2016 Subaru Forester Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 19about this part
- Share
- 5%of 416 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 15,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the steering of the 2016 Subaru Forester, 5% of the 416 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 15,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Have less then 10,000 miles on my vehicle. I purchased it brand new. When I tried to start it today, the steering wheel seemed locked and the error message came on. It's parked in a semi-heated garage at home.”
NHTSA complaint #11377388, filed 2020-12, 8,000 miles“While vehicle was in motion on city streets and highways the rear-end shifts to the left when driving over a bump (dry or wet pavement). It also shifts to the left when driving on ice. I know cars perform poorly on ice, but I've had many driving careers and this problem is unique and not normal for any car. Also it hydroplanes easily. The rear tires (especially the right rear tire) wear unnaturally. I have to replace tires approximately every 18000 miles. This is a manual transmission and I rarely hit the brakes. I don't accelerate aggressively and never slam on the brakes. …”
NHTSA complaint #11170583, filed 2019-01, 1,000 miles“I was parking the car in a cvs parking lot on sunrise blvd ft. Lauderdale. I made a right turn into the lot and another right turn into the space on the right. It was a large space and the row of parking slots on the right side was completely empty so I went to drive the car into one of those. I made the turn into the space, driving very slowly, when the car suddenly made a loud noise and shot forward. I had done nothing to cause this. The car ran over the curb and into a cluster of shrubbery - about 7 feet wide. The car came to a stop inside the shrubbery but the engine was still going. …”
NHTSA complaint #11252433, filed 2019-08, 15,000 miles“Key stuck in ignition carmust be left unlocked with key in it when parked - this creates a safety problem because car can be stolen or intruder can come into car. Dealer acknowledged it is a known problem and had a revised part 35122fj033 to fix the problem. Despite being a known design defect with safety implications there is no recall and the consumer must pay the $400 for the repair.”
NHTSA complaint #11232866, filed 2019-07, 45,000 miles“The car was being driven in a residential area. The driver stopped to make a u-turn then slowly started to take her foot off the brake while moving the steering wheel to the left when the car suddenly accelerated to the right (opposite direction). The driver lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle stopped only after colliding into a street pole.”
NHTSA complaint #10810175, filed 2015-12, 70 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11032035Apr 20, 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when…
- 10199960Jul 27, 2021As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcingan extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for the Electronic Power…
- 10199957Jul 26, 2021As 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 vehicleâs…
- 10199956Jul 26, 2021As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcing an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for the Electronic Power…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 2% |
| 2024 | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 2 | 2% |
| 2021 | 3 | 1% |
| 2020 | 11 | 2% |
| 2019 | 14 | 2% |
| 2018 | 25 | 5% |
| 2017 | 25 | 4% |
| 2016 | 19 | 5% |
| 2015 | 19 | 3% |
| 2014 | 16 | 4% |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 5 | 2% |
| 2009 | 3 | 2% |
| 2008 | 4 | 8% |
| 2007 | 3 | 4% |
| 2006 | 9 | 10% |
| 2005 | 2 | 2% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 4 | 2% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2% |
| 1998 | 3 | 3% |
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 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsSeats
24 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
23 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 28, 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