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.
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.
Known Issues for the 2016 Subaru Forester
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
Subaru settled a class action over oil consumption on these engines. Monitor the level; running low risks the engine.
Repair cost range: $0 if covered, $3,500+ short block
Shudder and failure on some cars; fluid service is the preventive. Extended warranty applied to earlier years.
Repair cost range: $4,000-$6,500
A hum that changes with steering input.
Repair cost range: $350-$700 per corner
Uneven or mismatched tires stress the AWD center differential and CVT.
Repair cost range: $1,500-$4,000
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
Found a specific Subaru Forester?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2016 Subaru Forester in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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