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#BS-2016-SUBFOR-326B

2016 Subaru ForesterProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 627 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
627
Crashes
78
Fires
6
Recalls
3
TSBs
455
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 627 complaints, 78 crashes, 6 fires, and 3 recalls. Complaint rate is 3.0x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

not accelerating

5 complaints • Severity 8.4/10

$X,XXX
2

transmission failure

4 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX
3

wouldnt start

3 complaints • Severity 6.7/10

$X,XXX
4

uneven tire wear

3 complaints • Severity 6.7/10

$X,XXX
5

heater takes a long time to warm up

2 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the AirbagsHIGH

99 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 39K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

118
0–30K
146
30–60K
30
60–90K
14
90–120K
4
120–150K
9
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (146 reports) • Median: 39K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Airbags (99 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Airbags99 (16%)
Electrical90 (14%)
Other69 (11%)
Engine60 (10%)
Drivetrain50 (8%)
Speed Control36 (6%)
Brakes29 (5%)
Fuel System24 (4%)

2016 Subaru Forester: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 2016 Subaru Forester, with 99 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 39,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 39K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2016 Subaru Forester, with 90 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2016 Subaru Forester, with 60 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2016 Subaru Forester, with 50 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

6
15
42
16
30
17
59
18
111
19
90
20
54
21
66
22
59
23
45
24
31
25
34
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2016 Subaru Forester. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (3 recalls)

16V162000Apr 2016

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

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.

19V149000Apr 2019

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

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.

19V701000Feb 2020

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2016 Subaru Forester NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

PE19009ClosedOpened Aug 2019 · closed Jan 2020

Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

The worst model year for the Subaru Forester is the 2014 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2016 Subaru Forester vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD)

This vehicle

627

Class avg

212

3.0x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 627 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Subaru Forester Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998
View all Subaru Forester years →

2016 Subaru Forester: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2016 Subaru Forester is related to the airbags, with 99 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2016 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2016 Subaru Forester has 627 complaints, 78 crash reports, and 6 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 3.0x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2016 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA rates the 2016 Subaru Forester 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2016 Subaru Forester problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2016 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes, the 2016 Subaru Forester has 3 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Subaru Forester problems start?
Based on 321 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 39,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2016 Subaru Forester data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 627 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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