Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Subaru Forester. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Occupant Detection System May Deactivate Airbag
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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 customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Brake Lights May Not Illuminate
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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 number for this recall is WUE-90.
Turbocharger Intake Duct Crack may cause Stall
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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. 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (415)
415 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 415 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 99 | 23.9% |
| Electrical system | 93 | 22.4% |
| Unknown or other | 69 | 16.6% |
| Engine | 60 | 14.5% |
| Power train | 51 | 12.3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 37 | 8.9% |
| Service brakes | 29 | 7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 24 | 5.8% |
| Seats | 23 | 5.5% |
| Visibility/wiper | 20 | 4.8% |
How 2016 compares with other Forester years
Best and worst Forester years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 105 | 15 |
| 2013 | 77 | 12 |
| 2014 | 403 | 2 |
| 2015 | 614 | 3 |
| 2016 | 415 | 3 |
| 2017 | 587 | 1 |
| 2018 | 498 | 3 |
| 2019 | 833 | 3 |
| 2020 | 601 | 0 |
| 2021 | 208 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Subaru Forester suv awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 27 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 332 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 27 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 24 / 31 / 27 | $2,500 | 332 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 28 / 25 | $2,700 | 364 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 27 / 25 | $3,300 | 359 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 Forester for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Subaru Forester FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 19V701000 (air bag), 19V149000 (brake), 16V162000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Subaru Forester problems?
Owners filed 415 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (99), Electrical system (93), Unknown or other (69) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 24 city, 31 highway and 27 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2016 Subaru Forester get?
NHTSA rated the 2016 Subaru Forester suv awd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (16.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2016 Forester compare with other years?
Among the 2012–2021 Subaru Forester model years at least five years old, the 2013 drew the fewest complaints (77) and the 2019 the most (833). The 2016 drew 415. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.