2015 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 27owner reports
- 26,900median miles
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Jul 7, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026
94 of the 606 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 27 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 27 reports
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2015 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 14,000 and 76,000 miles, from the 21 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Merging onto a a 70mph highway and vehicle stopped accelerating around 45 mph. RMPs kept increasing, black smoke-type substance was coming out of the exhaust pipes when I tried to accelerate. No lights, warning noises, or any other indication of anything wrong with the car. Vehicle kept lurching and rev'ing but no acceleration.”
Filed May 20, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 27 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.
Other problems on this car
- Airbag warning light or recall 98 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 79 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 66 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 35 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 25 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 25 reports