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What 611 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Forester

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (611)Crash / fire / injury (60)Engine (130)Airbags (101)Transmission & drivetrain (94)Electrical system (82)Speed control (70)Suspension (66)Fuel system (56)Brakes (34)Visibility & wipers (28)Seats (22)

94 of 611 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 3 of 4

Jan 10, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

SUBARU 2015 FORESTER 2.5L AT CVT TRANSMISSION NO TURBO ENGINE REVS TO 4-6000 RPM TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR CAR TAKES OFF ACCELERATING WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. THE DRIVER MUST SLAM ON BRAKES PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE CAR DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY BOTH AT LOW AND HIGH-SPEED TRAVEL.. THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT SUCCESS. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN THAT THE DRIVER IS AT RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO HIGH ENGINE RPM AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH SLAMMING TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT REQUIRING HARD BRAKEING AND PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO REGAIN CONTROL . I BELIEVE THIS IS LONG STANDING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND THE ORIGIANAL BUYER TRADED IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICLAL ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT WILL ONLY BE DIAGNOSISED DOCUMENTED BY 24/7 MONITORING OF ENGINE FUNCTIONS. IN ORDER TO CATCH THE EVENTS AS THEY OCCUR NO CODES ARE BEING THROWN OR RECORDED. THE DEALERS HAVE REFUSED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO DIAGNOSIS THIS INTERMITTANT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11298507

Dec 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT NO RESPONSE, LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHILE COASTING ON THE SHOULDER, THE CAR SPUTTERED AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT I HAD 1/4 TANK. IT THEN BEGAN TO RUN NORMALLY. I PULLED OFF TO A GAS STATION, FILLED IT UP, AND CONTINUED MY TRIP WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE OCCURRENCE WAS VERY DANGEROUS ON A CONGESTED HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11290811

Nov 17, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING, WITH NO LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE AT 5 MPH AND AGAIN AT 25 MPH. THE TWO TIMES IT HAPPENED WERE ABOUT THREE MINUTES APART THIS MORNING. THEN I DROVE THREE HOURS ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT A REPEAT OF THE ISSUE. WHEN IT STALLED, IT FELT LIKE THE WHEELS AND ENGINE BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE GAS PEDAL. NO ENGINE REVVING WAS AUDIBLE. IT DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP, BUT SLOWED TO A CRAWL COASTING TOTALLY ON MOMENTUM, THEN STARTED MOVING AGAIN ON ITS OWN. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED BOTH TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11280656

Oct 3, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER TO THE CAR ON HER WAY TO WORK AND LUCKILY DIDN'T GET REAR ENDED BUT AFTER A BIT THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO RATTLE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT ONLY WHILE CAR VEERED LEFT AND NOT ON NORMAL CITY SPEEDS. TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THE ISSUE AND HAS TO BE REPLACED WHICH I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE AND AVOID SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS. I HAVE LOOKED UP THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH SOME PEOPLE HAVING VERY CLOSE CALLS. THERE WAS AN EXTENSION TO THE WARRANTY PROVIDED BY SUBARU BUT PROBLEM HAS COINCIDENTALLY STARTED AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED. EVEN THOUGH I GOT LUCKY AND NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE OR ANYONE I STILL THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMETHING WORSE HAPPENS TO SOMEONE. SUBARU SEEMS TO HAVE KNOWN THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING THEY OFFERED A LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT EXPIRED BEFORE THE TRUE PROBLEM BEGAN TO OCCUR.

NHTSA ODI 11265825

Aug 4, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

ON JULY 28, WE WERE DRIVING AT ~70 MPH ON A FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR LOST MOMENTUM. THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMED TO STILL BE OPERATING, BUT THE ACCELERATOR HAD NOT EFFECT AND WE HAD TO COAST AND BRAKE TO A STOP NEXT TO THE MERIDIAN. DUE TO DENSE, HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, WE COULD NOT SAFELY CROSS TWO-LANES OF TRAFFIC TO REACH THE SHOULDER. BRAKES AND STEERING CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AND THE CAR HAD FUEL, ALTHOUGH WAS CLOSE TO EMPTY. WE COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR, NOR COULD THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR WHO REACHED US ~35-MIN LATER. THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER HAD NO THEORY OF WHY THIS OCCURRED, AND A MECHANIC WHO EXAMINED THE CAR COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, AND SAID THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. WE'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE JUNE 2018 WITH NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS SITUATION OCCURRED. ON JULY 7, WE HAD THE CAR SERVICED FOR A RECALL RELATED TO A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH, I.E., SAFETY RECALL: WUE90|NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 19V149000.

NHTSA ODI 11241594

May 17, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBrakes

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

May 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY CAR DASH LIGHTS, HILL ASSIST AND ENGINE LIGHT, REMOTE NOT FUNCTIONING. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL. THE CODE READ A SECONDARY PRESSURE CODE. NOT COVERED FOR REPAIR, 132,000 MILES. OTHER CARS FAILED EARLY, 50 TO 90 THOUSAND MILE. APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE, EVEN WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOT RELIABLE, 45 YEARS NEVER LOST A TRANSMISSION, AND AT THE TUNE $7000.00 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11207098

May 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE WON'T START UNLESS GEARSHIFT LEVER IS MOVED FORWARD WHILE ALREADY IN THE PARK POSITION - WITH JUST HAND PRESSURE ON THE HANDLE.

NHTSA ODI 11206952

Apr 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlCrash

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

Mar 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

WHEN USING LIGHT ACCELERATION SUCH AS IN A PARKING LOT OR AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN TO START GOING THE VEHICLE BUCKS FORWARD IT WILL LITERALLY MAKE YOU JERK BACK IN THE SEAT. ALSO WHILE PULLING ONTO A STREET IT JERKS FORWARD BUT HAS HESITATION WHICH ISNT TO SAFE IF YOU ASK ME WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT ON THE ROAD IF CARS ARE COMING...

NHTSA ODI 11187190

Feb 10, 2019SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainEngine

EXCESSIVE OIL LOSS, 1 QT PER 3,000 MILES. STARTED AROUND 90,000 MILES. MILEAGE NOW 129,000 MILES. AT 129,000 MILES, MAJOR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ISSUE. FOUND OIL IN COOLANT. AT OIL TEMPERATURE LIGHT FLASHING. EVALUATING COST OF REPAIR THIS WEEK OF FEB 12 2019. AT 126,000 MILES, BOTH FRONT AXLES WERE REPLACED. HEARD CLICKING AT 125,000 MILES. AT 100,000 MILES, UPPER AND LOWER FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11176023

Jan 4, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO MY CAR DID SOME BUCKING AND SHUDDERING AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION SO I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION THAT'S GONNA COST $9000 MY VEHICLE DOES HAVE A 150000 MILES ON IT BUT IT'S NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND ALL THE MILES ON IT HAVE BEEN HIGHWAY MILES DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE NOT CITY STOP AND GO

NHTSA ODI 11165267

Nov 10, 2018Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

CAR HAS JERKY ACCELERATION WITH HESITATION, MOMENTARY POWER LOSS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP OR AT LOW SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11150717

Oct 1, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

CAR HESITATES WHEN STARTING TO MOVE. HAVE HAD NEAR MISSES BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN MOVING OUT FOR A TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET. CAR JUST SITS THERE FOR 2 - 3 SECONDS. NOT A LONG DELAY BUT CRITICAL IN CITY DRIVING. PROBLEM IS ONGOING. CAR HAS 98000 MILES. IT HAS A CVT TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11132733

Aug 19, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

SUDDEN ONSET OF RUBBING NOISE FROM LEFT FRONT WHEEL, WORSE WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT, VARIED DIRECTLY WITH SPEED. INSPECTION BY SUBARU CONFIRMED BAD WHEEL BEARING.

NHTSA ODI 11120943

Aug 2, 2018Transmission & drivetrainEngine

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEED AND CONSTANT ACCELERATION THE CAR WILL JERK AND THE RPMS APPEAR TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. LAST WEEKEND WHEN MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE NORMALLY. THE RPMS SPIKED, BUT THERE WAS LIMITED ACCELERATION/RESPONSE. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND THEIR SEEMS TO BE NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11115477

Jul 27, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE IN MOTION FROM A STOP ON CITY STREETS IS EXPERIENCING HESITATION, SLIPPAGE, FAULTY ACCELERATION FROM 0-25 MPH. AFRAID OF MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC AND A POSSIBLE STALL. PROBLEM IS EXAGGERATED ON ANY GRADE OF INCLINE. CALLED SERVICE COMPANY WHO SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT MAY BE COVERED BY A RECENT TRANSMISSION RECALL. IT APPEARS MY MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT'S HAVING THE SAME REPORTED PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11114057

Jul 27, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXHIBITING A LOW RPM WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP(IE RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN) AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND ALMOST STALLS, AND ONCE ACTUALLY STALLING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE FOR THIS ISSUES. I HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION IN THE MAIL FROM SOA IN JULY 2017 CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND OTHER KNOW ISSUES WITH THE THE CVT TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED IN THE VEHICLE STATING THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE A SOLID BUSHING IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSING THE CONVERTER CLUTCH TO STAYED LOCKED UP AND NOT RELEASE PRESSURE. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT A CASE HAS BEEN STARTED WITH THEIR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUBARU OF AMERICA, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH DATA(IE RECORDED STALLS OR DTC) TO APPROVE A REPAIR ON MY VEHICLE FOR SAID ISSUE, AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO HAVE A STALL EVENT FOR ANY FUTHER REPAIRS. BEING A FULLY CERTIFIED ASE AUTOMOTIVE MASTER TECHNICIAN, I DID MY OWN CHECKING AND FOUND TSB 16-107-17 WHICH COVERS MY VEHICLE AND OUTLINES THAT THEY HAVE A EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE VEHICLE/CVT TRANSMISSION FOR SEVERAL ISSUES, WHICH OUTLINED IN THE BULLETIN, SHOWS MULTIPLE ISSUES OUTLINED IN BULLETINS FOR DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE AND THE FIRST(16-90-13R) IS REGARDING A DESIGN CHANGE TO LOCK-UP TORQUE CONVERTER- CUSTOMER MAY EXPERIENCE SENSATION LIKE COMING TO A STOP IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED VEHICLE AND FAILING TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH. AFTER OBTAINING AND READING TSB 16-90-13R, WHICH IN NO WAY STATES THAT A STALL EVENT IS REQUIRED AND ONLY LOW RPM AT STOPS, I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP AS SUCH AND WAS TOLD THAT A STALL EVEN WAS REQUIRED. I ASKED FOR THAT TO RECORDED ON MY REPAIR ORDER AND HAVE YET TO PICK MY VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT S.O.A. FOR HIDING A KNOWN ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE A STALL EVENT WHICH CAN CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD GENERATE A NATIONWIDE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11114170

Apr 14, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

NOVEMBER 28, 2017 ' A SUBARU TRANSMISSION WARRANTY EXTENSION HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2010-2015 LEGACY AND OUTBACK, 2012-2015 IMPREZA, 2013-2015 CROSSTREK, 2014-2015 CROSSTREK HYBRID, 2014-2015 FORESTER AND 2015 WRX VEHICLES, ALL EQUIPPED WITH CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS (CVTS) DUE TO CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. I BOUGHT MY CAR USED IN SEPTEMBER 2017. I WAS NEVER INFORMED THAT THERE WERE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE AND FAILURES. A TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A HIGHWAY COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. AND YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. I HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO NOTICE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION- JERKING WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE AND DELAYED TURNOVER BETWEEN 2 AND 3RD GEAR. CONSUMERS WERE NOT INFORMED OF THIS I FOUND IT ONLINE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE MODELS ABOVE AND MY CAR IS INCLUDED. WHEN I ASKED FOR PAPERWORK THE DEALER SERVICE REP SAID NONE WAS SENT TO ANYONE, BUT THE WARRANTY FOLLOWS THE VEHICLE BY VIN #. SO, THERE ARE POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DRIVING AROUND WITH TRANSMISSIONS THAT COULD FAIL, BUT WHO ARE UNAWARE. SUBARU DID THIS QUIETLY TO NOT DRAWN ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION AND A RECALL. TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. AGAIN I FEEL "JERKING" EVERY TIME I TRY TO BREAK. IT'S LIKE THE CAR IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF COMING TO A STOP. IT HAS STOPPED SO FAR, BUT WHAT IF IT DOESN'T NEXT TIME? THIS PROBLEM IS CONSTANT. I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO COLD BUT I ALWAYS WARM UP MY CAR UNTIL THE INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS TRANSMISSION IS WARM. AND THE WEATHER HAS BEEN WARM FOR A FEW DAYS NOW AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING. I HAVE REPORTED OTHER PROBLEMS TO THE DEALER THAT ARE NOT SAFETY RELATED AND THEY JUST BLOW IT OFF SUCH AS THE COMPUTER IS NOT RECORDING AVERAGE MPG AND AVERAGE MPH CORRECTLY. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11085039

Apr 14, 2018Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I BOUGHT THE CAR A MONTH AGO AROUND MARCH 10,2018 FROM GLANZMANN SUBARU. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF DRIVING, THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN AT STOP SIGNS OR AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER WORDS I NOTICED WHEN THE CAR IS AROUND 80 MPH, SOMETIMES THE RPMS GO UP BUT THERE IS NO TORQUE. I WAS TOLD TO DROP THE CAR OFF AT THE SERVICE STATION WHICH I DID AND AFTER 4 DAYS GOT THE CAR BACK BUT THEY SAID THEY "COULD NOT REPLICATE" THE ISSUE THAT I WAS HAVING. I ALSO GET 18MPG WHILE THE ADVERTISED MPG IS AROUND 25. I SHOULD ATLEAST GET 22MPG. I HAVE A VERY GOOD FEELING I WAS SOLD A CAR WITH A CLUTCH THAT WAS ON ITS WAY OUT. THE DEALER IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE BUT I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE ON MY WAY FROM THE SERVICE CENTER. I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH A TECH BUT ON THE DAY OF THE PICKUP , THE TECH WAS UNAVAILABLE. IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN MERGING INTO A HIGHWAY OR TURNING INTO STREETS FROM A CENTER LANE THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE GOOD PICK UPLIKE IT IS SUPPOSE. I KNOW MY CAR IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE LOANER THAT I GOT FROM GLANZSMANN WAS ALSO A FORESTER AND I COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE RIGHT AWAY. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11085048

Nov 30, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE FORM REVERSE OR PARK THE CVT TRANSMISSION CAN TAKE APPROX. 3 SECONDS TO ENGAGE AND FOR THE CAR TO START MOVING. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME WHEN YOU ARE BACKING INTO A SPACE OR BACKING FROM A DRIVEWAY ONTO A BUSY ROAD. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THIS IS "NORMAL" ON A SUBARU CVT TRANSMISSION. I INSISTED THAT THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPT. CHECK MY CAR AND VERIFY. THIS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, I WILL HAVE IT RECORDED. I WILL UPDATE THIS AFTER THE DEALER LOOKS AT THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11051419

Oct 31, 2017Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

AFTER I SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER THIS CAR OCCASIONALLY PAUSES, OR WILL NOT RESUME MOVING FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS. THIS HAS CAUSED CARS BEHIND ME TO ALMOST REAR END ME NUMEROUS TIMES. IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS TWICE IN ONE DAY THEN WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER BUT IT HAS NEVER DONE IT ON ANY OF THEIR TEST DRIVES. THIS HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW. I WAS TOLD OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ODI 11041769

Oct 18, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I LEASED THIS VEHICLE ON JUNE 2015. BACK ON 8/26/2017 WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND GOING 70 MILE AND HOUR, CAR SUDDENLY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY. I ALMOST GOT KILLED BY A TRUCK THAT WAS BEHIND MY VEHICLE. THEY TOWED THIS CAR TO GLENDALE SUBARU AND AFTER TWO DAYS, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. SINCE THAT INCIDENT I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR PERFORMANCE AND TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IN ADDITION, SOME MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE ISITE SYSTEM. THE DEALER CHARGED ME OVER $2000.00 FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS A MAJOR ISSUE IN COLD AND HOT IDEAL. MANY COMPLAINTS WERE FILED TO SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DID NOT ASSIST ME AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11034423

Sep 6, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THE VEHICLES STUTTERS WHEN ACCELERATING. THE ISSUE WILL GO FOR A FEW DAYS TO A FEW WEEKS THEN DISAPPEAR AND RETURN A FEW WEEKS LATER. HAVE TRIED CHANGING TO SPORT AND SPORT + MODES AND ALSO USING THE PADDLE SHIFTERS AND NONE OF THEM HAD ANY CHANGE IN THE STUTTERING. THE CAR HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE ABOUT 10K MILES. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL IT WAS FUNCTIONING FINE AND THE TECHS COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR 2 WEEKS FROM NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11021819

Aug 18, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

ENGINE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY FROM A DEAD STOP, LEAVING ME STUCK IN THE ONCOMING LANE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! IT?S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT FEELING HESITATION AND SURGING. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS VERY SLOW TO GO INTO GEAR AND THEN LUNGES TO CATCH UP. THIS HAPPENS IN ALL WEATHER AND ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS, IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY. VERY DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE FOR A CAR I BOUGHT BRAND NEW.

NHTSA ODI 11016142

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Subaru Forester verdict →