2016 Subaru Forester Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 29about this part
- Share
- 7%of 416 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 32,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the brakes of the 2016 Subaru Forester, 7% of the 416 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 32,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“'several times over the last 3 months the vehicle randomly accelerates usually when I brake to slow down the car. I have to put the car in neutral to stop the racing of the engine. It happens at various speeds, 5,10,20, 60. It is scary and I have to allow extra room while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11415823, filed 2021-05, 75,000 miles“I was parking my car. I had the brake applied and put it in park. The car accelerated on its own over a parking barrier, over a 1.5' stone barrier, up a small grade and into and partially thru a concrete patio wall. The car's gearshift was in park. I had to move it back to reverse to get it back into the parking space. And even though the impact was substantial the airbag did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10981716, filed 2017-05, 13,000 miles“Abs warning lights comes on then after I turn off the car it disappears. Bothe time it happened I was stopped then while accelerating the warning lights came on. The first time I was parked then when I backed up lights came on. The second time I was at a stop light with a slight incline when I started the lights came on. Then following time after the lights were off , I would restart car and the lights came on while driving”
NHTSA complaint #11128310, filed 2018-09, 30,589 miles“During periods of heavy rain, the vehicle appears to suffer major electrical issues. Since february of 2018, my vehicle has reported problems after a major storm with the eyesight camera system, ABS, hill assist, and fuel gauge. Fyi-eyesight includes the dynamic cruise control, crash avoidance, and lane monitoring system. The issue has been reported to our Subaru dealer/maintenance team but they have not been able to discover the source of the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11098416, filed 2018-05, 32,000 miles“While getting ready to slow for a traffic light red signal the ABS light came on including the need to tow the vehicle. I got the vehicle to a parking lot about 1 mile away with the warning light still on and the vehicle slowed to about 2 miles per hour until I stopped. I shut off the vehicle and restarted it, the ABS lights did not come back on. The brakes performed normally. I drove home. Overnight the brake lights came on and I now have a dead battery. The brake light ignition switch was replaced on a recall last week about 150 miles ago.”
NHTSA complaint #11203039, filed 2019-04, 32,368 milesRelated recalls
- 19V149000Feb 28, 2019Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans…Covers: Subaru Forester 2014–2016, Impreza 2008–2016, WRX 2008–2014 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 11002725Jun 25, 2024This bulletin provides diagnosis and procedure information to be applied when diagnosing potential fluid leaks on front and rear brake calipers. This information has been…
- 10202832Oct 19, 2021This bulletin announces a design change to the CVT select lever (shifter) mechanism in response to isolated customer concerns of not being able to remove the key from the…
- 10202821Oct 14, 2021(Subaru Retailers) As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcing an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for…
- 10202817Oct 14, 2021(Owner Letter) As part of Subaru of Americaâs dedication to customer satisfaction, this letter is to inform you of an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for your…
- 10187307Feb 1, 2021This Service Information bulletin announces availability of a new front brake pad shim kit to specifically address customer concerns of a squeaking or squealing sound on the…
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 | 6 | 6% |
| 2024 | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 | 6 | 8% |
| 2022 | 11 | 11% |
| 2021 | 7 | 3% |
| 2020 | 14 | 2% |
| 2019 | 26 | 3% |
| 2018 | 14 | 3% |
| 2017 | 15 | 3% |
| 2016 | 29 | 7% |
| 2015 | 36 | 6% |
| 2014 | 31 | 8% |
| 2013 | 9 | 12% |
| 2012 | 16 | 15% |
| 2011 | 20 | 14% |
| 2010 | 37 | 14% |
| 2009 | 16 | 9% |
| 2008 | 1 | 2% |
| 2007 | 4 | 5% |
| 2006 | 2 | 2% |
| 2005 | 7 | 8% |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% |
| 2003 | 10 | 5% |
| 2002 | 11 | 13% |
| 2001 | 16 | 12% |
| 1999 | 19 | 14% |
| 1998 | 15 | 15% |
Other parts of the 2016 Subaru Forester
100 complaintsElectrical system
93 complaintsOther or unknown
70 complaintsEngine
60 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
51 complaintsVehicle speed control
37 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsSeats
24 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
23 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsWheels
17 complaintsSuspension
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology