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#BS-2016-SUBFOR-326B2016 Subaru Forester
Based on reports from 594 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 594 complaints, 74 crashes, 6 fires, and 3 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.7x the class average.
Top reported problems
uneven tire wear
3 complaints • Severity 6.7/10
accelerator dead spot jerks
2 complaints • Severity 8/10
clutch burned out
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
88 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 39K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (146 reports) • Median: 39K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Airbags (88 reports).
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
Where the complaints fall
2016 Subaru Forester: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2016 Subaru Forester, with 88 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 15% of all reports filed for the 2016 Subaru Forester, with 87 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 47 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
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2016 Subaru Forester. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (3 recalls)
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.
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.
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.
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
594
Class avg
222
2.7x 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. 594 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.
Other Subaru Forester Model Years
2016 Subaru Forester: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Subaru Forester?
Is the 2016 Subaru Forester reliable?
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Does the 2016 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
What mileage do Subaru Forester problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
How is this different from Carfax?
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Get the Full 2016 Subaru Forester Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 594 owner reports. Know before you buy.