Model year record

2016 Subaru Forester

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 684 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V701000

Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

Component
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
366,282
Reported to NHTSA
2019-10-03
Owners notified
2020-02-11

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V149000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
1,303,530
Reported to NHTSA
2019-02-28
Owners notified
2019-04-15

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V162000

Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger

Component
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
18,187
Reported to NHTSA
2016-03-21
Owners notified
2016-04-15

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags11840,000 mi
Electrical system9739,589 mi
Unknown or other7639,000 mi
Engine6142,000 mi
Power train5344,000 mi
Vehicle speed control3717,279 mi
Seats3240,000 mi
Service brakes3132,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system2542,000 mi
Visibility/wiper2034,500 mi
Steering1915,000 mi
Wheels177,626 mi
Suspension1637,000 mi
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification1140,100 mi
Structure: body915,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)824,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: warnings78,000 mi
Seat belts748,600 mi
Exterior lighting614,400 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control4
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking3
Wheels: hub3110,000 mi
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger2100 mi
Air bags: SRS malfunction warning lamp/light2100,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery219,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer2188,130 mi
Tires234,000 mi
Visibility25,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette1
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module141,000 mi
Back over prevention: warnings1
Electrical system: ignition: switch125,000 mi
Lane departure: warning18,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission: column shift assembly125,000 mi
Structure1
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate1
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1600 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system15,000 mi
Visibility: windshield140,000 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs150,000 mi

The 2015 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2017 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.