2016 Subaru Forester recalls and problems

The 2016 Subaru Forester has 3 safety recalls and 416 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Subaru dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

416

Crashes / fires

40 / 3

Injuries / deaths

17 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2016 Subaru Forester vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2016 Subaru Forester recalls

Recall 19V-701: Air Bags

Reported Oct 3, 2019 · 366,282 vehicles affected · Subaru of America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 19V-149: Exterior Lighting

Reported Feb 28, 2019 · 1,303,530 vehicles affected · Subaru of America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: 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.

Recall 16V-162: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Mar 21, 2016 · 18,187 vehicles affected · Subaru of America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

2016 Subaru Forester problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Air Bags	115
Electrical System	94
Unknown or Other	69
Engine	60
Power Train	51
Vehicle Speed Control	37
Service Brakes	29
Fuel/Propulsion System	24
Seats	24
Visibility/Wiper	20
Steering	19
Wheels	17

Most reported parts

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification — 11
Structure › Body — 9
Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 7
Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 4
Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 3
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger — 2
Wheels › Hub — 2
Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery — 2

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 39,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2016 Subaru Forester complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Air Bags · reported Oct 22, 2026

A recall repair (NHTSA Campaign: 19V701000) was previously performed on this vehicle to repair a defective occupancy sensor in the front passenger seat, which results in the passenger airbag being off even when the seat is occupied. Despite the work being done previously, the same problem has resurfaced, suggesting that the recall service was not performed correctly or was performed with parts that were still faulty. I contacted Subaru of America to alert them of this but they have refused redo the procedure despite the problem not being corrected.

Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness · reported Oct 1, 2026

We purchased two new Evenflo Revolve 360 convertible car seats in November 2023 (Manufactured September 2023). After only two years of use, the harness straps are frayed almost all the way through. We noticed the issue in December 2025 and reached out to Evenflo in January 2026. The company claims that the fraying is due to "environmental factors." However, we also own two additional Revolve 360 seats for our other child that were purchased in 2022 that have been exposed to the same cars and environments and do not have any fraying or other damage. These car seats are supposed to last for 10…

Power Train · at 100,000 miles · reported Sep 22, 2026

The contact owned a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while at a complete stop with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated without warning and crashed into a fire hydrant. While the foot was still on the brake pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate and struck a street sign. The vehicle continued to accelerate across the street and accelerated up a hill. The vehicle headed straight towards a home and crashed into the home, which caused the vehicle to stop. The air bags deployed upon impact, with white smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle…

Air Bags · reported Sep 16, 2026

While driving, the car will beep and display a warning that the SRS system is malfunctioning. It will then turn passenger airbags off, even when there is a passenger sitting in the seat. I took the car in to Subaru of Glendale and was charged over $1000 to replace it, being told that i was not eligible for free replacement under the WUM98 recall. Almost exactly two years later, the same beep, warning, and airbag deactivation started happening again. I once again took the car in to Subaru of Glendale and they quoted me over $2000 to fix the problem again. I called Subaru of America to discuss…

Air Bags · reported Aug 29, 2026

Vehicle reported an SRS Passenger problem intermittently, as displayed on the dashboard, the car's information system, and a diagnostic trouble code (the car's aftermarket radio is connected to the OBD-II connector and can pull codes). The problem would appear, and then disappear upon subsequent startup cycle, over the course of a two-week road trip. In total, the problem occurred three times over the course of 3,750 miles. Our mechanic verified the issue with a scan tool, and determined that this was a fault in the sensor mesh in the seat that failed to reliably detect the presence of someone…

Other Subaru Forester years

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Compare all Subaru Forester years · All Subaru models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Subaru Forester have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 Subaru Forester: 19V-701 (air bags), 19V-149 (exterior lighting), 16V-162 (engine and engine cooling). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Subaru Forester?

Owners report air bags problems most often (115 reports), followed by electrical system (94). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 39,000 miles.

Are Subaru recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Subaru dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.