This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Subaru Forester electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Subaru Forester have filed 81 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 40,006 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
81
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Forester | 9 |
| 2014 Forester | 35 |
| 2015 Forester | 74 |
| 2016 Forester (this page) | 81 |
| 2017 Forester | 92 |
| 2018 Forester | 67 |
| 2019 Forester | 117 |
| 2020 Forester | 95 |
4crashes
1fire
What stands out
Owners have filed 81 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Electrical accounts for 20% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin contains information to help when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for 2026 model year vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20 with gen 4 Telematics.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe multiple electrical failures affecting the 2016 Forester. Sudden unintended acceleration occurs without driver input—typically during low-speed parking or highway driving—ranging from delayed throttle response followed by surging to full-throttle lunges. Dealers cannot duplicate these events; Subaru mentions needing special event data recorder equipment but follow-up is rare.
Battery drain is pervasive: owners report parasitic draw killing batteries within days, even with key removed. Many replaced batteries three to seven times in 2–3 years. Dealers find no parasitic current but cannot prevent drain; the issue appears linked to the CAN bus failing to enter sleep mode. One owner paid $1,355 to replace the Starlink DCM/control module. Subaru is involved in a class action battery lawsuit.
The ignition key frequently gets stuck at the ACC position and cannot be removed when the car is parked and off. Owners must restart the engine, shift into Drive then back to Park, and cycle the key repeatedly (3–4 minutes). This occurs daily for some owners after 30,000 miles. Subaru TSB 16-112-18R identifies a contaminated park-range switch, but no recall has been issued.
Passenger airbag sensors malfunction—lights stay on or flicker intermittently whether the seat is occupied or empty, risking airbag non-deployment in a crash. The recall WUM-98 (harness replacement, 2020) fails recurrently within months; dealers now refuse to re-cover it and demand $1,200+ for seat replacement instead. Engine stalls without warning at highway speeds, causing loss of steering and braking. Backup cameras and reverse lights fail silently. One vehicle caught fire while parked; cause was undetermined.
Same Subaru Forester electrical reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates abruptly without driver input, typically during parking, low-speed maneuvers, or highway driving. Owners report delayed throttle response followed by surging, or sudden full-throttle acceleration. One incident involved accelerator failure at 70 mph on interstate requiring emergency lane crossing.
When: Various mileages; onset reported from 2015 onward, including incidents at 20,000 miles and early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed acceleration response followed by uncontrolled surge; Vehicle lunges forward or backward without pedal input; Full throttle acceleration during low-speed maneuvers; Accelerator fails to respond at highway speeds; All warning lights illuminate during acceleration failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to duplicate or diagnose. Subaru mentioned event data recorder not available at dealer level. No confirmed repairs documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru stated investigating; mentioned EDR equipment needed for diagnosis but no follow-up documented. One dealership offered goodwill payment ($14,800 trade-in value) after multiple incidents.
Parasitic battery drain and chronic dead battery
Battery drains excessively when vehicle is parked and off, or drains within days of inactivity. Many owners replaced batteries multiple times (3–7 replacements over 2–3 years). Root cause linked to CAN bus not entering sleep mode and/or parasitic drain from always-on electrical systems. Owners report having to remove key to fully shut down power draw and using battery maintainers to prevent failure.
When: Typically year 2–3 of ownership onward; some failures within days of parking with key removed
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dies after 2–3 days without driving; Dead battery when key left in ignition even briefly (15–20 minutes); Slow cranking even when battery starts vehicle; Repeated dead-battery no-starts stranding owners; Battery dies despite new replacement; Parasitic draw detectable but not pinpointed by dealer diagnostics
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced batteries multiple times under warranty initially, then charged owners for subsequent replacements. One owner paid $1,355 to replace DCM (Digital Control Module/Starlink computer chip). Duracell battery maintainers and Interstate batteries purchased by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru involved in battery class action lawsuit; one owner reported dealership threatened to deny class action claim if Subaru replaced battery. Dealers claim no parasitic draw found; no design fix offered.
Ignition key stuck in ignition; unable to remove key
Key becomes stuck and will not turn fully to the lock position to allow removal when vehicle is in Park and engine is off. Owners report intermittent onset that escalates to occurring every day or multiple times weekly. Workaround requires restarting engine, shifting into Drive/Reverse, then back to Park, and trying key removal repeatedly (3–4 minutes of cycling). Root cause identified in TSB 16-112-18R as contamination of park-range switch internal components.
When: Typically after 30,000 miles; reported starting around 2020–2021
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not turn counterclockwise past ACC position when engine off; Key stuck in ignition when vehicle stationary and in Park; Intermittent at first, then daily occurrence; Requires multiple engine restart/shift cycles to release key; Position of steering wheel may affect release
Repairs/costs cited: TSB 16-112-18R addresses the issue; select lever (shifter) mechanism part number 3511AL00C. Out-of-warranty repairs estimated over $500. Workaround disables safety mechanism.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. TSB available but not proactive. Hundreds to thousands of forum posts indicate widespread issue across Subaru models.
Passenger occupant detection system (ODS) malfunction and airbag warning lights
Front passenger airbag and occupant detection system malfunctions intermittently or persistently. SRS/airbag warning lights illuminate when passenger seated or when seat empty. Passenger airbag may not deploy when needed. Recall WUM-98/NHTSA 19V-701 (ODS harness replacement) issued in 2020, but failures recur within months to years. Dealers now cite water damage or blame owner, offering seat replacement ($1,200+) rather than honoring recall for recurrence.
When: Original failure reported; recall completed 2020; recurrence reported 5 months to 13+ months after repair
Symptoms owners cite: SRS/airbag warning light intermittently illuminates; 'Passenger airbag off' indicator lights when occupied; Airbag 'off' indication with passenger in seat (safety risk); Seatbelt alarm sounds when seat unoccupied; Warnings appear inconsistently
Repairs/costs cited: Recall WUM-98/NHTSA 19V-701: ODS harness replacement completed 2020. Recurrence repairs offered: passenger seat bottom assembly sensor ($1,211) or new ODS harness. One owner reported second harness replacement in 2024 resolved issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall WUM-98 completed but warranty only covers one-time repair (one year). Dealer (Capitol Subaru) stated recall cannot be reopened for recurrence. Subaru of America Case Specialist confirmed one-time repair limit. Goodwill assistance offered but limited.
Engine stall without warning during highway driving
Engine stalls abruptly while driving at highway speeds (50–70 mph) with no prior warning indicators. Vehicle loses all power, steering becomes difficult or locks, brakes fail or become nearly impossible to control. Vehicle may restart after stalling or require towing. Incidents pose serious safety risk during traffic.
When: Various mileages; one at 300 miles, others at 19,000+ miles; incidents reported after regular driving with AC on
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine stall at highway speed; Loss of all electrical power; Steering lock or severe steering difficulty; Brake failure or extreme brake resistance; No warning lights before stall; AC shuts off first, then electrical fails, then engine dies; Vehicle difficult to restart immediately
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce or diagnose. Battery replaced but stall recurred; dealers found no mechanical faults. One owner cited computer glitch but no repair performed. One owner incident linked to gas running out (after low-fuel warning) but metric inaccuracy alleged.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No factory remedy identified. One incident resulted in dealership denying hardware failure and attributing to fuel depletion.
Backup camera and reverse lighting failure
Backup camera stops displaying image and/or reverse taillights cease functioning with no prior incident or warning. Issue similar to Subaru WRX recall 22V522000 (2015–2021 models) but not applied to 2016 Forester. Bulb and fuse replacement does not resolve.
When: Soon after purchase (second owner); no specific incident reported
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera no longer displays image in reverse; Reverse taillights not functioning; No warning lamp or indication of malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb and fuse replacement attempted without success. Two Subaru dealerships confirmed problem but could not identify root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No acknowledgment or recall for 2016 Forester despite identical issue in WRX recall 22V522000 (2015–2021).
Brake light and running light malfunction
Lower brake lights fail to illuminate when brake pedal depressed, though running lights and top-of-hatch brake indicator still function. Vehicle may lack brake light indication from rear if top light fails. Taillights may require separate control adjustment to display.
When: No specific mileage or timing reported
Symptoms owners cite: Lower brake lights do not illuminate when pedal depressed; Running lights work but do not respond to brake input; Only top-of-hatch brake light functioning; Taillights only visible after separate control adjustment at dusk
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided by owner
Loss of power on highway; all warning lights illuminate
Vehicle loses all power and propulsion while driving at highway speed, accompanied by simultaneous illumination of all dashboard warning lights including engine light, Hill Assist, EyeSight, and alarm system. EyeSight safety system disabled.
When: Late in day-long highway drive; various mileages reported
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine power; All dashboard warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Vehicle alarm sounds; EyeSight system disabled; Loss of propulsion at highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Issue reported as widespread online; owner indicates issue "deserves a recall."
StarLink digital control module (DCM) failure; emergency assistance system unreliable
StarLink emergency roadside assistance system failed to operate reliably. When vehicle lost power on interstate bridge, SOS button activated but operator could not locate vehicle coordinates despite marketing claims. System failed to provide promised safety feature; operator unable to determine location from Starlink database. Separate issue: one owner linked battery drain to StarLink DCM requiring $1,355 replacement.
When: On-demand during emergency (160 miles from home on I-40, Lexington NC); DCM failure discovered after multiple battery drains
Symptoms owners cite: SOS button activation delayed; took multiple attempts; Operator unable to locate exact vehicle coordinates; System unable to pinpoint location from Starlink data; Operator demanded additional landmark information from stranded driver; Parasitic battery drain attributed to DCM not entering sleep mode; DCM replacement required to stop drain
Repairs/costs cited: DCM replacement cost $1,355 to stop parasitic drain. StarLink service charge $150.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Marketing material claims "Starlink will know your exact coordinates." No acknowledgment of system failure or redesign.
Vehicle fire; cause undetermined
Vehicle parked in garage caught fire after sitting for approximately 5 minutes with engine off. Fire spread to nearby motor home and house, destroying all three structures. Fire department called; cause not determined.
When: At 45,000 miles; vehicle had been parked for ~5 minutes
Symptoms owners cite: Flames seen coming from under hood; Vehicle rapidly engulfed in flames
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; cause undetermined
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed; no investigation documented
Synthesized from 81 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The battery drains constantly. I’ve had it replaced several times but it continues to die even when I jump it repeatedly. This may be a known issue but the Subaru dealership’s tech refused to admit their car’s electrical system caused the issue and attempted to have me continue to drive with a dead battery, then have AAA replace the battery under the AAA warranty (even though Subaru’s car was at…
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru forester.the contact states that his vehicle is not safe to be on the road ,the contact stated that his lights on his vehicle are not properly working. The vehicle has been to 3 different dealers for repair and the problem is still occurring .the contact stated the engine stops on its own without any notification
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 Subaru Forester?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2016 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 81 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 30 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 30,000 and 50,400 miles, with the median around 40,006. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 50,400. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Subaru/Forester.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.