2016 Subaru Forester problems and recalls

Owners have filed 411 complaints on the 2016 Subaru Forester, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Air Bags (98 complaints).

411
Complaints
3
Recalls
39
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
16
Injuries
71.0
Severity index

Severity index 71.0 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 71.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 49 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 65% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 98 complaints (23.8%)98 24%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 93 complaints (22.6%)93 23%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 69 complaints (16.8%)69 17%EngineEngine: 60 complaints (14.6%)60 15%Power TrainPower Train: 49 complaints (11.9%)49 12%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 37 complaints (9.0%)37 9%Service BrakesService Brakes: 29 complaints (7.1%)29 7%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 24 complaints (5.8%)24 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS9823.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9322.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6916.8%
ENGINE6014.6%
POWER TRAIN4911.9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL379.0%
SERVICE BRAKES297.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM245.8%

Complaints filed per year

040802015: 42016: 302017: 192018: 362019: 802020: 632021: 362022: 402023: 392024: 292025: 202026: 15 (partial year)15161718198020212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20154
201630
201719
201836
201980
202063
202136
202240
202339
202429
202520
2026 (year to date)15
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (88 against 139).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V14900028/02/2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHSubaru 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 malf
19V70100003/10/2019AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONSubaru 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.
16V16200021/03/2016ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGERSubaru 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

Other Subaru Forester model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.