2016 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

60Engine complaints

14.8%Of all 405 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS94 · 23.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM90 · 22.2%

Unspecified / other68 · 16.8%

ENGINE60 · 14.8%

POWER TRAIN47 · 11.6%

Share of the 405 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Subaru Forester overview page.

What owners report

“TODAY MARKS THE THIRD TIME WE ARE TAKING THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING WHEN ACCELERATING.”NHTSA complaint 11163793 — filed 12/28/2018

“2 SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF COMPLETE ENGINE POWER LOSS WHILE ON HIGHWAY AT CRUISING SPEEDS. BOTH IN INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITH LOW FUEL ABOUT 1/8TH TANK (2-3…”NHTSA complaint 11161972 — filed 12/17/2018

“I HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE WILL FLUTTER IN IDLE AND WILL ALMOST SKIP AS IF IT'S NOT GETTING ANY GAS. THE FLUTTER CAUSES…”NHTSA complaint 11150304 — filed 11/09/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Subaru Forester have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Subaru Forester: 60 of 405 complaints on file (14.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Subaru Forester have in total?

405 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 39 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 16 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.