2016 Subaru Forester Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
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
“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)…”NHTSA complaint 11170583 — filed 01/17/2019
“SAFETY CONCERN REGARDING MANUAL TRANSMISSION COMING OUT OF GEAR WHILE ENGINE BRAKING.THIS HAS HAPPENED ON FLAT ROADS AND WHILE DESCENDING HILLS, AND WHILE IN FIRST…”NHTSA complaint 11129115 — filed 09/12/2018
“I DROVE FROM NJ TO ME (BOUGHT IN 2017). I NOTICED DIFFICULTY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE/PASS CARS FROM THE LEFT LANE. I THOUGHT NOTHING OF…”NHTSA complaint 11123966 — filed 09/01/2018
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 Subaru Forester have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Subaru Forester: 47 of 405 complaints on file (11.6%). 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 power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
