10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,908 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Subaru Forester:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #10

Jul 232023

Forester

  • miles
Lug nuts stripped off on the drivers rear wheel, that was corrected. Now my right rear lug nuts have been stripped completely off.

- Union , NJ, USA

problem #9

Nov 142022

Forester

  • miles
The vehicle fails to maintain stability at either a right turn, and at left turn angles. The vehicle makes a clicking sound on either turn and loses power when you complete the turn and attempt to drive straight. This poses an incredibly unsafe driving experience.When this occurs the traction message light turn on, as well as the passenger airbag, and the upwhill light turns on.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #8

Apr 222022

Forester

  • miles
Vehicles wheel studs and nuts striped. Common complaint with Subaru's. Nuts won't come off and unable to completely put back on to contact with rim. Nuts also won't come off all together, frozen on stud, studs breaks when trying to remove. Unable to remove with extension bar or impact wrench.

- Trafford, PA, USA

problem #7

Sep 172020

Forester

  • 40,000 miles
The vehicle was maintained regularly in dealer's service center. It is a local commute vehicle and has less than 40000 miles. In Nov 2019, the vehicle was found out of alignment, four tires were worn out and two breaks were out too. All four tires and two breaks were replaced. In June 2020, I reported bad smell to the service center but nothing was found. In Sep 2020, bad smell was noticed again. The service center found oil leak in the engine front and back. The engine was opened and some parts were replaced. Service center also found the condenser was leaking and replaced it. In less than a year, three defects happened and two were rare but major defects. During this time, the car was only driven around 2000 miles. I reported to Subaru customer service. They just told me to keep an eye on it.

- Morganville, NJ, USA

problem #6

Feb 072019

Forester

  • miles
Wheel bearing had to be replaced. Noises occurred when driving. Dealership fixed without charge.

- Sutton, MA, USA

problem #5

Sep 052018

Forester

  • miles
Couldn't start car found out it was because my brake lights were not working had to have replace at my own expense. Now I cant always get my key our of the ignition. Also my tire pressures don't stay up. I have had to inflate them about 3 time in as many months.

- Westminster, CO, USA

problem #4

Aug 012018

Forester

  • 34,000 miles
I have a 2016 Forester with yokohama G91F tires and just had inspection they said tire tread was good except the side are worn down so I required new tire to pass. I found multiple issues with this tire online. The tire is for passenger vehicles but says it can be used on crossover and SUV but talked with several tire shops that all recommend using SUV specific tires as they see the same issue over and over with certain multi category tires like this where because of ride height, vehicle weight and center of gravity when rounding corners these tires get worn down really quickly because of it being more passenger vehicle centric because the edges are more rounded where as SUV specific tires have more of a flat bottom and square edges so they don't slip. I also believe this is why a lot of complaints talk about poor performance in wet weather as the slip in corners. These are standard on Forester and yokohama won't cover oem tires at all. I believe this needs investigated especially since they just started selling their new ascent 3 row SUV not sure if it has same tires. If you wish to contact me my email is [xxx] I would be willing to help research and send proof from user reviews and tire dealers plus can take photos. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Oakdale, PA, USA

problem #3

Jul 242016

Forester

  • 7,626 miles
Apparent defective valves on yokohama geolander G91-F stock tires that came with the new vehicle. Car with only 7,626 miles, minimal tread wear, traveling on highway @ 65mph low tire pressure indicator comes on, and ~ 5 sec later the rear driver's side tire just completely shredding. Outside wall completely separating and tire valve nowhere to be found. Driven MINIspare to local Firestone tire center. Told to keep the tire as evidence, no puncture noted. Not one month later, low pressure light again while driving @ 65mph on another highway, this time the front passenger tire now with a leak. Checked and stopped multiple times to ensure only a slow leak. Able to be seen at a nearby costco tire center and diagnosed with a slow leak coming from the tire valve. 2 different stock yokohama tires both with very low miles, one with devastating blow out apparently occurring about the tire valve, the second tire with a slow defective valve leak. No punctures noted when examined at either tire center.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #2

Dec 242015

Forester

  • 1,500 miles
After about 2 inches of wet snow my wife was driving up a sloped street. She came to an area where she could see 2 cars waiting after a collision. She stopped. Another car stopper behind her. A police car passed the car parked behind my wife. The police car bumped the car parked behind my wife and parked. My wife tried to turn around. As she did her car lost traction and slid into the parked police car. There was no visual damage to my wife's car. I do not believe there was any damage to the police car. A report still had to be filed evidently because it was a police car. Later I checked the rating on the tires. Per the ratings given in tire rack these tires have been determined to be unsuitable for use on ice.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #1

Jan 202016

Forester

  • 5,950 miles
The base model steel wheel has a trough running around the inside of the wheel, two inches wide and one inch deep. Snow packs into the wheels, melts, and overnight the water that accumulates in the trough at the base of the wheel freezes solidly. It will not break loose. This ice block is the equivalent of a very large wheel balance weight. The car shakes violently at speeds over 45 mph. This represents a significant immediate safety issue as well as a long term safety issue due to the likely damage to the alignment and front end of the vehicle. This happened twice within six weeks. The dealer's response was to take it to car wash. I wrote Subaru of America and was told they will pass my experience on to new product development.

- Herbster, WI, USA