IMPACTED DRIVER'S HEAD DUE TO THE SEAT BACK BEING IN THE RECLINING POSITION. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY LEVEL AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11377910

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A TRUCK RAN A RED LIGHT AND THE CONTACT T-BONED THE TRUCK AT 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUCK FLIPPED AS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLIDED WITH THE TRUCK. THE CONTACT AND HER PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT'S WRIST AND ARM WERE SORE AND SHE REQUIRED PHYSICAL THERAPY. THE PASSENGER WAS IN A BACK BRACE WITH TWO COMPRESSION FRACTURES IN THE BACK, A FEW BROKEN RIBS, SHE HAD A CONCUSSION, AND A SWOLLEN FOOT AND ANKLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH THE FRONTAL COLLISION. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD TO BE INVESTIGATED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER HARVEY SUBARU (3351 BENTON RD, BOSSIER CITY, LA 71111 (888) 232-4109) SAID TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 19V-701000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT WAS UPSET THAT THE RECALL NOTICES WAS NOT RECEIVED UNTIL NOVEMBER OF 2019. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER IN WHY IT TOOK SO LONG TO INVESTIGATE, WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER JUST RECENTLY SENT AN EMAIL SAYING EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE CONTACT DID NOT YET RECEIVE A FULL REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT A SALVAGE JUNK YARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 11317314

OUR 2015 SUBARU FORESTER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. WE WERE TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION. THE SUV WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND FRONT FENDER BY ANOTHER SUV. NO SIDE OR CURTAIN AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 11276933

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRAFFIC STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND HE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A FORD EXPLORER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S BODY LUNGED FORWARD AND STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND RIBS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GRAYSON SUBARU (8729 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN 37923, 865-693-4550), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,460.

NHTSA ODI 11186520

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

NHTSA ODI 11127966

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FORCEFULLY DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND JUMPED THE CURB. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ODI 11122707

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV VERY HIGH WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ODI 11101824

A VEHICLE RUNNING A RED LIGHT IMPACTED THE SUBARU'S FRONT END AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11032092

7 MONTHS OLD, 20,000 MILES. DRIVING 65.6 MPH, IN LIGHT RAIN WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. 1ST TIME DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER, NOTICED WIND OR FLAT TIRES CAUSING SOMETIMES SIDE SHAKING. STOPPED TO CHECK TIRES. NOTICED NO WIND NOR LOW TIRES PRESSURE. CONTINUED ON. HAD USED CRUISE CONTROL ON AND OFF, AND TURNING ON AND OFF THE TRACTION SWITCH TO FIND A PATTERN FOR THE IRADIC DRIVING. COULD NOT ID A CAUSE. CONTINUED DRIVING. CAR TOOK A SUDDEN JERK TO THE LEFT, KNEW WE WERE GOING TO CRASH AND COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. 'CRASH' . WE SLID 40 FEET DOWN THE CENTER DIVIDE. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE STILL POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WERE LUCKY. THE REAR WHEELS HAD 'EXCESSIVE WEAR' , FRONT WHEELS WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. WHEN THE CAR WAS TORN APART, THE MAIN PULLY HAD A 1" DING AND THE FAN BELT WAS KNOCKED OFF THE MAIN PULLY AND PARTICALLY OF THE 2ND PULLY. THE BELT WAS ON ALL THE OTHER PULLIES.. I BELIEVE THE TRACTION DEVICE MALFUNCTIONED WHEN I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HYDROPLANED. AND THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED SENDING ME INTO A OUT OF CONTROL CRASH, THAT I COULD NOT STEER OUT OF. SUBARU OF AMERICA SAID WET PAYMENT, HIGH SPEED AND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR TIRES CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THEY DOCUMENTED THE SPEED AND WEAR OF REAR TIRES. RAIN WAS VERY LIGHT, A DRIZZLE. HIGHWAY WAS STRAIGHT AND LIGHT TRAFFIC. NO DEBRE ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 10839979

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,277. ...UPDATED 10-13-15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 10/15/15*JB

NHTSA ODI 10749912

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE SPECIFICS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 625. UPDATED 07/06/15.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10669126

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TREES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ODI 10667330