What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2016 Subaru Forester

Typical pattern

8.8% of complaints about the 2016 Subaru Forester came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2016 vehicle — around the middle of the 199 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (114 complaints), typically at 4.1 yr or about 40,100 miles.

Complaints
623
Median age at failure
4.8 yr
Median mileage
39,000 n=320
Crash / fire / tow
14% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
114 reports · 40,100 mi
4.1 yr
8.8%
Electrical system
94 reports · 39,589 mi
5.6 yr
6.4%
Other
69 reports · 40,000 mi
4.4 yr
13%
Engine
60 reports · 42,000 mi
5.0 yr
11.7%
Power train
50 reports · 44,000 mi
4.8 yr
10%
Speed control
37 reports · 17,279 mi
5.0 yr
43.2%
Service brakes
29 reports · 32,000 mi
3.9 yr
27.6%
Fuel / propulsion
24 reports · 45,534 mi
5.3 yr
20.8%
Seats
23 reports · 48,600 mi
7.7 yr
0%
Visibility / wipers
20 reports · 38,200 mi
4.3 yr
0%
Steering
19 reports · 15,000 mi
4.5 yr
15.8%
Wheels
17 reports · 40,000 mi
5.9 yr
5.9%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V701000 2019-10-03
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.

If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.

19V149000 2019-02-28
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

16V162000 2016-03-21
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.

An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Other 100 mi 2 mo in service
MODELS W/ MANUAL CLIMITE CONTROL: VERY HARD TO SEE SETTINGS, ESPECIALLY IN DAY TIME, AND IF NEED TO ADJUST WHILE DRIVING SUCH AS TO DE-FOG WINDOWS, MAY RESULT IN DRIVING OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WRECKING.
Other 9,000 mi 3 mo in service
EYESIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENT SHUTDOWN AND RESTART. ON AN INCREASINGLY FREQUENT BASIS, WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL AND EYESIGHT ARE ENGAGED, BOTH WILL DISABLE AND CAN BE A FEW SECONDS TO MINUTES BEFORE THE EYESIGHT RE-ENABLES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CAN MANUALLY BE RE-ENGAGED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, VEHICLE GOES FROM AUTO-DRIVE TO MANUAL-DRIVE. ALSO, AN E1 ERROR APPEARED ON THE ODOMETER DISPLAY.
Other 8,300 mi 5 mo in service
EYESIGHT SYSTEM DID NOT PICK UP VEHICLE IN FROMT OF CAR AND PROCEED TO DRIVE STRAIGHT TOWARD AT 70MPH, I HAD TO BRAKE THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. DEALER SAID THEY TESTED CAR AND SYSTEM WAS WORKING FINE. THE SYSTEM DID NOT DETECT THE LARGE VEHICLE IN FRONT.
Speed control 70 mi 3 mo in service crash / fire / tow
THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE DRIVER STOPPED TO MAKE A U-TURN THEN SLOWLY STARTED TO TAKE HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE WHILE MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO THE RIGHT (OPPOSITE DIRECTION). THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONLY AFTER COLLIDING INTO A STREET POLE.

Other Forester model years

2025202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200620052004200320022001200019991998

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