10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 42,685 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
While driving my vehicle on my daily trip to work, I experience sudden power loss. My interior lights began to blink erratically, as my vehicle loss power and caused me to panic, as I was entering the highway. Some highways have no shoulders, so as quickly as I entered the highway, I pulled off took the next exit. I went into a shopping center, to see what the issue was. I noticed that my radio and my air conditioning loss illumination. I turned the car off, opened the hood. I did not see anything of significance, I started the car up again, now the radio would not even start nor did the air conditioning. I phoned the Subaru dealer, to be told that this happens often! What, I thought to myself? I asked them if this was a well-known problem, why this has not become part of a recall, or why the dealership not contact Subaru of America, to work with their customer base and remedy the issue. I was told, that all that is done in the "diagnostic process", any codes are cleared, and this should get you back on the road. Are you kidding me, this is truly any motorist's nightmare. Losing power on a major highway, any road at night, or on a turn will literally bring catastrophic consequences to us Subaru owners, but all other motorists as well.
- Live Oak, TX, USA
When accelerator is slightly pushed after the vehicle has come to stop it accelerates in a jack rabbit manner. The driver stopped at beginning of driveway parking area, and decided to move slightly forward. A slight push on accelerator pedal caused vehicle to lurch forward and do $8,700 damage to the closed 2 car garage door, and $1,000+ to vehicle. Date of accident 02/10/2023
- Tigard, OR, USA
The contact owns 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact stated that she persistently depressed the accelerator pedal until the vehicle responded. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where she was informed that the vehicle was operating as designed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
- Springfield, MO, USA
Aug. 12, 2022. Milage 124,028. Dealer (Serra Auto Park, in Akron, OH) had to replace faulty right front axelshaft. Parts and labor $812. Left axelshaft has already started making the same noises and we can expect it to be replaced soon as well. ARE WE THE ONLY ONES WITH THIS PROBLEM"?"
- Garrettsville, OH, USA
Check engine light, service emissions, dash lights blinking and loss of power!!! I was pulling out into a busy intersection and warning lights started to flash and i lost power to cylinder #2 (per the technician at Van Subaru, he told me the alternator was sending bad info to the computer) and i was almost T-BONED as i limped through the intersection.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, various warning lights were illuminated. After using a personal diagnostic reader, he retrieved two unknown failure codes. The vehicle was taken to an independent where it was diagnosed that the transmission and an unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted and the contact stated that the various warning lights remained illuminated and that when coming to a stop at a stop signal, the vehicle was jerking and lost motive power. The vehicle was able to restart after shifting the gear into park(P) to turn off the vehicle and then restart. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
- Centralia, WA, USA
Pulled into parking space in shopping mall. The car accelerated over the curb and ran into a store front knocking out a wall. The car was still in Drive when it came to a stop. No one was hurt in the car, on the sidewalk or in the store. There is a class action law suit on this model of Subaru for uncontrolled/sudden acceleration while coming to a stop, but Subaru does not acknowledge any problem. This was the first indication of a sudden acceleration for this car. It just had its 30,000 inspection from the Subaru dealer.
- Austin, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started jerking and hesitating while attempting to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the transmission fluid was flushed; however, after retrieving the vehicle the failure persisted. The contact stated that several unknown warning messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 126,000.
- Katy, TX, USA
The ignition key has started getting stuck in the ignition after turning the motor off. It takes several tries, involving turning the motor back on and pulling the key out as I-??m turning the motor off and pushing the stick back into PARK really hard per Subaru.... Subaru has acknowledged it-??s a faulty part and lots of complaints online...they even did a tech bulletin # 16-112-18R but say its a customers problem....
- Zephyrhills, FL, USA
Car turns itself off soon after starting when you try and put it into gear. Even after a tune up the car just stalls out when starting or low idle while sitting at light
- Zephyrhills, FL, USA
Key stuck in switch when car is put into park. Steering locks up and then can not restart or remove key. This happens almost daily at this point
- Zephyrhills, FL, USA
Key stuck in ignition when car is in park.
- Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA
Transmission failure
- Stratford, WI, USA
When stopping/stopped it will suddenly accelerate/surge forward and I need to slam on brakes
- Zephyrhills, FL, USA
When vehicle is placed in park after a trip, the key becomes stuck in the ignition. The vehicle is able to be turned off but the key is unable to be removed from the ignition. Cycling the key in the ignition and placing the car back in park multiple times allows the key to eventually be removed from the ignition. Online search showed many complaints from the same year vehicle.
- Lagrange, NY, USA
2016 Subaru Forester. Key gets stuck in ignition. Can not be removed. All electrical power still on. This happened after I pulled my SUV into a parking spot. Place in park. Turned off and key was stuck in ignition. This is the 5th time in 2 weeks this has happened.
- Morgantown, PA, USA
Vehicle was traveling on highway around 70 mph. Lost power to wheels/vehicle stalled with no warning. Engine revved to high RPM's when I hit gas, as I coasted into the grassy median. I turned off engine, waited for a few minutes. Tried to start again, starter would crank, but engine would not start. Towed vehicle to dealer they were able to start car next day. No error codes in computer. Have noticed this issue on the Subaru message boards, dealership unable to diagnose issue now. Very serious problem, could have been a fatal accident on highway.
- Davidson, NC, USA
There is a leak in the head gasket which ruined a temperature gauge ($700 to replace). The mechanics say it is a design flaw and there is nothing I could do to avoid the issue and it will keep happening until I fix the leak.
- Sunnyside, WA, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to camelback Subaru located at 1521 E camelback rd, phoenix, AZ 85014, (602) 680-2495 for the 120,000 miles vehicle inspection. The contact stated that after picking up the vehicle and driving at an undisclosed, the transmission overheat warning light illuminated. The same dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that the transmission solenoid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,953.
- Glendale, AZ, USA
- Clifton, NJ, USA