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.
Suspension, Service brakes, Sep 2, 2019
VEHICLE ONLY HAS 13888 MILES ON IT WHILE REPLACING ALL 4 BRAKE ROTORS (YES ALL 4 DUE TO WARPAGE AND DISHING) FOUND LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BUSTED REPLACED MYSELF DUE TO HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE WE NEED CAR FOR WORK
Steering, Structure, Engine, Aug 30, 2019, crash
I WAS PARKING THE CAR IN A CVS PARKING LOT ON SUNRISE BLVD FT. LAUDERDALE. I MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO THE LOT AND ANOTHER RIGHT TURN INTO THE SPACE ON THE RIGHT. IT WAS A LARGE SPACE AND THE ROW OF PARKING SLOTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY SO I WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR INTO ONE OF THOSE. I MADE THE TURN INTO THE SPACE, DRIVING VERY SLOWLY, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD NOISE AND SHOT FORWARD. I HAD DONE NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS. THE CAR RAN OVER THE CURB AND INTO A CLUSTER OF SHRUBBERY - ABOUT 7 FEET WIDE. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP INSIDE THE SHRUBBERY BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL GOING. IT WAS THE SHRUBBERY THAT STOPPED THE CAR. 08/ I WAS NOT INJURED AT ALL. I TRIED TO BACK UP THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT BACK UP. ANOTHER DRIVER WHO SAW THE INCIDENT CAME OVER TO SEE IF I WAS OKAY AND HELPED ME OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS JAMMED UP AGAINST THE SHRUBBERY. HE COULD NOT BACK UP THE CAR EITHER AND INSTEAD DRIVE THE CAR FORWARD THROUGH THE SHRUBS AND CAME AROUND BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT. WE CALLED AAA AND I WAITED FOR THEM.
Air bags, Seat belts, Seats, Aug 29, 2019
INTERMITTENT DASH LIGHT SAYING THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF WITH PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AND WHEN CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. COMES ON IN CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING BOTH..
Air bags, Aug 27, 2019
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE EARLY 2016, CURRENTLY UNDER 40K MILES. THE SIDE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING SUDDENLY CAME ON STATING THE SRS SYSTEM NEEDS CHECKED. THE WARNING COMES AND DISAPPEARS SPORADICALLY. I TRIED WIGGLING AND TIGHTENING THE CONNECTION UNDERNEATH THE SEAT AND THE LIGHT WAS GONE FOR OVER A MONTH BUT IT CAME BACK AGAIN.
Air bags, Aug 27, 2019
THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE AIRBAG WILL TURN OFF EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. I AM TRIED TO CONTACT MY SERVICE DEPARTMENT MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS WITH NO CALL BACK.
Electrical system, Air bags, Aug 27, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RED WARNING INDICATOR ICON FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO SUBARU OF ROCHESTER (4840 MAINE AVE SE, ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA 55904, (507) 285-4777) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A COST ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Power train, Aug 24, 2019
MY CAR IS SLOWING DOWN DRASTICALLY WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE GAS AND RPM IS INCREASING. I SUSPECT THAT THE CVT IS SLIPPING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO ENGINE BRAKE. THIS IS THE REASON SUBARU EXTENDED THE CVT WARRANTY, BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE CVTS.
Air bags, Aug 18, 2019
MY VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN BEGAN GIVING ME A PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CENSOR ERROR. NO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED IT JUST OUT OF THE BLUE APPEARED. I HAD TO TAKE MY FORESTER TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO BE SERVICED WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG.
Air bags, Aug 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRUNSWICK SUBARU (2992 CENTER RD, BRUNSWICK, OH 44212, (330) 273-3300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOTTOM SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,200. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Air bags, Aug 13, 2019
TAKATA RECALL- WHEN DRIVING THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LIGHT SWITCHES OFF EVEN WHEN THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. I CANNOT LET ANYONE OCCUPY THE SEAT BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS NOT SAFE.
Air bags, Aug 12, 2019
ODS / AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. DOESN'T MATTER IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS WE DAMAGED THE SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT. PART IS IN FOR REPAIR AND WE'RE TRYING TO SCHEDULE A TIME TO GET BACK INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE DO THE REPAIR AT OUR COST.
Air bags, Aug 12, 2019
FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSORS ERRATICALLY REPORT A MALFUNCTION AND SUGGEST AN INSPECTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AS WELL AS STATIONARY. IT HAS HAPPENED BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT. I CALLED SUBARU AMERICA AND BROUGHT THE CAR INTO NAPLETON SUBARU ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL ON JULY 24, 2019. ON THAT DATE I COULD NOT RECREATE THE ERROR MESSAGES. NAPLETON INSPECTED AND TOLD ME SYSTEM NEEDED A RESET WHICH THEY DID FREE OF CHARGE. SINCE THERE WAS NO ERROR MESSAGE EITHER IMMEDIATELY BEFORE OR AFTER THE VISIT, I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER RESET WAS EFFECTIVE. THE NEXT DAY THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS BACK. PICTURES ATTACHED AS WELL AS RECEIPT FROM NAPLETON DESCRIBING WORK PERFORMED. *TT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER TWICE AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING PROPERLY, BUT CANNOT DETERMINE WHETHER THE AIR BAG ERROR MESSAGE HAS BEEN FALSELY ACTIVATED. OR IF THERE IS A REAL MALFUNCTION.*JB
Air bags, Aug 12, 2019
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT FUNCTION. THE SENSOR CANNOT TELL WHEN A PASSENGER IS PRESENT. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY, SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. IN THE PAST MONTH, THE AIRBAGS HAVE NOT BEEN ON AT ALL.
Air bags, Aug 11, 2019
WHEN IN MOTION, THE OCCUPANCY DETECTOR SENSOR LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATES EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN MY 2016 FORESTER AND ALSO HAPPENED IN MY 2014 FORESTER.
Air bags, Seats, Aug 10, 2019
IN EARLY MAY 2019, THE VEHICLE STARTED GIVING AIRBAG WARNINGS AND DISABLING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY SUBARU DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE A COUPLE WEEKS LATER. IT TOOK A MONTH TO GET AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE WARNING DIAGNOSED. FINALLY THEY DID THE ANALYSIS AND TOLD ME THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR HAD FAILED, AND CLAIMED IT WAS BECAUSE THE SEAT GOT WET (IT DIDN'T). AFTER I COMPLAINED TO MANAGEMENT THEY COMP'D THE REPAIR AND REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION AT THE END OF JUNE. THE PROBLEM HASN'T RECURRED.
Air bags, Seat belts, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 10, 2019, crash
THERE WERE 5 MAJOR ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE THAT I WANT INVESTIGATED. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT NB ON US-101 IN THE #1 LANE OF TRAFFIC, GOING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, WHEN FOR NO EXPLAINABLE REASON, THE REAR TIRES OF MY 2016 SUBARU FORESTER BEGAN TO SKID ME ACROSS THE #2 LANE OF TRAFFIC. I WILL NOTE THAT IT HAD JUST STOPPED SPRINKLING AND THE ROAD WAS DAMP. ISSUE 1: DURING MY SKID, THE SKID CONTROL FEATURE NEVER ENGAGED (WHICH IS A MARKETED FEATURE AND A REASON I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE). I HAD TO FIGHT THE SKID ON MY OWN. ISSUE 2: THE ROLL OVER FEATURE NEVER ENGAGED (WHICH IS A MARKETED FEATURE AND ANOTHER REASON I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE). AFTER FIGHTING TO PREVENT MY VEHICLE FROM ROLLING OVER AND SKIDDING OUT OF CONTROL, I ULTIMATELY CRASH ON THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY, HITTING A LIGHT POST. ISSUE 3: UPON HITTING THE LIGHT POST, MY SEAT BELT FLEW OFF. (BOTH MY HANDS WERE ON THE WHEEL AT THE TIME AND THERE WERE NO LOOSE OBJECTS IN THE AREA. UNLESS THIS IS SOME "FEATURE" IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE SEAT BELT TO DISENGAGE AUTOMATICALLY.) ISSUE 4: THE CRASH NOTIFICATION FEATURE, THAT I PAID EXTRA FOR, DID NOT DO IT'S JOB. EVEN WITH MY CELL PHONE LINKED TO THE VEHICLE, THE CRASH NOTIFICATION NEVER CALLED 9-1-1 ON MY BEHALF. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 9-1-1 TO NOTIFY CHP OF MY ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS FEARFUL OF ANOTHER VEHICLE ALSO SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL AND HITTING ME. CHP TOOK A REPORT. ** ISSUE 5 **: THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND AUTO BODY SHOP. THE AUTO BODY SHOP STATED VEHICLE HIT THE POLE SO HARD ALL BOLTS WERE BENT INTO A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. HOW DOES A CRASH THAT SEVERE NOT ENGAGE THE AIR BAGS? I HAD A SCAR ON MY COLLAR BONE FOR A MONTH AFTER THE CRASH. NONE OF THE MARKETED OR REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURES WORKED TO PREVENT THE CRASH NOR ASSIST AFTER THE CRASH.
Air bags, Seats, Aug 1, 2019
SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WENT BAD UNDER NORMAL USE AND SUBARU DOES NOT WANT TO COVER EXPENSE TO REPLACE, AND THIS SENSOR LETS DRIVER KNOW IF AIRBAG IS ENGAGED (ON) OR NOT.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 19, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED 70 MILES BEFORE EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BLAISE ALEXANDER SUBARU (1703 W COLLEGE AVE, STATE COLLEGE, PA 16801) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 17, 2019
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION CARMUST BE LEFT UNLOCKED WITH KEY IN IT WHEN PARKED - THIS CREATES A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE CAR CAN BE STOLEN OR INTRUDER CAN COME INTO CAR. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND HAD A REVISED PART 35122FJ033 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DESPITE BEING A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT WITH SAFETY IMPLICATIONS THERE IS NO RECALL AND THE CONSUMER MUST PAY THE $400 FOR THE REPAIR.
Other or unspecified, Jul 12, 2019
SUBARU IS AWARE OF FAULTY COMPONENTS IN THEIR AC COMPRESSOR/CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BUT REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE COMPONENTS FALL APART AFTER A CERTAIN TIME. THEY ISSUED A TSB TO THEIR DEALERS AND TECHNICIANS ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT NEVER NOTIFIED ME ABOUT THE ISSUE WHEN THE TICKET WAS CREATED ONLY 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE.
Air bags, Jul 8, 2019
THE CAR HAS HAD INTERMITTENT SRS ERRORS STARTING SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR IN SUMMER OF 2016. WE HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND NOTHING WAS EVER FOUND. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY CONSISTANCY AS TO WHEN THE "SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED" MESSAGE APPEARS. SOMETIMES WEEKS GO BY WITH NO ERRORS. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO ON AND NOT APPEAR THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. MY CONCERN IS THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTION WHEN NEEDED. I AM LISTING THE MOST RECENT DATE THIS HAS HAPPENED BELOW BUT AS STATED IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR YEARS.
Electrical system, Jul 5, 2019
INTERMITTENT IGNITION ISSUE WILL NOT ALWAYS RELEASE KEY WHEN AUTO IS TURNED OFF. THE POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO AFFECT IT.DOES NOT ALLOW ROTATION TO THE RELEASE KEY POSITION.SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN AUTO BACK ON, BACK OUT, AND PULL IN WITH WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL IN PERFECT STRAIGHT ALIGNMENT, WHICH SEEMS TO ALLOW ME TO TURN KEY TO RELEASE KEY POSITION.
Air bags, Jul 1, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS FLASHING AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. HASSETT SUBARU (3520 SUNRISE HWY, WANTAGH, NY 11793, (516) 785-7800) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY AIR BAG RECALL; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED FOUR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. *BF
Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Jun 21, 2019
THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RANDOMLY GOES OFF WHEN THERE'S A PASSENGER IN THE CAR OR NOT. THE SEAT BELT ALARM FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE GOES OFF WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. AIRBAG SENSOR SAYS "OFF" WITH A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, AS I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT AIRBAG IS TRULY FUNCTIONAL, AND ALSO AN ANNOYANCE, AS THE SEATBELT ALARM DINGS WHILE I'M DRIVING.
Service brakes, Jun 19, 2019
MY VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL (WUE-90). AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE, I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND REQUESTED AN APPOINTMENT TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TOLD I COULD NOT GET AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL OCTOBER. HOWEVER, IF I SCHEDULED MY CAR FOR ANOTHER PAID SERVICE (A WHEEL ALIGNMENT) THEY WOULD FIX THE ISSUE WITHIN THREE WEEKS. MY QUESTIONS ARE: 1) CAN A DEALER POSTPONE A SAFETY RECALL FOR FIVE MONTHS? AND 2) CAN A DEALER REQUIRE A CUSTOMER TO PAY FOR ANOTHER SERVICE TO GET A TIMELY APPOINTMENT FOR A SAFETY RECALL?