12 of the 897 complaints about the 2015 Subaru Forester are about the driver-assist systems — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 40,000 miles.
12
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
The Vehicle Dynamics Control safety system malfunctioned and forced me to drive straight on a curved banked overpass into the concrete barrier
NHTSA complaint #11638240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
Unknown origin. Airbag issues started in September October 2022. 2015 Subaru Forester. Vehicle with Heated Seats similar to open recall. Warning notice display as to Airbag dysfunction. Airbag determined to not function by Dealer. But informed not within the specific airbag recall affecting other same era (2015) Foresters now under recall altho symptomatically the same issues as other Vehicles subject to recall. Quoted up to $2000 to fix the Vehicle. Subsequently, the driver side warning assistance sensors have stopped working on the Vehicle. Because the VIN # does not fit within the recall matching system, Subaru could not replace the airbag without payment. Even after offering some payment accommodation on the part, Subaru wanted $1000 or so to repair and could not give a final estimate in advance. This Vehicle has less than 40,000 miles on it.
NHTSA complaint #11515986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
It has happened 3 times. I was approaching a traffic light about 200 yards away, and it was changing to yellow. I was in the left lane of a 3-lane small highway, there was a left turn lane, then my lane and the right lane. Someone started standing on their brakes in front of me, I looked into my rear-view and saw that someone was approaching me quickly, so I looked to my right and saw that I could accelerate and avoid getting rear-ended by pulling forward and in front of a car coming up in the right lane. This evasive maneuver is one that I've done many times to avoid being rear-ended. I've been rear-ended twice. Both times it took a while to recover from, and I was much younger then. So, I'd rather try to avoid a collision than have to be in pain for several years. My stupid pre-collision breaking hammered on my brakes so hard I was shocked my air-bag wasn't activated. It grab me so hard that I ended up with bruising on my shoulder from the seat belt. Also, I couldn't get it to go or move very much at all. It was almost like the brakes wouldn't let me override the braking system. I even wrote to Subaru only to be told, sorry, that's too bad or something similar. I was shattered that my fairly new car (the first time was in 2016 and the second time was in 2017) was trying to hurt me. Then it happened to my husband right after he bought his new Subaru Outback, so, needless to say, we are still Subie fans, but not always super happy with them, especially the electronics systems and how they work, or sometimes don't work.
NHTSA complaint #11473269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
July 31, 2021I noted an approximately 6-inch unprovoked crack originating at the outer edge in the windshield on the passenger side. The beginning of September I went to Subaru City, Milwaukee, WI and pictures were taken by the assistant manager, Eric and sent to Subaru. I returned November 23rd after no follow up to find out "more pictures were needed" per the assistant manager. Again, no follow up so I returned January 19th, and had yet more pictures taken by another employee, [XXX] because they couldn't locate them. I received a call back the next day to confirm submission. After no response to about 10 phone calls to the assistant service manager again, I returned March 7th and was told by another employee, [XXX], there was a new database and couldn't find the pictures. Then was called back and told not under warranty despite requesting repair due to industry defect in the windshields with eyesight. The crack has extended to about 12" from the driver's side edge. I'm concerned about the integrity of the windshield should there be an impact and the eyesight isn't reliable with this crack. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11455624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I was driving into the sunlight, and was slowing down due to utility pole work ahead. The car stalled, and engine shut off. The dash light indicated the eyesight was disabled. I was able to restart, but the incident was very concerning.
NHTSA complaint #11454586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I have a crack running across the bottom of my windshield. I took the car to SafeLite for replacement. They do a pre-service check of the EyeSsight camera system which provides forward collision avoidance and lane departure warning. The scan revealed History Code P00FF and a Current Code B280AA8. The SafeLite technician advised they could not replace the windshield until the codes were removed. Then they could replace the windshield and calibrate the EyeSight system. They also stated I had to go to a dealer code removal. I contacted Brunswick Subaru (dealer where I purchased the vehicle) and they stated they could only calibrate after the windshield was replaced. Another dealer (Ganley Subaru) stated the same thing. PROBLEM - the windshield cannot be replaced with the codes and the dealer cannot remove the codes (by recalibration) until the windshield is replaced. I am left with driving the car with a broken windshield. PLEASE HELP
NHTSA complaint #11451323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
I have a crack running across the bottom of my windshield. I took the car to SafeLite for replacement. They do a pre-service check of the EyeSsight camera system which provides forward collision avoidance and lane departure warning. The scan revealed History Code P00FF and a Current Code B280AA8. The SafeLite technician advised they could not replace the windshield until the codes were removed. Then they could replace the windshield and calibrate the EyeSight system. They also stated I had to go to a dealer code removal. I contacted Brunswick Subaru (dealer where I purchased the vehicle) and they stated they could only calibrate after the windshield was replaced. Another dealer (Ganley Subaru) stated the same thing. PROBLEM - the windshield cannot be replaced with the codes and the dealer cannot remove the codes (by recalibration) until the windshield is replaced. I am left with driving the car with a broken windshield. PLEASE HELP
NHTSA complaint #11451323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
On Wednesday November 10 I was arriving at Chase Bank 4229 Woodruff Ave Lakewood Ca. I was turning right into a parking stall heading due east, parking between a pickup truck to the right and a passenger car to the left. I was braking with my right foot only traveling 5 miles per hour and suddenly the car accelerated over a parking stop and into the bank building. It was so sudden I couldn't react and pull up the parking brake. The collision caused major front end damage to my 2015 Subaru Forrester XT. It also caused damage to the Chase Bank building. I was lucky to be a couple of parking spaces south of the ready teller , as there was a male white customer at the outside teller and he would of been killed or at least very severely injured. My wife selected this car new in 2015 because of the safety of it.
NHTSA complaint #11440210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
SUDDENLY IT STARTED TO ACCURATE AND THE OTHER WAS ALL IN BORD CONTROL SYSTEM DEFAULT ARE LIGHTING UP
NHTSA complaint #11407997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
AT 40,000 MILES THE EYE SIGHT CAMERAS HAVE FAILED, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THAT SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS NOR DO I HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $2,306.58.
NHTSA complaint #11398019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
AT 40,000 MILES THE EYE SIGHT CAMERAS HAVE FAILED, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THAT SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS NOR DO I HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $2,306.58.
NHTSA complaint #11398019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REARVIEW MIRROR CAMERA FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (GRAND PRIX SUBARU LOCATED AT 500 S BROADWAY, HICKSVILLE, NY 11801; (855) 675-5585) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MIRROR COULD BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,400. UPDATED 08/09/2017
NHTSA complaint #11000208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.