2016 Subaru Forester reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2016 Subaru Forester — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 609
- 248 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 94 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 77 reported crashes · 37 injuries · 6 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#821
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+427
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2014-2018
+312
median 298 complaints in 596 records
Top component share
15%
Air Bags: 94 complaints
What owners report fails — 2016 Subaru Forester
- AIR BAGS 94
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 90
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 68
- ENGINE 60
- POWER TRAIN 47
3 recalls on record for the 2016 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 19V701000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the ri
- NHTSA 19V149000 · 2019 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, incre
- NHTSA 16V162000 · 2016 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLIN An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2016 Subaru Forester
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2016 Subaru Forester units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 609 consumer complaints on record for the 2016 Subaru Forester and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (94 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2016 Subaru Forester units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (94), electrical system (90), unknown or other (68), engine (60). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2016 Subaru Forester?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.