Traction Control complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 0% | 1,000 miles |
| 2019 | 10 | 1% | 4,000 miles |
| 2018 | 6 | 1% | 6,000 miles |
| 2017 | 5 | 1% | 30,000 miles |
| 2016 | 8 | 2% | 32,000 miles |
| 2015 | 15 | 2% | 38,000 miles |
| 2014 | 6 | 1% | 70,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 1% | 107,000 miles |
| 2012 | 4 | 4% | 5,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2010 | 3 | 1% | 139,000 miles |
| 2009 | 5 | 3% | 41,000 miles |
| 2008 | 1 | 2% | 48,000 miles |
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Traveling from ri to western ny. Departed ri in am with moderate rainfall when "eyesight disabled" indicator flashed several times over the course of half hour. When rain subsided, indicator disappeared. Several hours later, was driving 65-70mph on straight section of major interstate with good visibility, approaching a highway overpass when "obstacle detected" warning appeared despite no obstacle in road, and shortly thereafter car went into a slow spin (felt as if floating) towards left, striking a guardrail underneath the overpass head-on and continuing to spin 360 degrees at which point I was able to recover control of the car. It felt as if brakes had engaged (? Crash imminent braking system) although I did not have foot on brake pedal and I did not attempt to brake while in the spin as I feared rolling the vehicle. Despite extensive front end damage, airbags did not deploy. …
When I start my car via Subaru starlink the following technical issues occur voice over Bluetooth gets distorted, Apple CarPlay does not connect or affects radio first was noticed jan 23, 2019. Also, power rear gate door would fail and would not open with rear gate button, dash button or via key fob as this on and off problem also noticed after car is started via remote app starlink. Power gate problem reported first on jan 23, 2019 and continues through the present date. Eyesight failed on jul 06, 2019 when car was started via starlink, jul 07, 2019 eyesight back on and failed again on jul 08, 2019 when car was manually started from parking position. When eyesight fails it effect vehicle dynamic control which analyzes steering angle, engine speed and braking conditions. Also, cruise control fails to work ans well Subaru reverse automatic breaking. …
Brand new vehicle. Driving on an interstate at 55mph and made a slight left turn at a bend in the road, well within the clearly painted lane markers. Clear weather, temp about 50 degrees f. Heard one beep and lost control of the steering for a second while the car steered itself slightly left. My hands were on the steering wheel and I was active operating the vehicle. Startling! Happened two more times. Took it to a dealer and he explained that I might not be used to electronic steering. The same day, on a two lane road at 35 MPH, at a slight left bend in the road, one beep and lost steering for about a second but enough to take the vehicle to the edge of the shoulder. I was startled again and turned sharp left, crossing the double yellow line into the oncoming lane. Fortunately, there were no vehicles in the lane. …
[redacted] 05/19/2019 [redacted]- clear day @ 10 am est. While in my lane and traveling straight and within the lane lines, two (2) vehicle safety systems activate at the same time: lane keep assist, lane departure warning. The lane keep assist was the strongest "pull" I've ever felt and pulled/steered the vehicle to right causing me nearly cross into the lane on my right. My hands were always on the steering wheel and was able to immediately correct it. The departure warning also activated at the initial 'lane keep assist' feature activation. Attached is a picture of the road from the inside of the vehicle. The windshield has dried insect residue but nothing I considered visually impairing. If my hands were not on the steering wheel or otherwise was distracted, I have no doubt I would have steered completely into the lane next to me.
On October 4, 2019 my car was parked and the passenger rear bumper was hit and damaged by a school bus. My car has been in the shop 4 times to get fixed and it is still not fixed. The bsd/rcta sensors are not working. The dealership has "fixed" this issue 4 times now and I am taking it back to the dealership for a 5th time.
On three separate occasions thus far, while driving approximately 70 MPH on interstate 93 in massachusetts and new hampshire, my 2017 Subaru Forester touring (with 21K miles) lost power and completely shutdown. All three times, I was luckily able to steer the vehicle to safety while avoiding other motor vehicles and neither myself, my passengers nor anyone else around us was hurt. When the vehicle decides to shutdown, it feels like the car drops itself into neutral, the rpms shoot up to about 4500-5000 and all of the lights on the dashboard light up. There is about a five second window to steer the vehicle to safety from when you first detect that the issue is occurring. After waiting for about 45 minutes after the incident, I am able to start the car back up and drive it. …
2016 Subaru Forester xt with 57000 miles. The CEL came on during a 5 minute drive and started to stall. After stopping and starting the car, the engine continuously sputtered. CEL came on, stability control disabled, traction control disabled, cruise control disabled. To keep the car from dying, driver had to rev engine. Driver took it to the dealership because the car was unsafe to drive (stalled in the middle of intersections). CEL was reset after dealership changed the o2 sensor. Car ran fine for 50 miles. CEL came on, stability control, traction control and cruise control were all disabled. Car would skid on wet surfaces. Car would stall. Car would lag on the throttle response and then accelerate at a very high-rate, resulting in near miss accidents. Returned to the dealership. Brake-light sensor was replaced first and CEL reset. …
On semi-slick patches of road, the 2016 Forester drivetrain wreaks havoc on the control systems and steering causing the vehicle to violently break right or left requiring hard steering to steer forward. Passengers suffer motion sickness; it is that bad. While other traffic (e.g., semi-trucks, gravel haulers, 20+ foot trailed vehicles) can pass the Forester with no problem at much higher speeds, the 2016 Forester cannot be driven over 40mph or sever loss of control (e.g., expressway); much like lug nuts loose on one or more wheels. The 2016 Forester is a death trap even at 40mph because unknown when it will just break to right or left. Put new tires on; same problem (factory spec alignment okay). Took to dealer, and rear wheels were adjusted with irregular alignment to try to keep vehicle from tracking in a fashion to try to prevent the problem. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Forester years have traction control problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2015 (15), 2019 (10), 2016 (8), 2014 (6) and 2018 (6) model years. Traction Control complaints make up 2% of all complaints for the 2015.
Is there a recall for Subaru Forester traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for any Subaru Forester model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Subaru Forester traction control problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles; 78% happened before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.