2016 Subaru Forester Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 3%of 416 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 24,750miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the body and structure of the 2016 Subaru Forester, 3% of the 416 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 24,750 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Vehicle suddenly accelerated when I had my foot on the brake pulling into a parking space. It went over an embankment and crashed nose first into the parking lot below.”
NHTSA complaint #10981165, filed 2017-04, 12,000 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“Steering wheel locked while car was being driven on highway, causing car to crash into guardrail on median, causing extensive bent frame of car and extensive body damage, causing car to be declared a total loss, and causing nerve damage in the neck of driver.”
NHTSA complaint #11323214, filed 2020-05, 38,000 miles“Front end total collision traveling approximately 30mph on a residential section of a main street. Hit, and broke, a telephone pole. Car deemed totaled. No airbags deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10992796, filed 2017-06, 34,500 miles“I purchased on March 18, 2023 at HGREG West Palm Beach dealership. The salesperson did not disclosure the previous car incident information, I found it later that car has 2 car incidents. After purchasing a car on April 30, after I parked my car, its started unprovoked alarms. I have no control over my car for about 15 min. I knew that my car has an anti theft device so I contacted MagniShield and Road Vantage- the companies affiliated with HGreg Dealership where I purchased my car. …”
NHTSA complaint #11523704, filed 2023-05Related service bulletins
- 11022304Aug 11, 2025This bulletin provides information on paint codes for vehicles in the 2026 line up.
- 10187313Feb 1, 2021This bulletin provides a procedure for replacement of the black foam rubber insulating cushions for the roof spoiler.
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 9% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 2 | 6% |
| 2023 | 3 | 4% |
| 2022 | 2 | 2% |
| 2021 | 4 | 2% |
| 2020 | 15 | 2% |
| 2019 | 25 | 3% |
| 2018 | 14 | 3% |
| 2017 | 15 | 3% |
| 2016 | 11 | 3% |
| 2015 | 20 | 3% |
| 2014 | 27 | 7% |
| 2013 | 4 | 5% |
| 2012 | 5 | 5% |
| 2011 | 8 | 5% |
| 2010 | 7 | 3% |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 1 | 2% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 7 | 8% |
| 2005 | 4 | 4% |
| 2004 | 4 | 2% |
| 2003 | 19 | 10% |
| 2002 | 3 | 3% |
| 2001 | 4 | 3% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2% |
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 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsWheels
17 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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