CarRecallWatchThe 2016 Subaru Forester has 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 416 complaints with NHTSA, including 40 crashes, 3 fires, 17 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Air Bags (115 reports).
2016 Subaru Forester recalls
Passenger Airbag May Switch Off While Seat Is Occupied
A loose electrical connection in the front passenger seat's Occupant Detection System can cause the front passenger airbag to deactivate even when the seat is occupied.
Brake lights may fail to light, raising crash risk
The brake light switch can malfunction after exposure to certain contaminants.
Cracked Turbo Air Duct Can Stall Engine and Raise Crash Risk
The turbocharger air intake duct can crack, which may cause the engine to stall while driving.
Most common 2016 Subaru Forester problems
Problem areas named in the 416 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| 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 |
What owners report
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.
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 years, so this is not "normal wear and tear." the straps are frayed in the exact same spot on both si
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 without severe injury. Due to a setting on her iPhone, the contact's family members and Police were al
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 the recall and my repairs, and they have said that because i brought my car in to a dealership after
We purchased a used car for my [XXX] daughter on August 4th. of this year. On her trip to [XXX] on XXX., appoximently 5pm, the drivers side rear wheel fell off, causing damage to the wheel, lugs, shocks, caliper and tire. She was able to pull over into a parking lot, where a stranger helped her out till I arrived. When I arrived I was able to put the wheel back on, but all lugs nuts were gone and one lug was broken. We had to remove lugs nuts from the other wheels to secure the wheel back on. While removing the lug nuts from the other wheels, the passenger side real wheel lug nuts were all loose. Once we got the car back on the road, check warning lights were flashing and after scanning the
2016 Subaru Forester questions
Does the 2016 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2016 Subaru Forester: Passenger Airbag May Switch Off While Seat Is Occupied; Brake lights may fail to light, raising crash risk; Cracked Turbo Air Duct Can Stall Engine and Raise Crash Risk. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Forester?
Based on 416 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (115), Electrical System (94), Unknown Or Other (69).
How do I check if a recall on my 2016 Subaru Forester has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.