2016 Subaru Forester Subaru Forester 2016

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2016 Subaru Forester repairs by problem area

Engine (5%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (10%)

Brakes and Traction Control (8%)

Suspension and Steering (15%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (50%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (10%)

Other (3%)

Chart based on 62 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2016 Subaru Forester.

2016 Subaru Forester repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (5%)

$500 - $999 (8%)

$100 - $499 (13%)

< $100 (75%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 40 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2016 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Arizona, United States
Oct 2015 - Jun 2022
Feb 2018

22000 mi
transmission was leaking, replaced seal 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
May 2016 - Jun 2018
Jan 2018

24000 mi
Replaced leaking transmission gasket 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Mar 2016 - Oct 2023
Jan 2017 12 volt outlet repaired at dealership. Loud squeaking noise when backing up car and applying brakes . There are grooves on two rotors. Dealership said pebbles may have gotten into brake system. No repair needed. 
Aug 2019

39000 mi
CVT leaking from oil pump. Dealership performed chain pump reseal. 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Nov 2015 - Jun 2018
Jun 2016

1860 mi
Voice entry on address entry for nav system didn't work. Doesn't reconcile any address I speak to it. 
Jun 2017

9920 mi
Fuel pumped failed. Car stalled. It could run, but idled and ran rough. Rpm shoots up for no reason. Dealer replaced the fuel pump and car runs fine now. I do wonder what damage was caused since the dealer told me that the car was running extremely lean. 

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2016 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Louisiana, United States
Jan 2018 - Jun 2018
Mar 2018

8000 mi
Problem with rear car gate auto mechanism, caused short, ran down battery, called AAA who replaced battery. Went to dealer to check out car after failing to understand how rear gate system worked. 
Jun 2018

16000 mi

US $135
oil change at dealer 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Aug 2015 - Jun 2022
Dec 2021

46000 mi
Recall item: automatic gearshift switch malfunctioned and key would be stuck in ignition. Dealer had to reproduce the problem (which was happening about 30% of the time) in order to fix. Luckily they did. 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Sep 2015 - Jan 2022
Feb 2018

39000 mi

US $944
TPMS module damaged by water which overflowed from a clogged sunroof drain line. 
May 2021

102864 mi

US $644
Repair loose converter heat shield 
Subaru Forester in Oregon, United States
Feb 2017 - Feb 2018
Feb 2018

36000 mi

US $80
Alignment Ghost walked 
Subaru Forester in British Columbia, Canada
Dec 2015 - Jun 2018
Nov 2017

19840 mi
The November 2017 32,000 service included front brake pads, which seemed a bit early to me as we are not heavy drivers. 
Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jan 2016 - Jun 2022
Oct 2019

21797 mi

US $53
Rear brake pads worn down 90%. Replaced pads with Bosch BC-1114H @ $52.80. 
Jan 2021

26390 mi

US $191
Replaced dead battery with Interstate MT35 60 Month battery. 
Jul 2021

28465 mi

US $3
Replaced passenger rear stop light bulb Phillips # 7443 @ $2.50. 
Aug 2021

29030 mi

US $7
Replaced passenger side wiper blade 17 inch @6.99. 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Oct 2015 - Jun 2018
Mar 2018

23000 mi
Squeaks under the dash, around the EyeSight camera, and in the tailgate 
Subaru Forester in Maryland, United States
Jan 2017 - Jun 2022
Apr 2017

20000 mi
Alternator Replaced 
Nov 2019

85000 mi

US $200
Wheel bearing 
Jun 2021

114000 mi
CVT Transmission Replaced 
Mar 2022

122000 mi
wheel bearing 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Feb 2016 - Jun 2022
May 2020

34000 mi
Transmission/parking brake interlock failed preventing removal of ignition key. Was not covered under warranty at time of incident but was later reimbursed by Subaru. 
Subaru Forester in Quebec, Canada
Jun 2016 - Jul 2022
Jan 2018

16740 mi
Noise of rotating parts when the vehicle was moving. The dealer had to order the tranmission parts and replace them. ABS, traction control and hill start assist warning lights turning on either at engine start (preventing from switching to drive mode) or when driving. Deficient brake pedal turned out to be the cause. 
Subaru Forester in New Mexico, United States
Aug 2015 - Jan 2021
Jul 2016

8300 mi
Rear hatch opening problems. 
Oct 2016

11200 mi
Rear hatch locks up sometimes. 
Feb 2017

17000 mi
Rear Hatch jams, sticks, fails to work at times. Nothing was done to fix it--It is a design defect of this car. 
Mar 2017

17000 mi
Rear hatch still not working reliably (same as since day #1 new). Also cruise control & eyesight have quit both at the same time randomly. 
Apr 2017

18000 mi
Rear Hatch does not function at times. Still they are unable to fix. THIS IOSM A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND WILL NEVER BE FIXED. 
Mar 2018

27000 mi

US $82
Even though the car was under 36 month 36 thousand mIle warranty, I replaced the battery myself. Subaru would have required the car being towed in to a dealer, and the car being left over the weekend util they could work on it the following week. We needed the car to go to work. Real shame they would not replace the battery over the counter-I TRIED. 
Subaru Forester in New Jersey, United States
Feb 2016 - Jan 2022
Mar 2016

13000 mi

US $40
Battery went dead. Power lift gate Information system update 
May 2016

15000 mi
Power lift gate kept jamming and programming gets locked up. 
Jan 2017 Car would not start. Interior lights came on but would not start. Car towed to dealer. Replaced battery. 
Jul 2017

33000 mi
Dashboard warning lights for Eyesight, lift assist, and check engine came on. Code check resulted in technical bulletin issue previously issued in August/2016. Alternator needed to be ordered. 
Jan 2022

99000 mi

US $1400
lower control arm and stabilizer links 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Dec 2015 - Jun 2022
May 2016

3000 mi
Software update required on the BCM. 
Jan 2018

17000 mi
Car was parked for 2 hours, battery was dead. Jump stated and car ran fine. Unsure if we need a new battry or what caused it, will be investigating further.e 
Subaru Forester in Texas, United States
Nov 2015 - Jul 2017
Jul 2016

6300 mi
Bad rattle at back lift gate. Taken to dealer twice. 1st trip didn't fix it. Brought back several days later left for 3 days still not fixed. Each time said it was but the rattle is still there! 
Aug 2016

7000 mi
Rattle has not been fixed. Dealer was notified of the problem and said they would schedule is a repair and provide a loaner while they had it, since last time they had the car for 3 days. They have not called or emailed me. BAD dealer 
Sep 2016

8000 mi
Returned trip about the rattles in the back Lift gate , had for 5 days -still have rattle. Dealer can not fix problem. Having had a Toyota 4-Runner and Honda Pilot, we never had these problems. Tech removed passenger side trunk cover& seatbelt assembly. Also removed & reinstalled brake system parts + flashing around gas intake tube. Found no issues. Fixed loose rear view mirror. Rattle better but still persists 
Subaru Forester in Michigan, United States
Jun 2016 - Jun 2022
Aug 2017

14000 mi

US $82
After getting my car washed at the car wash the day before, I noticed the rear wiper/arm totally gone 
Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States
Dec 2016 - Jan 2018
Jan 2018

26000 mi
Blower fan resistor 
Subaru Forester in California, United States
Sep 2017 - Jun 2018
Jan 2018

19000 mi
Replaced TPMS sensor under warranty. 
Subaru Forester in Washington, United States
Nov 2015 - Jan 2022
Jan 2018

22000 mi
Replaced display and electronics displaying backup camera and sound system.. 
Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States
Aug 2015 - Jun 2018
Nov 2017

16000 mi
Battery needed replaced 

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2016 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD

Subaru Forester in New York, United States
Jul 2015 - Jun 2022
Dec 2015

9000 mi
blower resistor failed so no air from a/c vents on 1,2,3 but air on 4 which supplies a full 12v to blower motor 
Jun 2016

24000 mi
blower resistor failed again so no air from a/c vents. settings 1 through 4 did not work 
Jul 2019

90000 mi

US $1400
throw out bearing went, installed new throw out bearing and clutch, cv axle was seized so repaired that as well 
Jun 2021

120000 mi

US $800
Bushing for front lower control arms needed to be replaced. bushings were gone due to ordinary wear and tear 

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2016 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV

148-horsepower 2.0L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD

Subaru Forester in Malaysia
Jan 2020 - Jun 2022
Aug 2020

49600 mi
The Lower arm bushes of both RH and LH were replaced. The castor angle was corrected as the vehicle was shifting to the left. 
Nov 2021

62620 mi

$400
The air conditioning gas keeps leaking. Bearings for rear wheels - LH & RH - replaced as they were very noisy. 
Jan 2022

63860 mi
The A/C gas keeps leaking leading to reduced or no cooling in a few weeks. 
Jun 2022

70680 mi

$35
Entire Flushing of Air Conditioning system and replenishment of Compressor oil plus the recharge. 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Subaru models.

2016 Subaru Forester Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2016 Subaru Forester problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.