2016 Subaru Forester
Common Problems
Ranked from 171 federal NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
11 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Unintended Acceleration
49complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe vehicle unexpectedly accelerates out of control, posing a significant risk of collision.
- 2
Key Stuck in Ignition
32complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe key becomes stuck in the ignition when the vehicle is turned off, preventing the key from being removed.
- 3
Passenger Airbag Malfunction
30complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe passenger airbag intermittently fails to deploy or turns off unexpectedly, posing a safety risk.
- 4
Battery Drain Without Load
22complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe battery drains unexpectedly when the vehicle is turned off and no electrical devices are in use.
$150–$700est. parasitic-drain diagnosis + battery · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Intermittent Dash Light Errors
20complaintsMedium severityElectricalIntermittent errors on dash lights, such as the seatbelt and airbag indicators, without a clear cause.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Vehicle Speed Control Malfunction
17complaintsMedium severityOtherThe vehicle speed control system malfunctions, causing unexpected surges and loss of control.
- 7
Airbag System Malfunction
12complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe passenger airbag light goes on and off, indicating a malfunction in the airbag system.
- 8
Transmission Jerking and Hesitation
12complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission jerks and hesitates during acceleration, leading to unpredictable vehicle behavior.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Engine Power Loss
10complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine experiences random power loss, especially when going up hills, leading to potential stalling.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 16V162000
- 10
Transmission Lag When Shifting Gears
10complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThere is a lag time when shifting from reverse to drive or park to drive, which can be dangerous.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Faulty Airbag Sensors
9complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe front passenger airbag sensor malfunctions, causing the SRS warning light to illuminate.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.