2015 Subaru Forester: Blown engine
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2015 Forester report: blown engine. CarComplaints.com lists 5 owner complaints, average mileage 52,800 miles.
NHTSA has 135 owner complaints for the 2015 Forester in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11750125 (filed 07/13/2026): “I was parking at the dentist office in their parking lot going slow, turned into a parking space and thought i was slowly braking but my car lunged forward and hit a tree. i would normally be minimally braking, so i'm not sure what happened but it was sudden.…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11735015 (filed 05/01/2026): “I was pulling into a parking spot almost stopped when the vehicle suddenly surged forward. i slammed on the brake and put the car in reverse since it had driven upon the walkway. this happened earlier today and i plan to have it checked out as soon as possible…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace engine (5 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $7,750 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Estimated repair cost: engine replacement (used or remanufactured engine)
Average shop cost
$1,435
Range $800–$2,225 (labor)
8.0–16.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$2,150
Range $1,200–$3,335 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimates only, not a quote. Actual prices vary by vehicle, shop and location. See the estimate for your city → · About this repair and its cost
Same repair on other models: 2012 Chevrolet Traverse: Engine seized · 2012 Toyota 4Runner: Engine blew up · 2014 Hyundai Sonata: Seized engine · 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe: Engine seized · 2018 Chevrolet Cruze: Engine failure · 2019 Nissan Pathfinder: Timing chain pieces ruined the engine
Page last updated .