2015 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

130Engine complaints

21.2%Of all 612 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE130 · 21.2%

AIR BAGS101 · 16.5%

POWER TRAIN94 · 15.4%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM78 · 12.7%

Unspecified / other72 · 11.8%

Share of the 612 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2015 Subaru Forester overview page.

What owners report

“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…”NHTSA complaint 11021819 — filed 09/06/2017

“CAR PASSED STATE INSPECTION ON 8/3/2017 WITH 18500 MILES. ONE WEEK LATER, CAR WAS TAKEN ON SHORT ERRAND AND BURST INTO FLAMES WITH DRIVER INSIDE…”NHTSA complaint 11015704 — filed 08/16/2017

“EXCESSIVE OIL USE BETWEEN OIL CHANGES REQUIRING ADDING OIL. OIL LIGHT COMES ON UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING DRIVER TO HAVE TO CARRY OIL ON BOARD AND TO…”NHTSA complaint 11014756 — filed 08/11/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Subaru Forester have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2015 Subaru Forester: 130 of 612 complaints on file (21.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2015 Subaru Forester have in total?

612 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 52 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 34 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.