Buyer Research

2016 Subaru Forester — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $12,000–$18,000. There are 3 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.

Deciding between model years? Compare the 4 Subaru Forester years we've written up →

Kestrel Take

Standard all-wheel drive, huge visibility, and genuine snow ability. The FB25 engine dropped the head-gasket curse but can consume oil, and the CVT is the component to watch. Keep the tires matched and the CVT fluid serviced and it's an excellent all-weather buy.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25

NHTSA holds 411 owner complaints for the 2016 Subaru Forester, and 3 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is airbags at 24%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.

3 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Not written up yet: electrics and electronics (93 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.

Looked at and set aside: airbags (98) — 98 airbag complaints on file, almost always a recall matter rather than a repair bill; have a dealer check this VIN for open airbag campaigns and confirm any were performed.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2016 Subaru Forester

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.

Excessive oil consumption (FB25)High — wallet impact

Subaru settled a class action over oil consumption on these engines. Monitor the level; running low risks the engine.

Repair cost (estimate): $0 if covered, $3,500+ short block

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (60).

Lineartronic CVT durabilityHigh — wallet impact

Shudder and failure on some cars; fluid service is the preventive. Extended warranty applied to earlier years.

Repair cost (estimate): $4,000-$6,500 — about 43% of what this car is typically worth

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (49).

Wheel bearing wearMedium

A hum that changes with steering input.

Repair cost (estimate): $350-$700 per corner

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Mismatched tires damaging the drivetrainHigh — wallet impact

Uneven or mismatched tires stress the AWD center differential and CVT.

Repair cost (estimate): $1,500-$4,000 — about 27% of what this car is typically worth

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (49).

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Oil consumption
✗CVT shudder
✗Four mismatched tires
✗No CVT fluid service

Good Signs

✓Oil consumption monitored or short block replaced
✓Four matched tires and CVT fluid service
✓Documented maintenance