2015 Subaru Forester Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 82about this part
- Share
- 13%of 615 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 82 complaints about the electrical system of the 2015 Subaru Forester, 13% of the 615 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The battery drains often and quickly. It happens long before the warranty is up on the battery. This interrupts key systems and make it unable to be driven. Even charging the battery does not help. It has to be replaced. I have gone through three batteries in a little over a year. Each time I have to have a mechanic reset all systems.”
NHTSA complaint #11416747, filed 2021-05, 99,000 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.”
NHTSA complaint #11196155, filed 2019-04, 25 miles“My wife was driving to work, about 35mph on a paved road. Several electrical items suddenly failed, all at the same time - wipers, windshield washer, heater fan, turn signals all would not work. When she stopped the car, turned off the ignition, and turned it back on, the electrical system worked again. I am taking it in for warranty service at ganley Subaru, wickliffe, ohio.”
NHTSA complaint #10836928, filed 2016-02, 12,500 miles“First my battery went and I have 56,000 miles. My gauge for gasoline is not working also the monitor on the information screen is wrong. My window is not working on the automatic on the driver side, now it does not go up with lifting the button it hass to be lifted several times. It seems now that my extended warranty has expired I have many issues. When I called Subaru to install a new battery I was told it was 49.95 to install. Unacceptable”
NHTSA complaint #11365324, filed 2020-10, 56,400 miles“Went outside because I smelled smoke and saw smoke pouring out of my passenger side mirror. Doused with hose, now car won't lock. Car in driveway. No photo because important to put out any fire.”
NHTSA complaint #11319699, filed 2020-03, 55,000 milesRelated service bulletins
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- 11030560Mar 26, 2026This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 25% |
| 2025 | 9 | 9% |
| 2024 | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 | 8 | 11% |
| 2022 | 11 | 11% |
| 2021 | 34 | 16% |
| 2020 | 103 | 17% |
| 2019 | 134 | 16% |
| 2018 | 71 | 14% |
| 2017 | 106 | 18% |
| 2016 | 93 | 22% |
| 2015 | 82 | 13% |
| 2014 | 42 | 10% |
| 2013 | 3 | 4% |
| 2012 | 10 | 9% |
| 2011 | 11 | 7% |
| 2010 | 13 | 5% |
| 2009 | 22 | 12% |
| 2008 | 5 | 10% |
| 2007 | 5 | 7% |
| 2006 | 7 | 8% |
| 2005 | 3 | 3% |
| 2004 | 4 | 2% |
| 2003 | 4 | 2% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 4 | 3% |
| 1998 | 6 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2015 Subaru Forester
131 complaintsAir bags
102 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
95 complaintsOther or unknown
74 complaintsVehicle speed control
70 complaintsSuspension
66 complaintsFuel system
57 complaintsBrakes
36 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
28 complaintsSeats
22 complaintsBody and structure
20 complaintsWheels
20 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2015 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology