The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 102 of 416 complaints (25%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more reported injuries (8) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 617 in 2015 to 416 in 2016.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 416
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,300–$3,100
- Combined MPG
- 25–27
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,300–3,100 | 2,300–3,100 | 2,300–3,100 | 2,200–3,100 | 2,200–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–27 | 25–27 | 25–27 | 24–28 | 24–28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–24 / 27–31 | 22–24 / 27–31 | 22–24 / 27–31 | 22–26 / 27–32 | 22–26 / 27–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 332–368 | 332–364 | 332–364 | 315–368 | 315–368 | |
| Complaints filed | 403 | 617 | 416 | 594 | 498 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 48 | 53 | 40 | 40 | 26 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 28 | 34 | 17 | 28 | 9 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Forester have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Subaru Forester?
Airbags & Restraints: 102 of 416 NHTSA complaints (25%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates it 25–27 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Subaru Forester?
EPA estimates $2,300–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | 25 mpg (low) | $2,500 | 364 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 24 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,300 (low) | 332 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 23 mpg | 27 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 359 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 60 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 51 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 24 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 93 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 34 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 19 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 28 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 102 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 44 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 35 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 69 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
- Defect
- 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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
- Defect
- 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
- Defect
- 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.