NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Subaru Forester. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
THE KEY IS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION AFTER PARKING. THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES.
VEHICLE STALLED IN INTERSECTION. CAR HAS A ROUGH IDLE, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS STALLED. DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR BUT NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE.
I HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY 10 EPISODES WHERE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT GETTING ANY OR VERY LITTLE GAS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS PLENTY OF GAS IN THE GAS TANK . THESE EPISODES ARE INTERMITTENT AND STARTED LAST WINTER. THE ISSUE DIDN'T OCCUR OVER THE SUMMER BUT STARTED AGAIN WHEN IT GOT COLD. THE LAST EPISODE WAS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO ON THE HIGHWAY. I PUT MY FLASHERS ON QUICKLY AND LUCKILY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT . UNLIKE PAST EPISODES, THE ISSUE DIDN'T RESOLVE ITSELF QUICKLY, I HAD THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO DO A SLOW CRAWL. IT FINALLY ALLOWED ME TO GO AGAIN, BUT THEN ANOTHER EPISODE HAPPENED BEFORE I MADE IT TO MY EXIT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLUGGISH SINCE THEN ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S COLD, BUT ANOTHER EPISODE HAS NOT HAPPENED AS OF YET. I TOOK IT TO THE SUBARU MECHANICS IN CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND LAST WINTER WHEN THE ISSUES FIRST STARTED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BAD GAS, AND WAS CHARGED $95 FOR IT. I HAVE USED DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS, AND I'M SURE IT'S NOT BAD GAS SINCE THE ISSUE IS CONTINUING.
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.
Car’s battery/ electrical system seems to drain car battery excessively. Even with a new battery, car battery dies if car isn’t run at least every 2 or 3 days, meaning I can’t rely on car if I take a trip of any length and leave the car behind. There’s a risk of being stranded. Car is 6 years old, and already has had 4 batteries. Im concerned about being stranded
2ND OCCURRENCE NOW OF A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE ON HIGHWAY AT 80MPH WITH NO WARNING (SEE NHTSA ID# 1131777). LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT HAD JUST COME ON A FEW MINUTES EARLIER...SAME AS LAST TIME. THANKFULLY HAD A SHOULDER TO COST ONTO AND LET THE VEHICLE SIT. TIRED TO TART A COUPLE TIMES, BUT WAS LIKE IT WAS FLOODED WITH FUEL. AFTER :45 MINUTES OF SITTING...IT RESET ITSELF AND STARTED AGAIN AND WE CONTINUED ON OUR JOURNEY. THIS TIME ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND CLEAR.
ON NOVEMBER 7, 2020 AROUND 630PM, I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREET GOING NW ON SUNSET IN FAIR OAKS, CA IN A FAR RIGHT LANE. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH WITH ONE OTHER CARS INFRONT OR BESIDES ME. CERTAINLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I HEARD A LOUD BOOM. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LOUD BOOM, I COULD NOT SEE AND REALIZED MY STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THEN I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT I SAW A DEER LIMPING. SO I IMMEDIATELY KNEW I JUST HIT A DEER FROM MY FRONT LEFT CORNER BUMPER AFTER I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE STREET. AFTER I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE STREET I NOTICE ALL AIRBAGS IN THE CAR DEPLOYED INCLUDING THE SEATS, DASHBOARD, ROOF AND SIDE AIRBAGS. I TOOK MY CAR TO GET ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT BASE ON THE DAMAGE OF THE VEHICLE HIT BY THE DEER, THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE ENTIRE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR SHOULDN'T BE DEPLOYED. SO I COMAINT TO SUBARU. IT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. I BELIEVE HITTING THE DEER SHOULD HAVE NOT MADE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOYED ESPECIALLY THE ENTIRE AIRBAGS SYSTEM. THE ESTIMATE CAME OUT TO BE OVER $15000 TO FIX. MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR.
THIS CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER WHEN UNDERWAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PREDICTABILITY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF ENTERING TRAFFIC OR EVEN WHEN MOVING ON CONGESTED ROADS. NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AT ALL, THE CAR JUST DIES WITHOUT WARNING. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HAS HAPPENED MONTHS AND EVEN YEARS APART. ALL ATTEMPTS BY THE SUBARU SERVICE TEAM HAVE FAILED TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND FIXING GUESSES AT TO WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG HAVE FAILED. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND HAVE COME TO FIND THAT THE FIRST OWNER RETURNED THIS AS A LEMON FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW SUBARU OF AMERICA IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WON'T AGREE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND GET IT OFF THE ROAD PERMANENTLY BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR GETS KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM IT MUST NOT EXIST AND YET THREE DRIVERS IN MY FAMILY HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AND A PRIOR OWNER (I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THIS IS) RETURNED THE CAR WITH THE SAME INDEPENDENT EXPERIENCE. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. I AM SURE WHEN THIS CAR WAS FIRST RETURNED AS A LEMON THEY COULDN'T ISOLATE THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY COULDN'T RECREATE IT. I SUSPECT THAT THEY FIXED WHAT THEY 'THOUGHT' WAS THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT A TEST DRIVE OF EVEN A THOUSAND MILES MIGHT NOT REVEAL THE PROBLEM. THEY PUT IT BACK OUT THERE AS FIXED AND LIKE NEW. NOW THAT THE SAME PROBLEM HAS RECURRED IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO NOT TAKE THIS CAR BACK AS A TWO TIME LEMON AND DESTROY IT BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OCCURS.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE
WHEN STOPPING/STOPPED IT WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE/SURGE FORWARD AND I NEED TO SLAM ON BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DEPRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY INJURIES OR SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER GRAYSON HYUNDAI ( 8729 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN 37923; (865) 693-4550) AND HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,000.
I TOOK MY 2016 SUBARU FORESTER IN FOR SERVICE AND MENTIONED A STICKY IGNITION. I WAS TOLD THE SHIFTER PLATE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A REPAIR OF $600.00. THE CAR HAS 45,000 MILES. I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW OFTEN THIS HAPPENS WITH IT BEING A RELATIVELY LOW MILES CAR AND HE STATED THAT HE IS REPAIRING 3 OTHERS IN THE DEALERSHIP JUST TODAY. I ALSO READ THAT SUBARU REPLACED THE ASSEMBLY DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THEIR LAST ITERATION. I AM CONCERNED THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THIS ASSEMBLY AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.
MY 2016 SUBARU FORESTER HAS TWICE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ENGINE STALL WHILE CRUISING AT APPROX. 70 MPH WHEN THE FUEL WAS LOW. IN BOTH CASES THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON AND THE VEHICLE SHOWED FUEL IN THE TANK WITH FUEL RANGE OF 70-100 MILES. IN BOTH CASES ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED IT STARTED AGAIN AND RAN NORMALLY UNTIL AND AFTER REFUELING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY AT HIGH SPEED WHICH MAKES THE CONDITION ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT (@ 42,000 MI.) I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SUBARU DEALER WHO CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO EXPLANATION. OF COURSE THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE POWER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDER EXAMINATION FROM THE SECOND INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED YESTERDAY (@ 50,000 MI.). I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM BUT I HAVE SEEN OTHER POSTS THAT SUGGEST THAT MAY BE THE CAUSE.
WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED IN PARK AFTER A TRIP, THE KEY BECOMES STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE TURNED OFF BUT THE KEY IS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. CYCLING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND PLACING THE CAR BACK IN PARK MULTIPLE TIMES ALLOWS THE KEY TO EVENTUALLY BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. ONLINE SEARCH SHOWED MANY COMPLAINTS FROM THE SAME YEAR VEHICLE.
THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED REGULARLY IN DEALER'S SERVICE CENTER. IT IS A LOCAL COMMUTE VEHICLE AND HAS LESS THAN 40000 MILES. IN NOV 2019, THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND OUT OF ALIGNMENT, FOUR TIRES WERE WORN OUT AND TWO BREAKS WERE OUT TOO. ALL FOUR TIRES AND TWO BREAKS WERE REPLACED. IN JUNE 2020, I REPORTED BAD SMELL TO THE SERVICE CENTER BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. IN SEP 2020, BAD SMELL WAS NOTICED AGAIN. THE SERVICE CENTER FOUND OIL LEAK IN THE ENGINE FRONT AND BACK. THE ENGINE WAS OPENED AND SOME PARTS WERE REPLACED. SERVICE CENTER ALSO FOUND THE CONDENSER WAS LEAKING AND REPLACED IT. IN LESS THAN A YEAR, THREE DEFECTS HAPPENED AND TWO WERE RARE BUT MAJOR DEFECTS. DURING THIS TIME, THE CAR WAS ONLY DRIVEN AROUND 2000 MILES. I REPORTED TO SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY JUST TOLD ME TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT.
IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK AND CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM CAR AFTER DRIVING AND THE CAR IS TURNED OFF
2016 SUBARU FORESTER. KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. CAN NOT BE REMOVED. ALL ELECTRICAL POWER STILL ON. THIS HAPPENED AFTER I PULLED MY SUV INTO A PARKING SPOT. PLACE IN PARK. TURNED OFF AND KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME IN 2 WEEKS THIS HAS HAPPENED.
MY FORESTER HAD AN ISSUE WHERE I COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION ONCE I WAS STOPPED AND IN PARK. I HAD TO REPEATEDLY TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF AND MOVE THE SHIFTER BACK INTO AND OUT OF GEAR TO GET THE KEY OUT. I HAD MY CAR REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF $419. I FIRST HEARD ABOUT AN ISSUE LIKE THIS WHILE WAITING IN THE DEALERSHIP LOBBY LISTENING TO ANOTHER FORSTER OWNER WHO HAD THIS ISSUE. SINCE THEN OUR FRIEND AND OUR DAUGHTER HAVE ALSO HAD THIS ISSUE WITH THEIR SUBARU CROSSTREKS. THEREFORE, SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM, IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE THEM ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT?
MY 2016 FORESTER WILL ACCELERATES WITH NO WARNING .THE VERY FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I CANNOT REMEMBER EXACT DATE , I WOULD GUESS IT WAS AROUND OCT. OR NOV. OF 2015. I BOUGHT THE CAR MAY 2015. TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION, I WAS PARKING SPACE CAR AND AS I PUT THE CAR IN PARK THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD , BARELY MISSED HITTING THE FENCE IN FRONT OF ME. AT THAT TIME I BLAMED UGG BOOTS .NEVER WORE THEM AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME DO NOT REMEMBER WHEN BUT IT HAD TO BE SOMETIME AFTER MARCH 2017 BECAUSE I HAD WAS PURCHASED A PUPPY AND WENT TO PETCO AND I WAS IN THAT PARKING LOT WHEN IT HAPPENED. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND AS I PUT CAR IN IT JETTED BACKWARD WITH SUCH FORCE AND I HIT A CEMENT POLE THAT WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME . THE POLE WAS DESIGNATED FOR A HANDICAPPED SPACE .AND CAR . LUCKILY THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS THERE OR I COULD HAVE HURT OR KILLED THEM. NO DAMAGE TO CAR . I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN. I CHECKED MATS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE NOT UNDER GAS BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THAT COULD HAPPEN BUT NO ALL WAS GOOD . GOING FORWARD JUST KEPT WATCH AND SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN CAUSE THEN I WOULD KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. ONE, TWO, THREE TIMES, NO DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH CAR. THE MOST RECENT SEPT. 8, 2020, I WAS ON SIDE STREET STOPPED AT LIGHT. TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE TO INCH UP TO MAKE TURN ALL OF SUDDEN CAR LUNGED FORWARD TO INTERSECTION I QUICKLY MADE TURN. LUCKILY AVOIDING ACCIDENT. WHEN I TOOK CAR IN TO BE CHECKED WAS TOLD BY REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP SHE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT'S USUALLY DUE TO HUMAN ERROR AND THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH THEIR CARS. SHE THEN PRECEDED TO ASK IF I HAD AIR CONDITIONER ON WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I SAID I DON'T REMEMBER BUT I'M ASSUMING I DID. LEFT CAR TO BE CHECKED.R DEALERSHIP SAID THE MECHANIC DROVE CAR FOR 3 MILE , COULD NOT DUPLICATE MY COMPLAINT.
KEY DOES NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION WHEN CAR IS STOPPED, TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK AND FOOT BRAKE IS APPLIED.
POWER STEERING FAILED WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED. WHEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF POWER STEERING LOCKING UP OR JUST NOT WORKING WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW IMPLODED WITH A LOUD NOISE, WITHOUT IMPACT, LEAVING PIECES OF GLASS, LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SEVERE INJURIES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONTACT CALLED KOEPPEL SUBARU LOCATED AT 42-01 NORTHERN BLVD, QUEENS, NY 11101, (347) 846-0660, AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. *LN *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE BEFORE THE KEY RELEASED AND WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. COLONIAL SUBARU (761 E CHESTER ST, KINGSTON, NY 12401, (845) 339-3330) ACKNOWLEDGED THE THAT FAILURE HAD OCCURRED IN OTHER VEHICLES. THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO TAP THE SHIFT COLUMN TO DISLODGE THE KEY HOWEVER, THE KEY REMAINED STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE BUT CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO SUBARU ABOUT HAVING TO COVER THE COSTS AND SUBARU REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR
WHILE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT AND SMALL OBJECT (NOT A ROCK OR METAL) IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD. WHICH CREATED A 3IN CRACK TOP OF WINDSHIELD (DRIVER SIDE). IN THE FOLLOWING 30 MINUTES, THE CRACK GREW TO OVER 10 INCHES.
YESTERDAY AM FOUND WINDSHIELD CRACK ON MY 2016 FORESTER. CAR HAD BEEN PARKED ALL NIGHT IN CLEAR WEATHER , AND NO DING OR CRACK WAS PRESENT DAY BEFORE. KNOWING THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN OTHER YEARS OF THIS AUTO, FELT IT NECESSARY TO REPORT. PHOTOS SHOW COMPLETE CRACK AND POSSIBLE PLACE OF ORIGIN WHERE WINDSHIELD MEETS BODY BY ROOF.
AFTER PARKED THE 2016 SUBARU FORESTER, THE KEY WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT BE PULLED OUT OF THE KEY CYLINDER. IT HAPPENED EVERY OTHER DAYS.
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AROUND 70 MPH. LOST POWER TO WHEELS/VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. ENGINE REVVED TO HIGH RPM'S WHEN I HIT GAS, AS I COASTED INTO THE GRASSY MEDIAN. I TURNED OFF ENGINE, WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES. TRIED TO START AGAIN, STARTER WOULD CRANK, BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT START. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER THEY WERE ABLE TO START CAR NEXT DAY. NO ERROR CODES IN COMPUTER. HAVE NOTICED THIS ISSUE ON THE SUBARU MESSAGE BOARDS, DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE ISSUE NOW. VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY.
THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND CAR IS PARKED. THE FIRST TIME WAS SATURDAY,AUGUST 1. SINCE THEN, IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ABOUT ONCE EVERY OTHER DAY FOR FIVE DAYS. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AT LEAST ONCE EVERY DAY.
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION OR AUX POSITION AND WOULD NOT COME OVER AFTER SHIFTING THE LEVER TO PARK POSITION.
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE CAR OFF. THE MOTOR SHUTS DOWN, BUT THE KEY WILL NOT TURN COMPLETELY TO THE REMOVAL LOCATION. I OFTEN HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND THEN QUICKLY OFF IN ORDER TO GET THE KEY TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. SOMETIMES PUTTING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO GEAR (REVERSE OR DRIVE) BEFORE RETURNING THE TRANSMISSION TO PARK IS ALSO REQUIRED. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS MAY BE NECESSARY BEFORE SUCCESSFULLY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THIS PROBLEM STARTED SUDDENLY IN THE LAST MONTH AND OCCURS AT LEAST 50% OF THE TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE IS USED.
WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR, THE KEY WILL NOT COMPLETELY TURN COUNTERCLOCKWISE BUT WILL GET STUCK AT ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY TOWARDS OFF (NEAR THE "ACC" POINT). CANNOT TAKE THE KEY OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO RELEASE IS TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN. SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES ARE NEEDED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY AND COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THERE IS A NEED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE QUICKLY OR SECURE THE VEHICLE IN A PUBLIC PARKING AREA. LEAVING THE CAR WITH THE BATTERY ENGAGED AND THE KEY STUCK IS NOT AN OPTION. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY STOPPED, IN PARK, AND I AM READY TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROXIMATELY A MONTH (STARTED IN AUG 2020) AND INITIALLY I THOUGHT I WAS NOT PUTTING IT IN PARK, OR THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TURNED OR SOME OTHER ISSUE I COULD CORRECT. SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT GO AWAY. UNFORTUNATELY IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY AND IS DISCONCERTING.
The recall on the occupant detection system was performed in 2019, but the passenger SRS light still lights up intermittently with no obvious indication of what is causing it. Sometimes the front passenger seat has no one in it, sometimes it appears as soon as someone sits in it, sometimes after it has been occupied for some time, and sometimes I can complete a long trip with the light never appearing. The seat has never been soaked and the diagnostic fee alone is $200. All indications are that only replacing the entire seat at a cost of over $1500 will remedy the situation.
PLEASE RECALL THE 2016 SUBARU FORESTER FOR FAILURE OF THE ACCELERATOR AT HIGH SPEEDS. OUR 21-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, A NURSING STUDENT, TOOK HER 2016 FORESTER INTO GRAYSON SUBARU IN KNOXVILLE, TN FOR A RECALL SERVICE ON REAR COIL SPRINGS, OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. WITHIN AN HOUR OF LEAVING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN HER "LOW FUEL" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ACCORDING TO THE SUBARU, THAT MEANS 2.6 GALLONS OF GAS REMAIN. ASSUMING 20 MPG, THAT MEANS SHE COULD DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 52 MILES BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF GAS. WITHIN A MINUTE OF THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMING ON, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED TO WORK AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, SHE HAD TO CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. VERY SHAKEN AND CRYING, SHE CALLED GRAYSON SUBARU AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK. AFTER STEVE KACHELRIE OF GRAYSON'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ASSESSED THE CAR, HE CONCLUDED, "YOUR DAUGHTER JUST RAN OUT OF GAS. THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO OTHER THAN PUT GAS IN THE TANK." WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT THE GAS METER SAID SHE HAD 50 MILES OF DRIVING TO GO BEFORE EMPTY, HE DISMISSED IT AND REPEATED THAT SHE "JUST RAN OUT OF GAS." I RESEARCHED THE 2016 SUBARU FORESTER ON NHTSA.GOV AND FOUND 20 REPORTS OF IDENTICAL INCIDENTS OF THE CAR SHOWING 50-70 MILES TO GO BEFORE EMPTY AND THE ACCELERATOR COMPLETELY FAILING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIGHTING UP. WHEN I TOLD GRAYSON SERVICE THAT WAS AN UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE, THEY REFERRED ME TO THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP, WALTER GRAYSON. HE AGREED TO FULFILL SUBARU'S GUARANTEE TO PAY US THE TRADE-IN VALUE OF THE CAR, $14,800. THE DEALERSHIP SENT US A CHECK FOR THE 2016 SUBARU FORESTER AND WE PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE PARKING. ALL LOW SPEED <5 MPH. CAR WAS IN DRIVE, BRAKING, MADE A HARD LEFT TURN THEN STOPPED. CAR WAS SHIFTED TO REVERSE, MOVED 25 FEET, BRAKE AND STOPPED. CAR WAS SHIFTED TO DRIVE (LOW), APPLIED ACCELERATION (LIGHT), HARD RIGHT TURN, BRAKE APPLIED, CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED CURB, SHIFTED CAR TO PARK, TURNED OFF IGNITION. RESTARTED CAR, STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ON, SHIFT WOULD NOT ENGAGE EVEN WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED. REMOVE SHIFT LOCK COVER (SMALL BUTTON NEAR SHIFT) DEPRESSED RELEASE AND MOVE SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND THEN REVERSE TO BACK OFF CURB. INCIDENT OVER, CAR FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED AT THIS POINT. FLOOR MATS WERE NOT ANY WHERE NEAR PEDALS, MATS WERE IN THE RETAINERS TO HOLD POSITION. I AM SURE THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME THE ACCELERATION OCCURRED. IT REMAINED THERE EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF BECAUSE I LOOKED AT MY PASSENGER TO SEE IF SHE WAS OK AND THEN LOOKED AT THE POSITION OF MY FOOT, STILL ON BRAKE. THERE WERE NO CODES FLASHING. I BRAKE AND ACCELERATE WITH ONLY MY RIGHT FOOT. CHECKED TO SEE IF THIS IS A PROBLEM AND SAW SEVERAL REPORTS AND ISSUED THIS ONE. TAKING THIS TO MY DEALER WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME, THEY ALWAYS FIND NOTHING BUT THE MONEY IN MY WALLET. THIS IS SUBARU NUMBER 6 FOR ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAMELBACK SUBARU LOCATED AT 1521 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014, (602) 680-2495 FOR THE 120,000 MILES VEHICLE INSPECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED, THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SAME DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,953.
IGNITION KEY WILL NOT DISENGAGE AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF; VEHICLE HAS A CVT TRANSMISSION.
KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION AFTER I COME TO A STOP AND PUT CAR IN PARK AND FIRMLY APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE. I CAN SOMETIMES START THE CAR AGAIN, PUT IT IN PARK AND PULL THE BRAKE AND THE KEY WILL COME OUT. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION.
The battery died on several occasions. I had to purchase a portable jump starter to keep in the vehicle for times that the vehicle would not start. I had the battery replaced by the dealer, but the same issue happened again. In the winter of 2020 I ended up purchasing an after market AGM (Advanced Glass Mat) battery for the vehicle.
The battery in my car continually dies. It all started about 2 years ago, we replaced the battery, but I have to charge it frequently. The car never dies while I’m driving it, but sometimes I will come to start my car and it won’t start. This happens about 1-2 times a month.
I HAD DROPPED MY CAR OFF AT THE SHOP FOR A RECALL. ON THE DRIVE HOME, WHEN I WAS ABOUT 6 MILES FROM THE SHOP, I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. SUDDENLY MY FRONT WINDOW CRACKED FROM RIGHT ABOVE THE REARVIEW MIRROR DOWN THE CENTER OF THE WINDOW AND THEN OVER TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I'VE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE CRACK. THE SHOP REVIEWED THEIR VIDEO OF THE WORK ON THE CAR AND SAID THEY DID NOT SEE ANYTHING THAT HAD STRUCK THE WINDOW. IT WAS A VERY HOT DAY AND I HAD JUST TURNED MY AIR CONDITIONING UP ALL THE WAY RIGHT BEFORE THE WINDOW CRACKED. THE STREET I WAS ON WAS A 4-LANE COUNTY ROAD. *TR
THE KEY OCASIONALLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SO THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE AND LOCK THE CAR. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER A MONTH BEFORE I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED.
The battery drains when the car is turned off without anything electrical being on, possibly a parasitic battery. Have taken the car to dealership multiple time and they said the battery itself was fine.
THE KEY HAS STARTED GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION INTERMITTENTLY AFTER TURNING THE MOTOR OFF. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS INVOLVING TURNING THE MOTOR BACK ON AND PULLING THE KEY OUT AS I'M TURNING THE MOTOR OFF. IT MAY GO A COUPLE OF DAYS AND BE FINE THEN DO IT SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW. *TR
2016 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A TREE. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JS
FORESTER ACCELERATES TOO FAST ON GOING FROM STOP TO MOVING TO NORMAL SPEED. THE CARS DOES NOT ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. TOO MUCH POWER ON A LIGHT TOUCH TO SOFT ACIERATION. IF ON LIGHT SNOW IT SPINS THE WHEELS. GOING FROM IDLE ON A TURN IN SNOW IT SPINS THE TIRES. ALL ACTIONS ARE FROM A STOP OR NO ACCELERATION TO PLACING LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR.FROM A STOP THE CARS JUMPS AHEAD WITH ACCERERATION.
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.
RUNNING IN MY 2016 SUBARU FORESTER AT 70 MPH ON CROWDED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN TEXAS AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. NO WARNING, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING...JUST LOST ALL POWER AND SHOT OFF WHILE DRIVING. . CAR ROLLED TO A STOP AND THEN I HAD IT TOWED. RESTARTED AFTER A WHILE AND DROVE FINE. SAW A LOT OF COMMENTS ONLINE FOR A CURRENT SUBARU RECALL THAT HAS EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS, BUT FOR THE 2019 YEAR FORESTER. SUBARU RECALL ITEM: WUW-08 AND ALSO NOTES AS RECALL #: 19V856000 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV). DEALER DOEN'T WANT TO TOUCH IT SR INCE IT'S A DIFFERENT MODEL YEAR. COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.
THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF A FAULTY "OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM". THE INDICATOR WOULD CHANGE FROM ON TO OFF RANDOMLY. THEN THERE WAS AN OFFICIAL RECALL, BUT NO FIX WAS AVAILABLE AND THEY INSTRUCTED TO WAIT UNTIL THE DEALERS CONTACTED US. A COUPLE OF MONTHS, TIRED OF WAITING TO BE ABLE TO USE THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR, I CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA. THEY TOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT WAS AVAILABLE. DEALER HAD TO GET PARTS AND INSTALLED IT. IT SEEMS NOW IT STILL DOES NOT WORK UNDER OUR TYPICAL USE CASE. WE FOUND OUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE CAUSE. A DIFFERENT OCCUPANCY DETECTION SENSOR IN THE REPLACEMENT WORKS USING AN "ELECTROSTATIC" METHOD. MY WIFE WAS USING A STANDARD RELATIVELY THIN SEAT CUSHION THAT APPARENTLY PREVENTS THE NEW SENSOR FROM WORKING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT LIABILITY TO AUTOMOBILE PASSENGERS WHO DRIVE IN CARS EQUIPPED WITH SUCH EQUIPMENT. NOWHERE IN THE MANUAL (OR THE RECALL PAPERWORKS) IS THERE A NOTE TO NOT USE A SEAT CUSHION OF ANY KIND. IT ALSO WOULD NOT BE INTUITIVE TO THINK THIS WOULD BE A HAZARD FROM A PASSENGERS PERSPECTIVE. YOU COULD HAVE AN IMPALE SETTING ON THE CAR THAT JUST ENDS IT FOR YOU (FOR THOSE NO HELMET BIKERS). IT WOULD SIMILARLY BE DEEMED ACCEPTABLE, SO LONG AS THERE IS AN INDICATOR LIGHT THAT SAYS "IMPALER ACTIVE" FOR PEOPLE GET TO IMPALED BY THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AI SYSTEM GATHERS THEIR PREFERENCE IS DNR IN AN ACCIDENT VIA THEIR MUSIC SELECTION. MANY PEOPLE WOULDNT THINK TO LOOK AT THE AIRBAG ON OR OFF LIGHT. ALSO YOU CAN USE A SEAT CUSHION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WITHOUT ANY ISSUE WHICH FURTHER CONFUSES THINGS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN TERMS OF HAVING ANY IDEA THAT A CUSHION IS ENDANGERING THEM. I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO PROTECT CHILDREN, BUT WHO PUTS THEIR KIDS OR BABY SEATS IN THE FRONT SEAT THESE DAYS? THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO TURN THE BAG ON OR OFF, OR AT LEAST ON SO THAT YOU CAN OVERRIDE A FAULTY SENSOR
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IN LAS VEGAS WITH NOTHING OVERHEAD. CAME OUT TO GO TO THE STORE AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. HAD DRIVEN THE CAR EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THIS CRACK WAS NOT THERE. JUST READ ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND WONDER IF MY 2016 WITH EYESIGHT IS POSSIBLY IN THE SAME SITUATION.
SUBARU DEALER CHANGED TWO REAR COILS ON MY 2016 FORESTER, WITH 37K MILES, 2/20/2020. ON 2/26/2020 A LOUD BANGING NOISE AT REAR OF VEHICLE. NOTICED OIL SPOTS ON MY DRIVEWAY, AT REAR OF VEHICLE. ON 3/2/20, 11 DAYS AFTER THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED, I BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALER ASKING THEM TO CHECK MY WORK. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT STORE THE CAR AND I WOULD HAVE TO RERUN THE NEXT DAY. WORK COMMITMENTS MADE THIS IMPOSSIBLE. THE NEXT TWO DAYS, ON DRIVING TO THE TRAIN, THE BANGING BECAME EXTREMELY LOUD AND I LEFT IT AT A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT BOTH REAR STRUTS WERE LEAKING. IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT BOTH REAR STRUTS WOULD LEAK 11 DAYS AFTER THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT THOSE BAD COIL SPRINGS, WHICH WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER, , CAUSED EXTRA STRESS TO THOSE TWO REAR STRUTS, ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 37K MILES, CAUSING BOTH TO FAIL. SHOCKS STRUTS USUALLY NEVER FAIL IN PAIRS. THE VEHICLES IS USED LOCALLY, WITH NO HEAVY OBJECTS IN THE REAR. DEALER SHOULD COMPENSATE THIS OWNER.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026