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Chart based on 56 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
Audio system failure and battery died. Both replaced. Audio would freeze and then crash when pairing Bluetooth device
18000 mi
Head unit displayed a service error and lost bluetooth connection intermittently. Dealer replaced head unit under warranty.
25000 mi
Bluetooth unit died for the second time. Dealer replaced unit for the second time. Known issue.
29000 mi
Bluetooth connection drops multiple times each day. Known issue. Dealer unable to repair.
18000 mi
Radio failed. Dealer replaced "audio module".One trip for diagnosis and one trip for repair. Took about 10 days to get parts.No $$ amounts on service order.
21080 mi
Traction control, ABC, EyeSight all disabled at once. Car went into limp mode. Intermittent, and codes aren't stored, so shop can't diagnose.
31620 mi
The brake has a sensor that detects when the pedal is pressed so that for push-button start versions of the Forester, it will let you start the car. This sensor failed and checking the forums, it has failed on almost ever push-button start 2014-2015 Forester in the world.
37820 mi
Radio and amplifier died. Took 3 trips to sort and fix. Battery died after just 2 years and 9 months. Subaru tried to say it was a custom turn signal relay I had installed, but no. It was just a crap OEM battery.
84320 mi
C $700
Compressor failed. Condenser was also weeping oil.
24700 mi
Brake switch malfunction - would not illuminate rear brake lights and caused difficulty starting. Brake switch was replaced.
29760 mi
C $287
Low battery charge caused the computer/electronics to turn on the 'Check Engine' and 'Hill Assist' lights. Prior to that I had the battery/car jump started, because I had left the interior map light on for 2 weeks causing the battery to drain. I had the battery replaced - out of warranty, so I paid for it myself.
37820 mi
C $10
Burned out tail lights. The dealership I took it to changed it in about 15 minutes and didn't charge me for it. They said they could do it under warranty.
6200 mi
Sometimes power liftgate cannot be opened by the button at the liftgate. Power reset was done.
17360 mi
C $20
Remote was not working even though after changing battery on the key fob. But it works sometimes. Not sure the root cause.
17000 mi
Fan would only operate on highest setting (4). On setting 1-3, fan did not blow at all.
34000 mi
Infotainment Bluetooth issues. Performed 16 software updates.
Key fob to open door was working intermittently. Dealer replaced core of key fob. After I left the dealer, the fob was still only working intermittently. Subsequent to that, I needed to replace my battery. That's a whole other story, because I would think a battery on a 2015 model that was put on the road in December 2014 should last past 2017. Nevertheless, I replaced the battery and it seems that the key fob performance is a little more consistent. Perhaps the key fob problem was related to a poor flow of power to the receiver unit. But I can't say that the fob works 100 percent of the time.
41000 mi
Alternator mounting bracket caused alternator to briefly run backwards when starting engine causing traction control to turn off and warning light to stay on. Dealer immediately replaced the entire assembly including the alternator under extended warranty.
31000 mi
Brake light switch replaced.
40000 mi
Apple did an update to the iPhone and now the bluetooth is working!
44000 mi
Rear deck would not open with touch pad. Dealership reprogrammed the lift gate
Cleaned out debris blocking AC condensate drain hose. Symptom was water dripping into passenger foot well when AC was running on hot days.
119000 mi
US $599
No hi beams. Bulbs replaced.
17000 mi
US $150
Brake sensor malfunction locking the transmission in Park. Dealer replaced the Brake sensor under warranty.
71000 mi
US $65
Routine battery replacement
24000 mi
Some electrical malfunction that was causing brake lights to turn on intermittently when the brake was pressed. This caused the eyesight system to disable while driving. It was something like a capacitor or a fuse that needed to be replaced.
20000 mi
brake light replacement
19000 mi
Bluetooth intermittent failures required replacement of audio system
34000 mi
US $20
Brake light switch under pedal was intermittently failing. This caused ABS, stability control, and hill assist lights to come on. More insidiously, the car would not shift out of park while these lights were on.
7000 mi
Defective battery replaced under warranty
9700 mi
US $800
Replace power rear gate motor
7000 mi
Air coming from vents smelled like manure, and A/C eventually stopped blowing cold air. Dealer sprayed cleaner, manure smell has faded a week later. Waited several days for compressor to come in. Compressor replaced, so far so good.
7000 mi
Smell returned, air was still not cold. Tech used cleaning kit for A/C, checked charge in system--needed O-rings not installed when compressor installed. Put in aftermarket rings, which seem to have failed. Taking it back soon.
16500 mi
TPMS light wouldn't go out. Bad sensor
5000 mi
US $135
Replaced the battery.
17000 mi
Replaced alternator and tensioner; under warranty.
15700 mi
bluetooth disconnects repeadly
20000 mi
Bluetooth disconnection problem.
33200 mi
Had the radio head unit replaced due to ongoing issues related to bluetooth and phone performance. The system frequently dropped calls, no incoming or outgoing voice during the call and locked up occasionally.
70000 mi
US $95
HID low beam bulb replacement
6000 mi
No audio, amp was blown. Dealer ordered new amp and installed.
26000 mi
Vehicle wouldn't start (would go into accessory mode only). Replaced Faulty Brake Light Sensor and battery.
41000 mi
Fuel sensor read as having 70 miles left but vehicle ran out of gas with no low fuel warning. Subaru roadside service determined tank was completely empty. Dealer was unable to find a repairable problem with the sensor or fuel system.
61000 mi
US $55
Brake sensor malfunctioned and would not reliably allow the vehicle to be shifted out of park because it didn't detect your foot pushing on the pedal. Replaced by dealer, cost partially covered under warranty.
71000 mi
US $50
A/C selector switch failed to route air through dash vents and required replacement.
9000 mi
USB port in center storage comartment does not work.
21000 mi
ABS, Traction and Stability Control lights illuminated on dash after starting. Drove home, shut engine off. Engine wouldn't start with normal brake pedal pressure for green light on starter button to illuminate. Had to press extremely hard on brake pedal to allow starting. Warnings lights stayed off. No reoccurrence.
25484 mi
Brake Switch was bad causing ABS, Traction Control and Hill Assist lights to be on. Also caused no start situations with start button and could not shift trans out of Park.
63000 mi
Air cold but never comes out of vents very well even with fan on high since brand new. Electronic gremlins. Sometimes the hatch button works, sometimes not. This is both on hatchback switch and button on instrument cluster. Key fob always works to lift hatch. Another gremlin is door doesn't always unlock when you touch door handle (keyless entry). Nothing wrong with fob battery and fob in pocket. Have to use fob to unlock door and shouldn't be that way. USB never worked since new so never use it! Bluetooth works great with Android phone, but sound cuts in and out using an iPhone. Electronics in general on this Subaru is garbage. Last Subaru we'll buy.
23000 mi
Diode for heater/AC fan went out. Repaired under warranty.
52000 mi
Air bag sensor light came on. Dealer checked system, no problem found. Reset light
88000 mi
Bluetooth quit working. Radio unit was replaced
23000 mi
US $120
Radio ordered, needs to be replaced, Bluetooth does not work
39985 mi
US $80
Battery Replaced
59000 mi
US $135
The battery would discharge when I sat listening to the radio for less than 30 minutes on the ACC mode. It also would discharge when we parked it in an air port storage lost for a two week trip. My service provider thought it might be the battery or a "vampire draw" on the electrical system. He checked the battery, it had a bad cell. I had him order a deep cycle battery for this car. It cost $135 and the shop's policy is that maintenance items are installed for free! If you live in the Holland Michigan Area go to the Christian Brothers Shop for great service.
17000 mi
Bluetooth sync problems.
8700 mi
Battery died within 18 months of purchase. Replaced under warranty.
Neutral switch wire was chewed in half by a rat. Wire would occasionally short against the transmission and cause the engine to die at idle. Cruise control stopped working. Spliced wire to repair.
121000 mi
US $250
Clockspring broke resulting in no horn when button pressed on steering wheel. Worked when alarm activated. All other steering wheel buttons functional.
128000 mi
US $62
HVAC blower motor beginning to fail. Erratic fan speed output (surging) especially when hot outside and on high fan speed setting. Replaced blower motor. Ordered blower motor resistor but did not replace. Blower motor replacement fixed the issue.
137000 mi
US $20
A/C recharged. Very slow leak. Keeping an eye on it.
23400 mi
ABS, traction control, and hill descent control lights were on. Dealer pulled codes and replaced bare light switch under warranty.
27000 mi
Bluetooth connectivity trouble. BT would intermittently disconnect from my phone during the middle of a phone call, and say BT Not Available on screen. Dealer replaced radio under warranty
28200 mi
SRS Sensor. Passenger Airbag would be off when sensor came on, despite adult in seat. At first was intermittent, and code was not stored. Drove to dealership with it on, and they diagnosed it as faulty sensor in seat. Replacing seat/sensor
38500 mi
US $125
Replaced dysfunctional brake light switch. It didn’t effect the drivability of the car at all. I only knew there was a problem because it tripped three different warning lights.
See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how
frequently 2015 Subaru Forester problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.
