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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,710 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2015 Subaru Forester Owner Comments

problem #13

Aug 312020

Forester

  • 47,000 miles

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

This car was repaired under campaign 19V149000 on July 27 for the brake light switch issue. Since the repair of the recall, I have taken my car back to international Subaru in tinley park, il for follow up service related to the replacement part. The problem I've encountered on a number of occasions is the car alerts that there is an issue stating "hill start assist system needs to be checked" while the car is in motion. The car then cuts all throttle capabilities for approximately 5 seconds and the car just coasts before resuming taking a throttle input. When this happens the car is just coasting and drops 15+ mph in speed. This alert seems to be triggered randomly and it causes serious safety concerns when without warning my car suddenly loses any usage of the throttle. This problem has been traced back to the part replaced in the recall and the dealer found the records in the car's computer showing the switch was active when it wasn't being pressed. This issue first surfaced on 8/31/20 but has come back numerous times since then. Furthermore, I had issues where the brake lights were on on the car overnight with the switch active with no input causing a drained battery. This is a more serious issue than just lights because the car's throttle cuts out without warning and this has been traced back to the switch on my car. I would rather have the original recalled part replaced in my car compared to the recall replacement part.

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

problem #12

Jan 092020

Forester

  • 80,207 miles
Drivers side brake light was out. Removed lighting assembly and found blackened bulb and what appeared to be burn marks on the lamp holder. Inspected other bulb holders in the same assembly and found no other blackened bulbs or burned holders. Inspected the passenger side assembly and found similar conditions (blackened bulb, burned holders), but lamp was still functional. Cleaned both connectors and replaced both bulbs with philips 7443ll.

- Stanwood, WA, USA

problem #11

Jul 242019

Forester

  • miles
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19V149000 (exterior lighting). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Evanston Subaru (3340 oakton St, skokie, il 60076, (847) 869-5700) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Skokie, IL, USA

problem #10

Jun 062019

Forester

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V149000 (exterior lighting). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Tucson Subaru (4901 N oracle rd, tucson, AZ 85704, (520) 422-2111) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Tuscon, AZ, USA

problem #9

Feb 282019

Forester

  • miles
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V149000 (exterior lighting). The contact called carlsen Subaru at 888-520-5916 (located at 480 veterans blvd, redwood city, ca 94063) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Portola Valley, CA, USA

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problem #8

Feb 282019

Forester

  • miles
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V149000 (exterior lighting) however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer don miller Subaru East (5401 high crossing blvd, madison, wi 53718 (877) 257-3233) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacture was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #7

Apr 202019

Forester 4-cyl

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V149000 (exterior lighting). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Hassette Subaru (3520 sunrise hwy, wantagh, NY 11793, (516) 785-7800) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The recall was fixed on May 14th. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Bellmore, NY, USA

problem #6

Apr 302019

Forester

  • miles
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V149000 (exterior lighting). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Morrie's minnetonka Subaru (12520 wayzata blvd, minnetonka, mn 55305, (612) 284-5696) was contacted and confirmed that the next available appointment was not until August. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Crystal, MN, USA

problem #5

Apr 132019

Forester

  • 25 miles
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 #4

Nov 012018

Forester

  • 55,000 miles
This complaint is potentially related to NHTSA recall id number :19V149 while we have not noticed break lights not operating properly, the vehicle has been rear ended twice, in 2017 and in 2018, possibly indicating that break switch was intermittently faulty.

- Newton, MA, USA

problem #3

Jul 022018

Forester

  • 30,000 miles

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

The electrical keeps having problems. This problem is all over the internet for several years of the Forester. I don't know why there hasn't already been a recall. There will be a be a beep, usually when driving - sometimes when trying to start the car or move out of park, and about any "safety" feature that this car has exhibits a light and/or warning. While this happens over days, sometimes the gears stick in park. I have to take a tool and press beside the gear stick to get out of park. The lights will stay like this for days or weeks and then it just stops. I have had it checked, but it is just reset until the next time it happens. Just the other night, my husband was driving behind me and told me that my brake lights were not working consistently. This is dangerous!!! who knows what else is not working when this electrical issue occurs.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #2

Jul 202017

Forester

  • 18,000 miles
While driving at night, another driver let us know that our tail lights were not on even though the headlights were working. Also, the bright headlights are not working. Brake lights, emergency flashers, and turn signals are still working. When we have to drive at night until problem is fixed, we have to drive with flashers on. Checked all fuses and all are ok.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #1

Jun 252015

Forester

  • 0 miles
This model vehicle has a safety defect. The speedometer is located under a visor which limits the amount of light falling on the instrument, and the instrument panel does not have any back lighting under daylight driving conditions. The result is that under most daytime driving conditions is impossible to read the speedometer and determine the speed that the vehicle is traveling at. This is a universal problem as dealer staff has told me that they have has numerous customers complain about this safety defect. I have contacted Subaru of America to discuss this defect, and was told they do not have any solution.

- South Bristol, ME, USA

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