2016 Subaru Forester problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (55) · Air Bags (54) · Power Train (36)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Forester model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
218 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2019-10-03 · campaign 19V701000 · 366,282 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2019-02-28 · campaign 19V149000 · 1,303,530 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/Supercharger 2016-03-21 · campaign 16V162000 · 18,187 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (455)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Electrical System 2026-09-14 · 15-304-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of infotainment concerns. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Power Train 2026-08-20 · 16-156-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin announces a design change made to the cvt control valve body. the updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 455 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-22 · Seats“a recall repair (nhtsa campaign: 19v701000) was previously performed on this vehicle to repair a defective occupancy sensor in the front passenger seat, which results in the passenger airbag being off even when the seat is occupied. despite the work being done previously, the same problem has resurfaced, suggesting that the recall service was not p…”
2026-10-01 · Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness“we purchased two new evenflo revolve 360 convertible car seats in november 2023 (manufactured september 2023). after only two years of use, the harness straps are frayed almost all the way through. we noticed the issue in december 2025 and reached out to evenflo in january 2026. the company claims that the fraying is due to "environmental factors."…”
2026-09-22 · Power Train · 100,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owned a 2016 subaru forester. the contact stated that while at a complete stop with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated without warning and crashed into a fire hydrant. while the foot was still on the brake pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate and struck a street sign. the vehicle continued to accelerate across th…”
2026-09-16 · Air Bags“while driving, the car will beep and display a warning that the srs system is malfunctioning. it will then turn passenger airbags off, even when there is a passenger sitting in the seat. i took the car in to subaru of glendale and was charged over $1000 to replace it, being told that i was not eligible for free replacement under the wum98 recall. a…”
2026-09-14 · Wheels“we purchased a used car for my [xxx] daughter on august 4th. of this year. on her trip to [xxx] on xxx., appoximently 5pm, the drivers side rear wheel fell off, causing damage to the wheel, lugs, shocks, caliper and tire. she was able to pull over into a parking lot, where a stranger helped her out till i arrived. when i arrived i was able to put t…”
2026-08-29 · Seats“vehicle reported an srs passenger problem intermittently, as displayed on the dashboard, the car's information system, and a diagnostic trouble code (the car's aftermarket radio is connected to the obd-ii connector and can pull codes). the problem would appear, and then disappear upon subsequent startup cycle, over the course of a two-week road tr…”
2026-08-19 · Wheels:hub · 110,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 subaru forester. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the rear wheels of the vehicle. no warning light was illuminated. a dealer was contacted. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the hub bearing needed to be replaced. the rear …”
2026-08-12 · Air Bags“airbag light is now consistently lit, has come on & off for some time. when it first happened, i went straight to the dealership & a technician placed a device under the dashboard on the driver's side & switched off the light. no mention of a recall was discussed. because the light is on most of the time of late, i researched & discovered a recall …”
2026-08-03 · Wheels“when i drove the car, all most all light on the dashboard are on onthe road, and when i stop and tried to go, the car is somewhat not controled. i immidieatly went to dealership and dignosed p2764 cvt balve problem. and they add wheel bearing is problem. subaru noticed these problems but my 88,278 mile 2016 forester has all the lights on and it was…”
2026-07-29 · Unknown Or Other“2016 subaru forester – replacement of air-conditioning condenser – july 2026 a/c was demonstrating signs of failure in early july. while researching for issues with the 2016 a/c failing, it was uncovered that the compressor on the vehicle would be subject to a replacement upon failure (subaru service information number 10-84-16). the vehicle was …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.