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 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #13

Dec 032017

Forester

  • 44,400 miles

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

The car lost all power in the middle of interstate 95 heading South approx 17 miles North of the ga fl state line. The fuel indicator showed 30 miles until I had to refuel. This was on 12/3/2017. I was at speed(75 mph) and managed to go through traffic and go to shoulder. There was no power and the engine had quit. I waited a couple of minutes and the car restarted. I drove to the second exit and refueled. A few days later on 12/06/2017 on the way back to atlanta on I-95 South of savannah and the fuel gage reading 30 miles until I had to refuel, the very same thing happened. Except, this time it would not restart. I called aaa and continued to try to restart. After 45 minutes, the car restarted. I drove approx 10 miles and refueled. I have had no incident since but, I have not driven the car with low fuel. This could have had a very different result if I had not been able to get through the traffic on a busy interstate. Both me and my wife could be dead. I believe there is a flaw in the low fuel warning software and something shuts the power. I have driven this car with lower fuel levels. The instrument panel shows miles to you have to refuel, I.e., 50 miles, 40 miles, 30 miles, 20 miles then ------. you have access to data on these cars, I don't. please have some advise me what is your thinking on this matter.

- Sandy Springs, GA, USA

problem #12

Oct 312014

Forester

  • 100 miles
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.

- Citrus Heights, CA, USA

problem #11

Sep 192017

Forester

  • 24,000 miles
Twice the Forester surge forward --once it stopped before hitting a tree and the second time it hit a building. Both times pulling in to a parking space from a road and from a parking area.

- Mansfield, CT, USA

problem #10

Aug 012017

Forester

  • 15,000 miles

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

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.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #9

Jun 092017

Forester

  • 41,677 miles
Lost complete power at 70mph in center lane of expressway. Shifted to neutral rolled to the side of the road. Gas gauge showed 1/8 tank, 70 miles, no fuel light.. Subaru said fuel pump overheated and that you should never drive with less than 1/4 tank. Complete loss of power with no warning almost caused a catastrophic accident. Vehicle was towed by aaa to Subaru dealer. Vehicle was unresponsive to aaa after sitting for 90 minutes waiting. Dealer said fuel pump is cooled by fuel and running it when fuel is low causes pump failure. Very casual, we almost died!. repair record attached.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

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problem #8

Feb 242016

Forester

  • 14,000 miles
I was approaching a light that turned green, and when I touched the accelerator, no gas. Pulled around the corner, and put in park, engine revved high RPM. Check engine light, xmode light, and another 'car on hill' light came on dash'..messages on display window 'hill start assist system' and 'emission control system' messages flashed. We turned everything off, started engine again, same thing, same messages. Turned off again, restarted, and this time the gas pedal worked, but dash lights stayed on with warning lights. We were able to drive it about 5 more miles, then stopped for dinner. An hour later, the car started fine, no warning lights, no gas pedal issues. Took to Subaru West 2/25/16 where the technician hooked up his hand held computer thing to place near hood release. He said there was just one signal that told him it was probably from the fact I hit the gas and brake at the same time, and the vehicle senses this and shuts off the throttle. Safety issue? I am a one footed driver, so not sure how that happens, but he said he cleared the computer and all should be good, but to bring it back in asap if the 'check engine' light goes on. Hmm.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #7

May 052015

Forester

  • 57 miles

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

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.

- Katonah, NY, USA

problem #6

Sep 012015

Forester

  • 4,000 miles
On two occasions about a week apart, after slowing to make a right turn, the car suddenly lost all power mid turn for approximately 4 seconds. This caused the cars behind me to have to slam on their brakes & I was nearly hit both times. No check engine light came on. I called the dealer & was told the cvt causes pauses, however this was way too long & extremely dangerous. The service representative told me I could bring the car in for a test drive, but because it only happens occasionally it would be hard to duplicate. Also if the check engine light didn't come on there would be no code.

- Citrus Heights, CA, USA

problem #5

Aug 072015

Forester 4-cyl

  • 6,540 miles
I was very disappointed with my 2015 forrester.2.5I. Intermittent loss of power of 4 seconds duration. Dealer's service department states is normal and nothing is noted on the diagnostic history in the car. Felt driving this was unsafe and took a loss and traded it in for a 2015 CRV Honda. I feel the public should know this, you need to check into this or /and do a recall or whatever is necessary. Thank you for having this website.

- Schaumburg, IL, USA

problem #4

Aug 032015

Forester

  • 24,000 miles
I'm having an issue with my 2015 Forester 2.5I cvt that has nearly caused accidents, but when I took it in for service today I was dismissed without being helped. My car has about 24,700 miles on it, so it's thoroughly broken in and I'm used to the way the cvt works. In the past month or so, I've noticed bucking, shuddering, and power loss during initial acceleration from a stop. Sometimes this is just a little bumping, but other times it's a near total loss of power for several seconds, long enough to be very dangerous while accelerating or especially while turning. When I took the car in for service, the advisor there started to tell me that the behavior is normal even before anyone had started to look at the car. After a tech took it for a test drive, the advisor told me that my concerns "describe a perfect cvt" and he doesn't see a problem, and that it's expected behavior to have dangerous power loss like this. I was told that my problem is not a problem and sent away. Power loss like this during acceleration is clearly a problem, despite the claims of the Subaru employees, and I do not feel safe in this car. Subaru refuses to address this issue. The service advisor suggested that I avoid accelerating or turning any time power loss would be a danger or issue - this is clearly not an acceptable solution.

- Stoughton, WI, USA

problem #3

Aug 072015

Forester

  • 7,177 miles

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

While driving eastbound on I-80 in Iowa just East of exit 220 (williamsburg) our car lost power but, because it has a manual transmission, I was able to depress the clutch and coast to the left road margin. The low fuel indicator had come on a few miles before but the display indicator showed that we had sufficient fuel to drive 60 miles at the displayed average of 30.5 miles per gallon. This should have been correct as the manual states that when the low fuel indicator comes there are 2.6 gallons remaining. I tried to restart the car as the indicator continued to show one increment in the gas gauge and a range of 60 miles on the display. After several attempts it was apparent that the engine was not getting fuel. We eventually were assisted by an Iowa state patrol officer who took me back to the casey's station in williamsburg where I bought a gasoline can and about 3.5 gallons of fuel. With his assistance I was able to fuel my car (the traffic at that time and place was very heavy and fast), and the car started immediately. It is be important to note that the low fuel indicator did not come on after I started the car. I had not put all of the gas in the can into my car, and the manual states that the indicator will not come on when the tank is holding 4.5 gallons of fuel, so there was clearly a gallon or more of fuel in the tank when it died. Also, that section of eastbound I-80 is slightly uphill. It seems then that either the electronics associated with the reading fuel levels are very inaccurate, or the gas tank is built in such a way that when the tank is lower on fuel and going uphill gas is not getting to the engine. Had I not been driving a manual transmission and able to roll onto the margin uphill but simply slowed to a sudden stop in that traffic when the engine died, I believe it would have caused a very serious series if collisions.

- Des Plaines, IL, USA

problem #2

Jun 132015

Forester

  • 11,265 miles
From a full stop, A/C on, I began to accelerate at a green light. Car stopped acceleration at aprox. 2 miles per hour and coasted thru large intersection before accelerating again. I checked to see if the car was in drive and that the emergency brake was off. I took car to dealer who said no "error code" is available that would indicate a problem and they were unable to replicate the issue. Obviously there is an issue because another driver made this same report. This is a huge concern for me because 1) what happens if the car fails again when I pull into traffic with my kid in the car? and 2) I bought a Subaru because they are supposed to be safe and reliable. I'm seriously reconsidering my decision now.

- Medford, OR, USA

problem #1

Feb 032015

Forester 4-cyl

  • 240 miles
I had my new vehicle only 4 days with 120 miles or so that I personally put on it. I was out one day and came to a stop sign and stopped. The car just powered down to not running at all. I put it in park, restarted, put it in drive to move on and it did it again. I put it in neutral and had someone push me to the other side of the road where I would be out of the way. This continued for about 5 times when finally it took hold and I managed to get home ok. The next day I had to go out and it seemed to be ok and had to put gas in it. I took it in to the dealers on Friday and told them about it so they kept it to find out what the problem was. Got a call back today on Monday 2-9-15 and they told me it was a faulty fuel pump. Wow, on a new vehicle! said the part should be in on Thursday due to being the only fuel pump anywhere near our area and the weather being iffy it would take longer. This was so unexpected of a highly rated vehicle. I had my Pontiac vibe for 10 years w/ only a A/C problem once. With 130K miles on her I decided to upgrade to all the bells and whistles and now this. I am disheartening for sure. Let's hope this is the problem and nothing more. Thanks for listening.

- Manheim, PA, USA

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