Home › Reliability › Subaru › Forester › 2016

2016 Subaru Forester Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 416 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
36/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Subaru Forester

The 2016 Subaru Forester shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

Own or buying a 2016 Subaru Forester?

Check your specific VIN free for recalls and specs. Full vehicle history report: one-time $4.99, no subscription, no auto-renewal.

3
NHTSA Recalls
3 recalls on record
416
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
40
Crash Reports
3 fire reports
⚠️

NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Subaru Forester (3)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Exterior Lighting: Brake Lights: Switch
Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #19V149000
🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification
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.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #19V701000
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Gasoline: Turbo/Supercharger
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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….
NHTSA #16V162000
💬

Most Common Problems — 2016 Subaru Forester

Based on 416 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Air Bags
91
Electrical System
81
Power Train
44
Unknown Or Other
44
Engine
32
Vehicle Speed Control
25
Steering
19
Visibility/wiper
18
📊

Subaru Forester — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.

2010 262 complaints 2011 147 complaints 2012 106 complaints 2013 78 complaints 2014 403 complaints 2015 615 complaints 2016 416 complaints 2017 591 complaints 2018 498 complaints 2019 834 complaints 2020 603 complaints

→ Recently checked Subaru Forester VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

→ Decode a Subaru VIN — free Subaru VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2011, 2012, 2013 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

❓

Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Subaru Forester

Is the 2016 Subaru Forester reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Subaru Forester has 3 recall campaigns and 416 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Forester have?
The 2016 Subaru Forester has 3 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Subaru Forester are: Air Bags, Electrical System, Power Train, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Subaru Forester safe to buy?
The 2016 Subaru Forester has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 3 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Forester should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Forester are: 2011, 2012, 2013. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.