Car · Subaru problems

2016 Subaru Forester problems

416 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Subaru Forester. The most reported area is air bags (24% of them). NHTSA also lists 188 service bulletins and 3 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 17. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 416 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Air bags100 · 24%
• Electrical system93 · 22%
• Other or unknown69 · 17%
• Engine and engine cooling60 · 14%
• Power train (transmission and drive)51 · 12%
• Speed control and throttle37 · 9%
• Service brakes29 · 7%
• Fuel system24 · 6%

14 smaller areas not shown (141 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 188 repair bulletins from Subaru for the 2016 Subaru Forester. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. 13-109-26Received October 5, 2026

   Paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.

2. 15-304-22RReceived October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.

3. 15-333-25RReceived October 5, 2026

   Illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.

4. 15-308-23RReceived September 3, 2026

   Electrical system

   This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to...

5. 16-156-25RReceived September 3, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   A design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body.

6. 02-193-24RReceived July 2, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   Updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves...

7. 01-167-08RReceived June 1, 2026

   Additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

8. 18-230-26Received June 1, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   The diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs B1571(REFERENCE code incompatibility immobilizer cm to ECM) and B1572(IMM circuit except antenna CIRCUIT) are detected by...

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer.

1. 19V701000October 3, 2019

   Air bags

   An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.

2. 16V162000March 21, 2016

   Engine and engine cooling

   The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.

3. 19V149000February 28, 2019

   Exterior lighting

   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...

See all 3 recalls for the 2016 Subaru Forester, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Forester will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Air bags 100 complaints · 24%

• Airbag clockspring replacement$230 to $670
• Airbag / occupant sensor replacement$220 to $750

Electrical system 93 complaints · 22%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Engine and engine cooling 60 complaints · 14%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Power train (transmission and drive) 51 complaints · 12%

• Transmission fluid service$140 to $480
• Transmission solenoid replacement$290 to $1,200
• Torque converter replacement$880 to $2,475
• Clutch replacement (manual transmission)$1,000 to $2,050

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2016 Subaru Forester: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 Subaru Forester?

Of the 416 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Subaru Forester, 100 (24%) name air bags, and 93 (22%) name electrical system. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2016 Subaru Forester reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 40 of the 416 complaints as involving a crash and 3 as involving a fire. They also reported 17 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Forester have?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 188 repair bulletins for the 2016 Subaru Forester.

More

• 2019 Forester problems
• 2018 Forester problems
• 2017 Forester problems
• 2015 Forester problems
• 2014 Forester problems
• 2010 Forester problems
• 2016 recalls
• All Subaru recalls
• Subaru problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.