There aren’t any doubts regarding the reliability that the Subaru Forester offers. With over 170K units sold along with an increasing sales graph from the past years, it justifies the fact further which is the reason why Subaru is one of the trusted brands in the compact SUV segment. The 2015 Forester carries 480 complaints in total and just 3 recalls, which isn’t as high as what a few rivals carry. Reports show that the Subaru Forester has had a few mechanical issues but the majority have been regarding a faulty intake duct. The rivals in the segment have been equally competitive in terms of sales where some major players include the Nissan Rogue, the Honda C-RV, and the Ford Escape.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Eyesight system – Forester’s eyesight system monitors what’s ahead of the car to warn the driver in the event of unintended lane changes along with correctly operating the cruise control. The users reported the system stopped working and stopped giving any warnings or signals. The dealers claimed the system to be very sensitive and even a minute nick on the windshield could affect its operation.
- Alternator – Users noticed the dash lights slowly fade away while driving, making the visibility very slim with other electronics dying, such as the navigation system and the digital gauges. It was found that the battery drained way too fast as users found the car completely dead after 2 days of not driving the car. The battery was diagnosed and found to be healthy but it was identified to be caused by a faulty alternator which was replaced.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – The users were able to experience a shudder and vibration after which the car lost power, resulting in a complete stall. During such occurrence, it was said that the engine idle was too rough with no warning indications. Post-inspection, it was identified that the turbocharger air intake duct had a crack which was caused due to a poor manufacturing process. Users also reported a drastic drain in the oil level, which heated the engine while degrading the performance and was found to happen due to a leak around the timing cover from a bad gasket.
- Fuel system – The car was said to not respond when the gas pedal was depressed showing a lot of hesitation while moving. It was found that the fuel pump overheats every time the tank has a low fuel level.
- Transmission – It was stated that the RPM rose higher while the vehicle barely moved with a lot of rubbing noise. The users also claimed to smell something burning in the cabin which was stated to be caused due to the clutches and bands inside the transmission slipping, creating a lot of friction.
- Brakes – Drivers found the brake pedal to be very stiff, making it hard to stop the vehicle. When the dealers were contacted, they inspected the brake assembly to find a minor leak in the brake booster pump. It was repaired and the brakes functioned as they should.
- Steering – Users experienced the steering wheel vibrating with the power steering assist disengaging midway. Dealers were able to track down the issue to be caused by an electrical short in the steering assist module and the steering rack system has to be replaced.
- Suspension – Users reported the car drifting away in a particular direction on its own with an abnormal noise. The dealers were able to identify a failure with the front lower control arm that had to be repaired.
Safety Problems
- Airbags – The front passenger airbag warning light was said to flash, disabling the airbags even while the seat was occupied. Upon checking the airbag sensor underneath the seat, it was found that the connector was loose and needed to be replaced.
External Problems
- Headlights – The users stated that the headlights were found to be very dim, which hindered the nighttime visibility. Upon inspection, it was found that the bulbs had blackened due to an extensive voltage flow that was said to happen because of a poor ground connector that regulated uneven voltage to the headlights.
2015 Subaru Forester recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
3rd October 2019 |
19V701000 |
Occupant detection system may deactivate the airbag. |
If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied. |
The dealers will inspect the issue and replace the ODS sensor mat harness. |
|
2. |
28th February 2019 |
19V149000 |
Brake lights may not illuminate. |
Inoperative brake lights will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing down. |
The brake light switch will be replaced. |
|
3. |
21st March 2016 |
16V162000 |
Turbocharger intake duct crack may cause a stall. |
An unexpected engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. |
The turbocharger air intake duct will be inspected and replaced if necessary. |
Should you buy the 2015 Subaru Forester?
The 2015 Subaru Forester has managed to prove itself to be a reliable deal for the $25,095 that it asks. Subaru has been very attentive to the user issues and has managed to resolve a major intake manifold failure that occurred due to a manufacturing defect from the use of inferior quality material. There were also serious airbag errors that took some time for Subaru to formulate a remedy for but were successfully fixed. Even though the Honda offers equally impressive value, we highly recommend picking the Subaru over any of the rivals as this vehicle feels like a much sturdier product in terms of the build along with a large cabin layout that makes it very practical for a family or a group.
