{"id":"2016_subaru_forester","make":"Subaru","make_slug":"subaru","model":"Forester","model_slug":"forester","year":2016,"url":"/subaru/forester/2016/","pts":["gas"],"configs":[{"id":36147,"model":"Forester AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (variable gear ratios)","cyl":4,"displ":2.5,"eng":"","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":24,"hwy":31,"comb":27,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":332,"fe_score":6,"ghg_score":6,"fuel_cost":2300,"save_spend":-250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"FJX","modified":"Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016"},{"id":36146,"model":"Forester AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Manual 6-spd","cyl":4,"displ":2.5,"eng":"","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":22,"hwy":28,"comb":25,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":364,"fe_score":6,"ghg_score":6,"fuel_cost":2500,"save_spend":-1250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"FJX","modified":"Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016"},{"id":36148,"model":"Forester AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AV-S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":23,"hwy":27,"comb":25,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Premium","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":359,"fe_score":6,"ghg_score":6,"fuel_cost":3100,"save_spend":-4250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"FJX","modified":"Wed Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2017"}],"vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","segment":"Compact SUV","epa_certified":true,"recalls":[{"campaign":"19V701000","component":"AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION","mfr":"Subaru of America, Inc.","reported":"2019-10-03","owner_notified":"2020-02-11","units":366282,"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"WUM-98","initiated_by":"ODI","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"19V149000","component":"EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH","mfr":"Subaru of America, Inc.","reported":"2019-02-28","owner_notified":"2019-04-15","units":1303530,"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"WUE-90","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"16V162000","component":"ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER","mfr":"Subaru of America, Inc.","reported":"2016-03-21","owner_notified":"2016-04-15","units":18187,"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"WTA-62","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"}],"recall_count":3,"critical_count":0,"park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"score":76,"grade":"C","complaints":{"count":411,"crash":39,"fire":3,"injured":16,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Air Bags",113],["Electrical System",94],["Unspecified",69],["Engine",60],["Power Train",49],["Vehicle Speed Control",37]],"by_year":{"2015":4,"2016":30,"2017":19,"2018":36,"2019":80,"2020":63,"2021":36,"2022":40,"2023":39,"2024":29,"2025":20,"2026":15},"excerpts":[["2021-11-21","Steering","November 8/21, temperature 41 F. Started the car and started to move and steering wheel was stiff. Steering warning light came on. Shut off and started car two more times and steering went back to normal and warning light went off. A code of C2532 was stored. This issue was identified as a problem as far back as 2016, \u2026"],["2021-11-16","Electrical System","The battery drains quickly compared to my husband's car. I had to get a new battery every other year. Subaru has known issues with the CAN system and it hasn't been addressed. This is dangerous as my car wouldn't start. I didn't feel safe. Other people have posted similar situtations online and those have to be correct\u2026"],["2021-10-23","Electrical System","There was a short in the wiring harness, causing the car to loose power and stall."]]},"investigations":[{"action":"PE19009","component":"AIR BAGS","opened":"2019-08-06","closed":"2020-01-22","campaign":"19V701000","subject":"Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure","summary":"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 failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a"}],"ncap":[{"desc":"SUV AWD","overall":5,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.169,"seats":5,"fcw":"Optional","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"No","esc":"","backup_cam":"Standard","variant":null}],"popularity":26,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":27,"ncap":5,"complaints":411},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 06:27 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}