Is the 2016 Subaru Forester a bad year?
416 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Forester years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2016 Subaru Forester are in line with other Forester years. Air bags and electrical system stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Forester owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 40,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 100 (24%) | 31k–54k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 93 (22%) | 24k–50k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 60 (14%) | 24k–51k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 51 (12%) | 10k–71k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 29 (7%) | 14k–60k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel system | 24 (6%) | 24k–70k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seats | 24 (6%) | 21k–60k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 23 (6%) | 15k–49k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 19 (5%) | 14k–48k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Wheels | 17 (4%) | 29k–60k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Suspension | 14 (3%) | 39k–62k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Body structure | 11 (3%) | 13k–41k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 8 (2%) | 22k–54k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 37 (9%) | 8k–32k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 40,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 416 complaints: 40 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 29 say the car was towed.
20 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
2 separate incidents of complete engine power loss while on highway at cruising speeds. First incident occurred while the vehicle was going about 70MPH on a highway.
Vehicle feels as though it is about to stall. This occurs sporadically when stopping or when under acceleration on the freeway.
Sudden acceleration while parking. All low speed <5 mph. Car was in drive, braking, made a hard left turn then stopped.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 40,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Subaru Forester: 3
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.
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.
The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Subaru: 219
Repair instructions Subaru sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Subaru Forester. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES) failures for both Telematics and remote engine start equipped vehicles
Diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs B1571(REFERENCE CODE INCOMPATIBILITY IMMOBILIZER CM TO ECM) and B1572(IMM CIRCUIT EXCEPT ANTENNA CIRCUIT)…
Diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines
Diagnostic flow along with an IMPORTANT caution to follow for certain CVT solenoid related DTCs as listed
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure
Neighbouring years
2015 Forester: 617 complaints, keep it · 2017 Forester: 594 complaints, keep it.
Every Subaru Forester year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Forester years side by side
Other Subaru models: Subaru Ascent · Subaru Crosstrek · Subaru Impreza · Subaru Legacy · Subaru Outback · Subaru WRX · Subaru XV Crosstrek. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Subaru Forester a bad year?
416 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Forester years. At 40,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Forester?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (100), electrical system (93), engine (60), transmission and drivetrain (51), brakes (29).
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Forester have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-701), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 19V-149), Engine (NHTSA 16V-162). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.