CarComplaints.com Notes: Subaru thinks burning through a quart of oil every 1,000 miles or so is perfectly normal. That's a crude stance if you ask us.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,367 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2015 Subaru Forester fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2015 Subaru Forester Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #33

Nov 102019

Forester

  • 55,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Two times, while driving on the highway at about 65 mph, my car lost the ability to accelerate. It was as though the car slipped into neutral. I pushed the accelerator pedal and the RPM's would increase, but the car wouldn't accelerate. It simply slowed down. Both times the highway was empty enough that I was able to drift into the shoulder. Once I pulled over, I turned off the car and waited a few minutes. When I turned it back on, the car started and acceleration worked as normal. Both times I brought it to a local Subaru dealership, and after running some tests said they couldn't find any issues, and couldn't help me any further. I've found other people who have experienced very similar problems, but it seems like no one has found a solution.

- Providence, RI, USA

problem #32

Jan 032020

Forester

  • 76,000 miles
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.

- Liverpool, NY, USA

problem #31

Dec 222019

Forester

  • 74,000 miles
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.

- Brevard, NC, USA

problem #30

Sep 282019

Forester

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. While driving approximately 70-75 mph, the fuel gauge indicator displayed approximately 50 miles to empty and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to harvey Subaru (located at 3351 benton rd, bossier city, la 71111, (888) 232-4109) to be diagnosed, but the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code or duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred once. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

- New Boston, TX, USA

problem #29

Jul 162019

Forester

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the vehicle ran out of fuel on the highway with seventy miles still remaining on the fuel gauge. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to williams Subaru of sayre (222 spring St, sayre, pa 18840, (570) 888-9691) for diagnostic testing. An appointment was scheduled with the dealer for next week. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 84,000.

- Sayre, PA, USA

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problem #28

Jun 302019

Forester

  • 73,000 miles
We were driving in the freeway at 65mph, we had been driving about an hour, on the freeway with some traffic but mostly moving normally. Suddenly with no warning nor engine lights, the car reved but didn't respond to the gas pedal. As though it had run out of gas. The low fuel light had gone on already, it turns on around 70 miles to empty, but we still had 50 miles to empty. We pulled over and called roadside assistance to deliver gas since that's all we could figure had happened. After about 30 minutes waiting we decided to try it and just see if it would start and it did! we drove to the next exit and got gas with no further problems, and continued on home after. This was very scary and left my family sitting stranded on the side of the freeway. No engine lights, no codes, nothing obvious to fix. Now I'm nervous to drive with my kids in the car in case it happens again.

- Fair Oaks, CA, USA

problem #27

May 242019

Forester 4-cyl

  • 93,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Twice while driving on the interstate on a 3-4 hour trip going approximately 70 mph using cruise control with approximately 1/12 - 1/6 tank of gas, my engine began to rev and at the same time lost power and speed. The first time I pulled off the road, shut the engine off, waited approximately 10 minutes and was able to restart the engine and finish my trip. It happened the second time with mostly identical circumstances. I pulled off the road, turned off the engine, waited and was unable to start the engine. I had to tow my vehicle to a dealership. They ran diagnostics with nothing turning up. They were however able to start the car when they tried. This was extremely dangerous being in 70 mph traffic and having no speed control. I have the dealership paperwork from the service. Now the engine does not seem to have the normal power it usually does when accelerating.

- De Soto, KS, USA

problem #26

May 202019

Forester

  • 61,000 miles
When driving normally (vehicle in motion) and attempting to accelerate, vehicle would not accelerate when accelerator is depressed. Happened twice in 24 hours. Both times, vehicle did not respond and accelerate when accelerator was depressed, forcing the driver to pull over (vehicle stationary). Vehicle then responds normally when resuming driving after pulling over for 3-5 seconds.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #25

May 062019

Forester

  • 86,000 miles
Car was traveling at 75mph for 2 hours when going up and small grade incline. Engine started revving and car started slowing down very quickly. Was in traffic, so had to turn on hazard lights on, and get over to the shoulder. The vehicle felt as if though it was braking. The hill descent control light lit up, but no other lights. Car did not stall. I then turned it off, opened the hood and everything looked normal. Car was at normal operational temperature and had 1/4 tank if fuel left. Car was info for service within 500 miles at Subaru. After checking the engine, I started the car again and took off. 30 minutes later, the exact same issue occured.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #24

Apr 192019

Forester

  • 85,000 miles
On 2 separate occasions was driving my 2015 Subaru Forester (touring edition) at highway speed, 70 mph, the car lost power and started decelerating. Luckily both times I was able to get over to the shoulder. The car re-started after awhile. The first time the low fuel light was on but I had over 50 miles left according to fuel sensor. The second time, a month or so later, no low fuel light was on. There were 2 bars left on the fuel gauge. Again car totally decelerated and then a few minutes later was able to be driven. Subaru dealership claims they have not heard of this problem but someone did call them about it the day before I called. I am scheduling an appointment where they say they will do a diagnostic on it. I am seeing multiple complaints on this exact car on carcomplaints.com this is an extremely dangerous problem and Subaru should not be waiting for fatalities to happen before recalling these cars.

- Bridgewater, NJ, USA

problem #23

Apr 132019

Forester

  • 25 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Drivers are not seeing my brake lights off and on and pulling me over to telling us to get our lights fixed. I just looked up recalls to find out that we have a recall that no one notified us of for the brake lights. We always have our grand kids and everyone elses in the car on a daily basis which can be a deadly situation... please assist.

- Universal City, TX, USA

problem #22

Mar 102019

Forester

  • 40,000 miles
Twice in the last four months vehicle has run out of gas while traveling on a level highway despite gas gauge indicating that there was 70 miles still to travel and the gas gauge reading one bar. Low fuel warning indicator did not display.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #21

Mar 072019

Forester

  • 24,500 miles
Several times when I slow to turn or slow in traffic then try to accelerate, the car doesn't respond. When I depress the accelerator again, it bucks and surges forward in a jerking motion. Its dangerous because someone following behind me in a turn could run into me or in traffic, I could suddenly surge into someone else's car. When I took it to the dealer, the only report I got when I picked it up was that they had re-programmed the computer and test drove it. That was 2 months ago and now I am having the same problem again. Every incident took place on city streets. I am alarmed about the other reports I am seeing on this and similar loss of control issues.

- St Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #20

Dec 172018

Forester

  • 100,000 miles
When driving at highway speeds, the engine will shut down. This has created very dangerous situations when having to cross heavily trafficked lanes without power to enter shoulder. Issue has happened 4 times in the past 2 months. Unknown cause as no codes are thrown. Video showing issue that I am having can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=omnp_vkes-K.

- Perry, GA, USA

problem #19

Nov 222018

Forester

  • 38,000 miles
My 2015 Forester stalled while driving in the middle lane on the NJ parkway (going about 65-70mph.) there were no warning lights or any indications that this would happen. I had about 3/4 of a tank of gas left. When the car stalled, it felt like it downshifted and then completely stopped - almost as if we ran out of gas (but we didn't). The electric (lights, radio, heat) was on the whole time. We were stalled for about 15-20 minutes until the cops came. We put the car in neutral and they bumped us to the shoulder. While waiting for a tow truck, we tried to start the car again and it worked (about 30 minutes after the initial stall.) we then drove to the nearby gas station and filled up the car; it took 12 gallons of gas and I have the receipt. The Subaru service center cannot find the issue. They said the computer isn't even showing a stall code. This could have been a fatal accident and I want to know exactly what is wrong and know it is fixed before I drive it again. It looks like other owners have had the similar issues.

- Lyndhurst, NJ, USA

problem #18

Jan 312016

Forester

  • 500 miles
Occasionally stalls when accelerating (usually to get on freeway or speed up drastically while on freeway). Doesnt completely lose power, only occurs for about 1-4 seconds but during that time car does not speed up even when pressing gas (actually acts as if foot was taken off gas), and makes a clicking noise. Has happened ever since purchasing car new, and mentioned at every service but they can never recreate the issue and therefore cant fix it. Saw a similar stalling issue on a recall for same type of car but not my VIN. Dealership wont check unless I pay fee.

- Vista, CA, USA

problem #17

Jun 072018

Forester

  • 58,000 miles
On 6/7/18 after six hours behind the wheel, while traveling 78mph on cruise control my vehicle suddenly lost all systems, as if it had run out of gas, on interstate 85 in heavy traffic. Miraculously getting onto the right shoulder from center lane I sat for 10-20 minutes in shock. Thinking I had run out of gas even though no low fuel indicators had shown up I turned the key to see if the instrument panel would turn on. It did, a quarter tank of gas showed on gauge. I turned the ignition key and the engine started. I saw a sign for exit in 2 miles, put on hazards, went 50 mph to exit, straight to gas station. 9 gallons went in proving the gauge to be correct. I stopped for the night and googled what had happened and found many hits indicating a possible fuel system problem. I was still 5 hours from home so called nearest Subaru repair shop, they couldn't fit me in for a week. Took back roads home, never going over 50 mph. Called Subaru dealership where I bought my car and they had a two week wait for service. Called Subaru of America who intervened and local dealer got me in that day. 6/11/18. That dealership could not find anything on the computer and said it had been wiped clean by someone. Regardless, I asked if they would look at fuel system but they would not, instead offering to purchase the vehicle for fair market price and sell it on their used car lot to a new unsuspecting customer. Took vehicle to another Subaru dealer who did pull the fuel system and found fuel transfer pump faulty. This caused my car to think it was out of gas as I traveled. I asked Subaru of na if they had seen this problem and they replied "there are no recalls for your vehicle", I know from my google search this is not an isolated event for my vehicle. In fact when I picked up my car the mechanic said he had another Subaru come in the next day with same problem.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #16

Apr 252016

Forester

  • 24,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle suddenly failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. During the failure, the instrument panel warning indicators illuminated and the check engine message displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer (jones bel air Subaru, 1317 bel air rd, bel air, md) where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal was faulty. The accelerator pedal was replaced and the failure was remedied. Approximately two years and 12,000 miles later, the same failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the same dealer where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal failed and needed to be replaced again. The contact was informed that the replacement pedal was a new and improved version. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 24,000.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #15

Jan 042018

Forester

  • 60,148 miles
When you step on the gas to pass another auto, occasionally the auto surges forward at a high rate of speed, not 5-10 miles an hour but more like 25-30. Taking your foot off the gas does nothing as the car continues to get faster and faster. Applying the brake pressed all the way down barely slows the car. When you let up on the brake it surges forward again at the high rate of speed. I thought maybe it was the 19 degree weather as it did it 3 times on the way to work one day this week. Last night it was 41 degrees when I drove home and it did it every time. I almost rear ended someone as I couldn't get it to slow down to a normal speed even with the brake applied. I am afraid to drive the car. Happened on a major freeway and on rural county roads when going straight

- Edgewood, TX, USA

problem #14

Nov 182017

Forester

  • 53,800 miles
I bought the car and less than a month later the engine light came on. I took it into the dealership that I bought it from and they told me to take it to the Subaru dealership if the engine light came back on. It never came back on. Four days later I was driving and the gas pedal quit working. I looked down to see if any lights were on and they weren't. I pulled over to the side of the highway to turn the car off. Before I could turn the car off I saw flames coming out of the front passenger side of the hood near the lights. Then all of the warming lights came on. I quickly turned off the vehicle. Before I could get out of the vehicle the whole front end of the vehicle was in flames.

- Madison, WI, USA

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