What 613 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Forester Wilderness

The Vehicle Dynamics Control safety system malfunctioned and forced me to drive straight on a curved banked overpass into the concrete barrier

NHTSA ODI 11638240

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at 1 MPH into a parking space, the contact attempted to shift the transmission into park (P) while depressing the brake pedal when the vehicle inadvertently lunged forward and crashed into a building. No warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The impact caused soreness in her chest and stomach. The contact received medical attention on the scene from Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the tow yard. The vehicle was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11547939

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

I was backing out of a parking spot, and there was a telephone poll behind me in my path. I needed to pull forward to navigate around this poll. After backing up some, I put the car into drive to pull slightly forward, and the car lurched aggressively, so much so that I got out to see if it'd caught on something. It did not -- there was absolutely nothing there. So I got back in and tried to continue forward, and the accelerator went full force. I floored the brake pedal, but the car behaved as though I was flooring the accelerator. The car drove itself over a cement block, through a staircase and into the brick wall of an abandoned building, continuing to accelerate for a few seconds while against the wall. Air bags did not deploy. I walked away without physical injury, thank goodness. There were no warning lights, symptoms of or dashboard indicators of a problem before or during the issue. Upon investigation online, we see that there is a pending class action for this exact issue. The vehicle has been inspected by our insurance carrier and been deemed a total loss. Insurance has asked that we turn the title over to them in order to receive our payout, and I believe they plan to destroy the car.

NHTSA ODI 11507009

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while at a carwash moving forward, the vehicle accelerated up to approximately 35 MPH and crashed into the rear of a Ford Explorer. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver sustained injuries to his chest due to striking the steering wheel. Medical attention was provided. The contact was able to drive away from the crash site. A police report was filed. There was no air bag deployment. The vehicle was taken to a Collision Center. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11503188

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated upon pulling into a parking space, the brake pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and crashed into the side of the apartment building of her friend. The contact stated that the crash damaged the apartment of her friend located on the first floor. There was no warning light illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ODI 11491903

The 2015 Subaru Forester accelerated unexpectedly while slowly turning into a a Walgreens parking lot. The acceleration could not be stopped by stepping on the brake, and the car crashed into the brick building. The vehicle is at Phil's Auto Body Shop in Rosemount, MN. The estimate on the car is complete, and waiting on State Farm insurance to approve. The police were at the scene of the accident. Walgreens has video of the accident from their security cameras.

NHTSA ODI 11418574

AUTO ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER LEAVING CAR WASH BAY. AUTO SPED THROUGH PARKING LOT INTO STREET AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER AUTO TRAVELING ON A ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11415816

WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC CAR HESITATES, STALLS AND STUMBLES TO ACCELERATE FOR A FEW SECONDS. UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND SMOOTHLY (STUCK IN 1ST GEAR?). WAS REAR ENDED WHEN UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AT LIGHT. DEALER DID SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM, STILL ONGOING

NHTSA ODI 11196736

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO AN ELECTRICAL BOX. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GRESHAM SUBARU (1925 E POWELL BLVD, GRESHAM, OR 97080, 866-584-3109), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT SPECIALIST WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1-39999345391. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11176274

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

DRIVER PARKING VEHICLE INTO PARKING SPACE (<5 MILES/ HR) - BRAKE APPLIED, PREPARING TO SHIFT INTO PARK. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED, UNABLE TO STOP MOTION USING BRAKE. VEHICLE HIT CURB AND PROCEEDED OVER EMBANKMENT, WITH VEHICLE STRIKING LOWER LEVEL PARKING PAVEMENT APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET BELOW AT 90 DEGREE ANGLE AND LANDING INVERTED (TOP ON PARKING PAVEMENT). VEHICLE SEVERELY DAMAGED, DRIVER WITH NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES - WEARING SEAT BELT. AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN CONTACTING LOWER-LEVEL PARKING PAVEMENT. DRIVER HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED UNEVEN ACCELERATION AND REPORTED ENGINE-RELATED ISSUES TO DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 60 DAYS (JUNE 9, 2018) PRIOR TO INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED WITH NO DEFINITIVE CAUSE IDENTIFIED; LOW OIL IDENTIFIED AND OIL REPLENISHED. VEHICLE SERVED ROUTINELY BY DEALERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOLLOWED SINCE PURCHASE.

NHTSA ODI 11118917

2015 SUBARU FORESTER MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO PARKING SPACE BETWEEN 2 CARS IN A PARKING GARAGE. GOING UPHILL INTO THE SPACE WHEN VEHICLE SURGED AT GREAT SPEED IN A 10 FT DISTANCE HITTING THE WALL AT GREAT SPEED, CAUSING EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, DEPLOYING AIRBAGS, AND DISLODGING THE FRONT DASHBOARD. THE 2 CARS ON EITHER SIDE WERE NOT HIT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO LEGS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT LOU FUSZ SUBARU. THE SECOND EVENT HAPPED ON 7/6/16 (25463 MILES) IN THE SAME PARKING GARAGE, NEAR THE SAME PARKING SPACE. WHILE TURNING INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD STRIKING THE WALL AT GREAT SPEED. THOUGH THE FRONT END WAS AGAIN DAMAGED, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THERE WERE A DOZEN SIMILAR REPORTS FOR 2015 THE SUBARU FORESTER WHILE PARKING. ANEIGHBOR WITH A 2015 SUBARU LEGACY HAD THREE INSTANCES OF UNEXPECTED ACCELERATIONS. NO CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED BUT REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE CAR AT WEBSTER GROVES SUBARU. IT APPEARS TO HAVE RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE SUBARU FORESTER WAS REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP AND THEN CHECKED AT WEBSTER GROVES SUBARU. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD THE CAR TO THE DRIVER (LOU FUSZ), THE SUBARU CORPORATION SENT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (FROM BOSCH EEA) TO EVALUATE THE CAR. THE DRIVER WAS TOLD IN AN EMAIL THAT THE REPORT WAS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND NO DETAILS OF THE EVALUATION WERE MADE AVAILABLE. THE EMAIL ONLY REPORTED THE LACK OF ANY PROBLEMS FOUND THAT COULD EXPLAIN THE UNEXPECTED SURGING WHILE PARKING. THE DRIVER SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT WEBSTER GROVES SUBARU. SHE WAS UNABLE TO HELP SINCE NO ONE HAD REPRODUCED THE PROBLEM. AS FAR AS SUBARU WAS CONCERNED, THE CAR WAS NORMAL AND OFFERED NO FURTHER HELP. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE SECOND REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED.

NHTSA ODI 11102645

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

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT LOW SPEED (<5MPH) THE ENGINE SURGED SUDDENLY AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. REQUIRED IMMENSE PRESSURE ON BRAKE TO EVENTUALLY OVERRIDE ENGINE AFTER IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11082471

WHILE PULLING IN TO PARK IN THE LOT AT A LOW SPEED- 5 MPH OR LESS- I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. THE (TIN) BUILDING WAS DENTED AND MY CAR WAS SCRATCHED ON THE BUMPER- BELOW THE GRILL AND ALSO THE SUBARU EMBLEM WAS CRACKED.

NHTSA ODI 11056652

PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE GETTING READY TO PUT CAR IN PARK. CAR ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL HITTING PARKED CAR, TREE AND PROCEEDED TO ROLE OVER. ALL POWER LOST AND COULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS.

NHTSA ODI 11015732

AFTER SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO THE REVERSE POSITION, BACKING IN TO A PARKING SPACE, LIGHTLY STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLE LOCKED AT A FAST SPEED, HITTING THE COLUMN AND WINDOWS OF THE RESTAURANT.

NHTSA ODI 10939773

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.

NHTSA ODI 10860015

WHILE FINALIZING PARKING WITHIN A PARKING LOT SPACE AT VERY LOW SPEED (LAST 2 FEET) WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND STRUCK THE PARKED CAR ON THE OPPOSITE PARKING SPACE. BOTH CARS SUSTAINED MODERATE FRONT-END DAMAGE. THE OTHER CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY BUT OURS HAD FRONT FENDER PARTS PUSHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVERS TIRE AND HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY TO THE REPAIR SHOP. NOT SURE OF THE COST TO REPAIR THE OTHER (PARKED) CAR BUT OURS RAN APPROXIMATELY $5000 DUE TO FRONT FRAME DAMAGE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NO ONE WAS INJURED. POLICE OFFICER WHO RESPONDED SAID LOW SPEED IMPACTS DO NOT NORMALLY SET OFF THE AIR BAGS. REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TELL ON THE CAR COMPUTER WHAT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS DUE TO. CONTACTED OUR INSURANCE AGENT WHO RECOMMENDED WE REPORT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION TO SUBARU AND NHTSA. SUBARU DEALER DENIED ANY SUCH ACCELERATIONS AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECOURSE. FOUND SEVERAL INSTANCES VERY SIMILAR TO OUR ON NHTSA SITE FOR SUBARU FORESTERS IN 2014 AND 2015 MODEL YEARS AND DECIDED TO MAKE A REPORT. ODOMETER READING AT TIME OF ACCIDENT: 5,814.

NHTSA ODI 10849994

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.

NHTSA ODI 10840115

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.

NHTSA ODI 10781256

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

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION: THE VEHICLE VIGOROUSLY ACCELERATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE ~8 FEET AWAY, PUSHED OVER 2 EIGHT FOOT TREES BEHIND THE FENCE THEN BECAME HIGH CENTERED ON A 30" "RETAINING ~5 FEET BEYOND THE FENCE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN SPITE OF FULL APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ANY MORE AFTER IT WAS HIGH CENTERED ON THE RETAINING WALL BUT THE ENGINE SPEED REMAINED AT A HIGH RPM. THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN ONLY WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ODI 10732748

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CERVICAL NERVE DAMAGE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 10678454