2016 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 414 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 40 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationOct 3, 2019
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.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Campaign 19V701000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 28, 2019
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.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Campaign 19V149000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, gasoline, turbo/superchargerMar 21, 2016
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.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.
Campaign 16V162000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
414 reports, newest first.
Power train, Jun 1, 2020
THE KEY HAS STARTED GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION INTERMITTENTLY AFTER TURNING THE MOTOR OFF. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS INVOLVING TURNING THE MOTOR BACK ON AND PULLING THE KEY OUT AS I'M TURNING THE MOTOR OFF. IT MAY GO A COUPLE OF DAYS AND BE FINE THEN DO IT SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW. *TR
Vehicle speed control, May 16, 2020
MY FORESTER ACCELERATES WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHEN I STOP AT LIGHT AND ADVANCE IT SOMETIMES ACCELERATES MORE THAN I HAVE PRESSED ON GAS. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Structure, May 4, 2020, crash
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY, CAUSING CAR TO CRASH INTO GUARDRAIL ON MEDIAN, CAUSING EXTENSIVE BENT FRAME OF CAR AND EXTENSIVE BODY DAMAGE, CAUSING CAR TO BE DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS, AND CAUSING NERVE DAMAGE IN THE NECK OF DRIVER.
Other or unspecified, Mar 17, 2020
WHEN I PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK I CANT REMOVE MY KEY WITHOUT TURNING IT ON AND BACK OFF A COUPLE TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A MONTH NOW SINCE IF OWNED IT.
Suspension, Mar 16, 2020
SUBARU DEALER CHANGED TWO REAR COILS ON MY 2016 FORESTER, WITH 37K MILES, 2/20/2020. ON 2/26/2020 A LOUD BANGING NOISE AT REAR OF VEHICLE. NOTICED OIL SPOTS ON MY DRIVEWAY, AT REAR OF VEHICLE. ON 3/2/20, 11 DAYS AFTER THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED, I BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALER ASKING THEM TO CHECK MY WORK. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT STORE THE CAR AND I WOULD HAVE TO RERUN THE NEXT DAY. WORK COMMITMENTS MADE THIS IMPOSSIBLE. THE NEXT TWO DAYS, ON DRIVING TO THE TRAIN, THE BANGING BECAME EXTREMELY LOUD AND I LEFT IT AT A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT BOTH REAR STRUTS WERE LEAKING. IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT BOTH REAR STRUTS WOULD LEAK 11 DAYS AFTER THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT THOSE BAD COIL SPRINGS, WHICH WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER, , CAUSED EXTRA STRESS TO THOSE TWO REAR STRUTS, ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 37K MILES, CAUSING BOTH TO FAIL. SHOCKS STRUTS USUALLY NEVER FAIL IN PAIRS. THE VEHICLES IS USED LOCALLY, WITH NO HEAVY OBJECTS IN THE REAR. DEALER SHOULD COMPENSATE THIS OWNER.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2020
SMALL CHIP IN WINDSHIELD ON HIGHWAY TURNED INTO LARGE CRACK REQUIRING WHOLE WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED AND VISION SYSTEM RECALIBRATED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD SINCE PURCHASING IT IN 2016
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2020
SMALL CHIP IN WINDSHIELD ON HIGHWAY TURNED INTO LARGE CRACK REQUIRING WHOLE WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED AND VISION SYSTEM RECALIBRATED.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVER NIGHT. DID SEE SMALL ROCK IMPACT BUT WEIRD WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALL THE WAY UP OVER NIGHT.
Engine, Mar 12, 2020
RUNNING IN MY 2016 SUBARU FORESTER AT 70 MPH ON CROWDED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN TEXAS AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. NO WARNING, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING...JUST LOST ALL POWER AND SHOT OFF WHILE DRIVING. . CAR ROLLED TO A STOP AND THEN I HAD IT TOWED. RESTARTED AFTER A WHILE AND DROVE FINE. SAW A LOT OF COMMENTS ONLINE FOR A CURRENT SUBARU RECALL THAT HAS EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS, BUT FOR THE 2019 YEAR FORESTER. SUBARU RECALL ITEM: WUW-08 AND ALSO NOTES AS RECALL #: 19V856000 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV). DEALER DOEN'T WANT TO TOUCH IT SR INCE IT'S A DIFFERENT MODEL YEAR. COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.
Power train, Engine, Mar 5, 2020
AROUND 75K MILES, THE "AT TEMP" LIGHT BEGAN TO APPEAR WHEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 35-40 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY AT CONTINUOUS SPEEDS. NO CODE WAS STORED WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE PICTURES OF THIS LIGHT BEING ON NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS HAPPENED BETWEEN MAY 2019-AUGUST 2019 THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, WITH OCCASIONAL STALLS/SHUTDOWNS. NO LIGHTS WOULD COME OUT DURING SHUDDER OR STALL. THIS HAPPENED BETWEEN MAY 2019-FEBRUARY 2020 AT 98K, VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND SHUDDER DURING SHIFTING, AROUND 2500RPM UPON ACCELERATION. I HAD A TRANSMISSION SERVICE/ CVT FLUID CHANGE DONE AT 90K AT JOHNSTON'S SUBARU IN MIDDLETOWN, NY. TRANSMISSION SERVICE WAS DONE 2/3/2020
Air bags, Seats, Mar 3, 2020
THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF A FAULTY "OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM". THE INDICATOR WOULD CHANGE FROM ON TO OFF RANDOMLY. THEN THERE WAS AN OFFICIAL RECALL, BUT NO FIX WAS AVAILABLE AND THEY INSTRUCTED TO WAIT UNTIL THE DEALERS CONTACTED US. A COUPLE OF MONTHS, TIRED OF WAITING TO BE ABLE TO USE THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR, I CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA. THEY TOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT WAS AVAILABLE. DEALER HAD TO GET PARTS AND INSTALLED IT. IT SEEMS NOW IT STILL DOES NOT WORK UNDER OUR TYPICAL USE CASE. WE FOUND OUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE CAUSE. A DIFFERENT OCCUPANCY DETECTION SENSOR IN THE REPLACEMENT WORKS USING AN "ELECTROSTATIC" METHOD. MY WIFE WAS USING A STANDARD RELATIVELY THIN SEAT CUSHION THAT APPARENTLY PREVENTS THE NEW SENSOR FROM WORKING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT LIABILITY TO AUTOMOBILE PASSENGERS WHO DRIVE IN CARS EQUIPPED WITH SUCH EQUIPMENT. NOWHERE IN THE MANUAL (OR THE RECALL PAPERWORKS) IS THERE A NOTE TO NOT USE A SEAT CUSHION OF ANY KIND. IT ALSO WOULD NOT BE INTUITIVE TO THINK THIS WOULD BE A HAZARD FROM A PASSENGERS PERSPECTIVE. YOU COULD HAVE AN IMPALE SETTING ON THE CAR THAT JUST ENDS IT FOR YOU (FOR THOSE NO HELMET BIKERS). IT WOULD SIMILARLY BE DEEMED ACCEPTABLE, SO LONG AS THERE IS AN INDICATOR LIGHT THAT SAYS "IMPALER ACTIVE" FOR PEOPLE GET TO IMPALED BY THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AI SYSTEM GATHERS THEIR PREFERENCE IS DNR IN AN ACCIDENT VIA THEIR MUSIC SELECTION. MANY PEOPLE WOULDNT THINK TO LOOK AT THE AIRBAG ON OR OFF LIGHT. ALSO YOU CAN USE A SEAT CUSHION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WITHOUT ANY ISSUE WHICH FURTHER CONFUSES THINGS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN TERMS OF HAVING ANY IDEA THAT A CUSHION IS ENDANGERING THEM. I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO PROTECT CHILDREN, BUT WHO PUTS THEIR KIDS OR BABY SEATS IN THE FRONT SEAT THESE DAYS? THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO TURN THE BAG ON OR OFF, OR AT LEAST ON SO THAT YOU CAN OVERRIDE A FAULTY SENSOR
Visibility/wiper, Mar 2, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ACROSS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTOBARN SUBARU OF COUNTRYSIDE (6191 JOLIET RD, COUNTRYSIDE, IL 60525) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2016 FORESTER SUBARU CRACKED FROM THE PASSENGER BOTTOM SEAM THEN UP & ACROSS TOWARDS THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT HAS SO FAR STOPPED NEAR THE CENTER. I BELIEVE I HAVE A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER SAW IT BUT SAID SHE DIDNT SEE IT THE DAY BEFORE. IT WAS SEEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET. I WILL CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOMORROW 2/24/2020 BUT I HAVE A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE SO I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2020
ON 2/18/2020 A SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD BREAKAGE EVENT OCCURED ON MY 2016 SUBARU FORESTER WHILE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT ON A CITY STREET. A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE POINT OF ORIGIN WAS THE EMBEDDED WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE DE-ICER ELEMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. A HORIZONTAL CRACK THEN SPREAD FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD TRANSVERSING THE AREA DIRECTLY ABOVE THE DE-ICER HEATING ELEMENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 2/19/2020 WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER ASSESSED THE WINDSHIELD, DETERMINING THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY IMPACT MARKS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD BREAKAGE. HE TOOK PICTURES, COMPLETED AN ORDER ON RECORD AND FILED A REPORT WITH THE REGIONAL SUBARU OFFICE. CLAIM #TL1-53388627724. ON 2/21/2020 THE REGIONAL SUBARU OFFICE DENIED A CLAIM TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND PERFORM THE NECESSARY RECALIBRATION OF THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. MY CAR IS THREE YEARS AND TEN MONTHS OLD. MILEAGE WAS 31,122 ON 2/18/2020.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 22, 2020
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IN LAS VEGAS WITH NOTHING OVERHEAD. CAME OUT TO GO TO THE STORE AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. HAD DRIVEN THE CAR EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THIS CRACK WAS NOT THERE. JUST READ ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND WONDER IF MY 2016 WITH EYESIGHT IS POSSIBLY IN THE SAME SITUATION.
Electrical system, Feb 14, 2020
CAR SUFFERED 10 UNEXPLAINED ORIGINAL BATTERY DISCHARGES IN YEARS 2-3 OF OWNERSHIP. UPON JUMP START, AUTO WOULD START AND OPERATE NORMALLY FOR 2-5 MONTHS BEFORE NEXT DISCHARGE. SUBARU AUTHORIZED WARRANTY REPLACEMENT THROUGH DEALERSHIP WITH NEW LARGER POWERED BATTERY AT END OF YEAR 3 OF OWNERSHIP. REPAIR STATED FAILURE DUE TO BATTERY LEAKAGE ALTHOUGH NONE WAS OBSERVED BY OWNERS. 13 MONTHS AFTER REPLACEMENT BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, IT DISCHARGED TWICE IN SAME DAY AND WAS TAKEN TO ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP (SUBARU OF PORTLAND). SERVICE TECHNICIAN CHECK DETERMINED BATTERY COULD NOT BE RECHARGED, COULD NOT DETERMINE REASON FOR ITS FAILURE, COULD NOT FIND ANY ELECTRICAL PARASITIC DRAWS AND FOUND ALL SOFTWARE WAS UP TO DATE. OWNER WAS CHARGED FOR NEW BATTERY AND INSTALLATION AS FAILED BATTERY WAS NOW OUT OF 1-YEAR SUBARU REPLACEMENT POLICY. BRIEF INTERNET REVIEW SHOWS THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2016-2017 SUBARU'S. SUBARU U.S. CORPORATE CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT DEMONSTRATED NO INTEREST IN TAKING COMPLAINT OR LOGGING IN ANY DETAIL INFORMATION, DIRECTING OWNER BACK TO REPAIRING DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILED BATTERIES.
Electrical system, Feb 7, 2020
THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AND IN "PARK," INTERMITTENTLY. I NEED TO RESTART THE CAR, READJUST THE SHIFTER OUT AND THEN BACK INTO "PARK," UNTIL THE VEHICLE SENSES THAT I AM ACTUALLY IN "PARK" AND ALLOWS ME TO REMOVE THE KEY.
Other or unspecified, Feb 7, 2020
THE EYESIGHT HAS TURNED OFF SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY AND WON'T TURN BACK ON UNTIL I STOP AND RESTART CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 3.5 YEARS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THERE WAS NO SUNLIGHT AND VERY LIGHT MIST THIS LAST TIME. THERE WAS NOTHING BLOCKING THE EYESIGHT CAMERA AT ALL. THIS IS NOT THE SAFETY FEATURE THAT I PAID EXTRA FOR.
Air bags, Feb 5, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jan 21, 2020
WHEN DRIVING WITH NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SOMETIMES WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT I GET AN SRS AIRBAG FAULT BUT IT NEVER STAYS ON AFTER I SHUT DOWN THE SUV. SOMETIMES WHEN I RESTART THE SUV AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES IT WILL COME BACK ON AND IT STAYS ON UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE SUV. THEN NOTHING FOR WEEKS. I'VE WANTED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BUT EVERY TIME I START TO HEAD OVER TO THEN THE FAULT GOES OUT OR NEVER COMES ON? I'M SURE IF I JUST HEAD OVER I'M JUST WASTING MY TIME. THE LAST TWO MONTHS IT'S BEEN MUCH MORE ACTIVE WITH THE FAULT HAPPENING. I'M LISTING THE LAST TIME IT HAS HAPPEN AS 01/10/2020. I KEEP NOTHING ON THE PASSENGERS SEAT AND I AM UNSURE IF THE AIR BAG LIGHT (YELLOW LIGHT ON THE DASH) SHOWS THAT IT IS ON OR OFF WHEN IT COMES ON. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT (6' 225 LBS) AND THE SRS FAULT COME ON AND THE YELLOW AIRBAG LIGHT SHOWED IT WAS STILL ON. I HAVE A TRIP TO PITTSBURGH PA FROM ALLENTOWN PA AND I'M WORRIED THAT IF I'M IN AN ACCIDENT THEY WON'T GO OFF AND PROTECT US. THIS CAR IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTED AND I HAVE ABOUT 44K ON THE VEHICLE. PURCHASED IT NEW FEB 12 2016 STEVE MOYER SUBARU
Suspension, Dec 30, 2019
WHEN I WENT FOR MY INSPECTION STICKER,IT FAILED DUE TO A BROKEN RIGHT REAR SPRING,THEN WENT I BROUGHT IT TO BE REPAIRED I FOUND OUT THE LEFT SIDE WAS ALSO BROKEN.
Air bags, Dec 27, 2019
2016 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS
Air bags, Seats, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 15, 2019
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ABOUT SEAT SENSOR AND AIRBAG DEFECT. NEED TO,GET,THIS REPAIRED AS A RECALL, BUT PARTS SUPPOSEDLY NOT YET AVAILABLE. ERROR MESSAGES SINCE AUGUST WHEN DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AN AIR BAG ISSUE.
Engine, Dec 13, 2019
VEHICLE FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS ABOUT TO STALL. THIS OCCURS SPORADICALLY WHEN STOPPING OR WHEN UNDER ACCELERATION ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO TWO SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS, NEITHER COULD DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. HOWEVER ONE DID SUGGEST IT MAY BE A PCV VALVE. THIS APPEARS QUITE SIMILAR TO THE RECENT RECALL (19V856) WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS MODEL YEAR.
Electrical system, Nov 30, 2019
MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND HAD NOT BEEN STARTED FOR ONE DAY. THE BATTERY WOULD NOT START THE CAR, I HAD TO CALL FOR A JUMP. I WAITED APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR FOR SOMEONE TO COME THROUGH SUBARU ROAD SIDE ASSIST. THE BATTERY WAS RELATIVELY NEW, AS THE ORIGINAL WAS REPLACED 1/2019. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR, WHICH WERE FINE. THEY RECHARGED THE BATTERY. I PAID FOR THE BATTERY INSPECTION.