2016 Subaru Forester Safety Report
2016 SUBARU FORESTER Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Subaru Forester
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Subaru Forester. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (400) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 42 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Air Bags | Compare air bags issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Subaru Forester with 197 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Subaru Forester before buying across this generation. |
Subaru Forester Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Subaru Forester years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Subaru Forester | 564 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Subaru Forester | 604 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Subaru Forester | 480 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Subaru Forester | 828 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Subaru Forester | 588 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Subaru Forester | 197 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Subaru Forester Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Subaru Forester, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Air Bags
58 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Subaru onlyElectrical System
53 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other
34 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyPower Train
25 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Subaru onlyEngine
25 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Subaru onlyVisibility/Wiper
18 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Subaru Forester
Reliability Score
The 2016 Subaru Forester receives a reliability score of 53 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Subaru Forester
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Subaru Forester
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Subaru Forester:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Srs Sensor Malfunction The airbag SRS sensor on the passenger side can cut on even if someone is sitting in the seat, and it may randomly cut off when no one is in. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Passenger-Side Occupant Detection System Failure The passenger-side Occupant Detection System (ODS) has been reported to deactivate the airbag. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Exterior Lighting Brake Lights Switch Issue There have been recalls for exterior lighting brake lights switch issues, which can cause the car to surge or jump unexpectedly. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Overheating Subaru has recalled certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles due to engine and engine cooling issues, including overheating problems. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Subaru Forester:
Issues with the airbag SRS sensor and passenger-side Occupant Detection System (ODS) have been reported.
Recalls for exterior lighting brake lights switch issues have been issued.
Engine and engine cooling issues, including overheating, have been reported.
Issues with service brakes have been reported.
Recall Details for the 2016 Subaru Forester
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Subaru Forester by NHTSA:
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
Consequence: If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Subaru Forester
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Subaru Forester with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 5 complaints involved crashes. 2 reported injuries or fatalities.
The airbag SRS sensor on the passenger side cuts on even if someone is sitting in the passenger seat. Then it will randomly cut off when no one is in the passenger seat. I’m concerned that if I was to have a wreck then someone could die. I called the Subaru dealership when I first noticed it 2 years ago. They told me to bring it up there. They checked it out and said that no codes were showing. Ho...
I had my foot on the brake, opened the garage door with my garage door opener, and before I took my foot off the brake the car surged, jumped, and smashed into the brick wall next to the garage. I did not put my foot on the gas.
I am reporting a safety-critical failure of the passenger-side Occupant Detection System (ODS) in my 2016 Subaru Forester, which deactivates the airbag while the seat is occupied. This issue was first documented at an authorized Subaru dealer on 11/15/2023, where the technician identified 'poor contact of connectors' (a known condition in Recall 19V-701). The initial remedy performed was to reconn...
I have a 2016 Subaru Forester and started 3 weeks ago with a problem when I turn it on all the lights on the dashboard turn on and the car won't star. The mechanic has changed the battery and the problem continues. It's happened three times now that it's suddenly shut off while I'm driving. It was very scary. Now the mechanic said that I have to take to the dealer because it is the body control mo...
Currently getting a reoccurring warning, "SRS airbag system needs to be checked" which disables the front passenger airbag. This means if I have a passenger sit in the front seat of my vehicle, they don't have the protection of an airbag in the event of a car accident. In 2021, I had this exact same issue and the Subaru dealership diagnosed the airbag needing to be replaced. I had to pay for this ...
The rear backup camera failed. No warning lights appeared. This is a safety issue. This repair was expensive should not have happened at 79019 miles. The problem was inspected and estimated by our Subaru dealer. We were told that the radio/screen unit first needed replacement, then if that didn't fix it, to then replace the camera. We were give a rough estimate of $2500 to replace both ite...
A warning light will randomly light up indicating a problem with the airbag or airbag sensor in my front passenger seat. I have had it looked at by multiple Subaru dealerships and shops and have had various quotes in the thousands of dollars to repair it. The technicians have told me that the sensor likely has an issue because of potential spillage on the seat that would seep into the sensor and c...
Multiple times over the last 4 months the passenger airbag has turned off when there is a passenger occupying the seat and the SRS light turns on. The related code is B1650. This seems to be the same issue as a recall from about 5 years ago that was “fixed” and now has come back. The same code and SRS light sometimes comes on when there is no one in the passenger seat as well. It makes it unsafe t...
Vehicle self-accelerated abruptly while parked and crashed into another vehicle causing damage to both vehicles
I bought the car between 82-90K miles. Not long after I noticed when I was at an intersection and went from a stopped position to accelerating it would barely go. Spent over a lot to fix it and the guy who did says he has 2-3 Forresters a month in his shop for the same issue.
My recalled ods sensor went out
No damage or water spill to the car whatsoever, but now the SRS passenger airbag light is on. This is a recurrent issue with Suabru, and there was even a recall for this part a few years ago, which was replaced in my vehicle during that period. Less than 5 years later, there is already an issue with it. This is not an oil change or a tire replacement; it is an AIRBAG SENSOR!! I cannot find any def...
THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE SINCE SUBARU COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ORIGINAL OVERHEATING PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEY MADE AN EDUCATED GUESS REPAIR TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH MAY MALFUNCTION DURING DRIVING THE VEHICLE,SLIPPAGE, TO LOCKINGUP. This afternoon, while my daughter was driving through the Mojave Desert on her way back home to Mammoth ...
The airbag sensor (ODS) malfunctions for front passenger seat. The "airbag off" warning lights up when the seat is occupied. This was fixed by dealer back in 2020 under recall WUM-98/NHTSA ID 19V-701000. However, this problem recurred intermittently about five months ago. I called Capitol Subaru in San Jose, CA and spoke with Service Advisor, Dan Padilla, who informed me that the recurrence of ...
Sensor on passenger side airbag stays off at times when there is a passenger in the seat. The notification on the dash and above the GPS screen notifies the driver that the airbag is off. This was a previous issue and pertains to a recall that was completed. This has not resolved since the recall has been completed and the problem still continues only 3 years after being "fixed".
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 70 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The information alerted the contact about an SRS issue. The contact stated that there was an audible ding with the warning light flashing on and off. The contact buckled the passenger’s side seat belt to stop the dinging sound. The vehicle was taken to the l...
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 108,127 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 110,000. The contact stated that on a Carfax Report the ...
The horn on my Subaru doesn’t work a mechanic told me it happens a lot to Subarus the clock Spring broke Now nothing works in the steering wheel and I feel this should be a recall since this is happening to many other Subaru it has not been inspected and no lights came on to warn me I have seen it’s been a recall in the past to other years of Subaru so I feel mine should be included
The passenger ods is not working right causing an error state of the airbags which is a safety hazard as they will not deploy in the event of a car accident.
My 2016 subaru forester has Issue with the passenger side front airbag ODS and the. SRS light go on even if my car had been fixed on 2020 after recall. The airbag has a heavy safety an really important on person. Subaru need. to fix it completely and permanently not temporary.
Showing 20 of 400 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Subaru Forester
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Opened 2019-08-06 · Closed 2020-01-22
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS faile...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Subaru Forester
Has the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER have?
The 2016 SUBARU FORESTER has 400 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 39 involved crashes. 16 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER?
The 2016 SUBARU FORESTER received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER involve air bags (58 complaints), electrical system (53 complaints), unknown or other (34 complaints). Other affected components include power train, engine, visibility/wiper.
How many crash reports does the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER have?
There are 39 crash reports associated with the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER out of 400 total complaints (9.8% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER have?
There are 3 fire reports for the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER out of 400 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER?
16 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 SUBARU FORESTER?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 400 complaints, 3 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER are: 1. AIR BAGS (58 complaints), 2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (53 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (34 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN (25 complaints), 5. ENGINE (25 complaints). AIR BAGS is the single most-reported problem area with 58 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 SUBARU FORESTER?
Be cautious of airbag and seat issues, and check for recalls related to exterior lighting and engine problems. The 2016 SUBARU FORESTER has 400 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER?
The 2016 SUBARU FORESTER receives a reliability score of 53/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 400 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 42 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Airbag SRS Sensor Malfunction and Passenger-side Occupant Detection System Failure.
What are the known issues with the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER?
Known issues with the 2016 SUBARU FORESTER include: Airbag SRS Sensor Malfunction, Passenger-side Occupant Detection System Failure, Exterior Lighting Brake Lights Switch Issue, Engine Overheating. These are based on patterns found across 400 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 Subaru Forester?
Yes, there have been recalls for airbag and exterior lighting issues.
What should I do if I experience sudden surges or jumps in my car?
Check for recalls related to exterior lighting and brake lights switch issues.
Is the 2016 Subaru Forester safe to drive?
There have been safety-critical issues reported, so it's important to check for recalls and address any known problems.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of airbag and seat issues, and check for recalls related to exterior lighting and engine problems.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Subaru Forester
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Subaru Forester. The data includes 400 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 39 reported crashes, 3 fire incidents, 16 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Subaru Forester an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16