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moderate 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Of the 32 engine complaints filed for the 2016 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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 provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs B1571(REFERENCE CODE INCOMPATIBILITY IMMOBILIZER CM TO ECM) and B1572(IMM CIRCUIT EXCEPT ANTENNA CIRCUIT) are detected by Keyless Access with Push Button Start(KACM).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and / or manifold, and combustion chambers).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The dominant complaint is sudden, complete loss of engine power at highway speeds—65 to 80 mph—with no warning lights beforehand. Drivers report the engine simply dying, leaving them coasting to the shoulder with no braking assist or power steering. Restart typically succeeds after 5 to 45 minutes of sitting idle. Many of these incidents occur during low-fuel conditions (near empty, fuel gauge showing 60–100 miles range) on slight uphill grades.
A second pattern involves rough idle, engine flutter, and stalling when stopped or accelerating from rest, even in very early ownership (around 8,000 miles). One owner's vehicle was diagnosed with a broken valve spring; most dealers report no findings.
Additional failures include unintended hard acceleration from light pedal pressure (some owners spin tires on snow), accelerator non-response after stops, mixing of engine oil and coolant leading to overheating and blown gaskets, and excessive oil consumption (one quart per 2,000 miles). One vehicle caught fire in the engine bay.
Parasitic battery drain causing repeated stranding is also reported. Notably, owners point to a 2019–2020 Forester recall (19V856000) for fuel pump and PCV system issues—the 2016 model is not covered despite owners seeing identical stalling behavior online.
Same Subaru Forester engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Engine shuts down completely without warning while driving at highway speeds (65–80 mph), often during acceleration or uphill grades. Vehicle loses all motive power and must be coasted to the shoulder. Engine typically restarts after 5–45 minutes of sitting.
When: Highway driving, typically 42,000–80,000 miles; often triggered during uphill grades or acceleration
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine power at cruise speed; No warning lights or dash illumination prior to failure; Accelerator becomes unresponsive; Vehicle coasts to a stop without braking assist; Engine restarts normally after sitting; Fuel gauge shows 60–100 miles range despite low-fuel warning
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (reported after event in some cases), Emissions control light, Traction control light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce the condition; no root cause identified in service records. Owners suspect fuel pump failure based on similarity to 2017–2020 Forester recall (19V856000) for PCV system.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 19V856000 issued for 2019–2020 Forester (PCV/crankcase ventilation), but 2016 model not included. No service bulletins or warranty extensions cited in narratives.
Engine stalls or loses power when fuel gauge reads very low (1/8 tank, 2–3 gallons, or 60–100 miles remaining) and low-fuel warning light is on or recently activated. Failures occur primarily at highway speeds on slight inclines.
When: Low-fuel condition (approximately 1/8 tank or 60–100 miles range); highway cruising or uphill acceleration
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls when fuel tank is critically low; Sudden deceleration on highway incline; Low-fuel warning light on or recently illuminated; Fuel gauge reading inaccurate (shows 60–100 miles while tank nearly empty); Engine restart possible after delay; Refill confirms low fuel (requiring 14+ gallons to fill a ~16-gallon tank)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; dealers unable to diagnose. Owners refueled and continued operation.
Engine idles roughly, flutters, and hesitates as if fuel starved. Vehicle shakes during idle and may stall when coming to a stop or immediately after restart. Occurs both at cold and warm idle.
When: Early mileage (8,000 miles reported); also at 70,000 miles for second incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Rough idle with engine flutter or skip; Engine shake during idle; Stalling during stop or light acceleration from idle; Hesitation and misfire at various speeds; Condition present regardless of ambient temperature
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (not always illuminated)
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs and ignition coils replaced on one vehicle; no resolution. One valve spring found broken. Dealers unable to diagnose on other vehicles.
Vehicle accelerates abruptly or lurches forward with minimal pressure on the accelerator pedal, or accelerates without driver input. Occurs from a stop or during normal driving and can spin tires on slippery surfaces.
When: From cold start and during normal operation; any ambient or road condition
Symptoms owners cite: Hard acceleration from a stop with light pedal touch; Vehicle lurches forward at traffic lights; Wheel spin on snow or slippery pavement; Excessive power delivery on slight pedal pressure; Occurs immediately upon start or after restart
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives.
Accelerator pedal becomes unresponsive or hesitates to deliver power after a stop (e.g., coming out of parking lot, after emergency braking event). Vehicle may rev without accelerating or require engine restart to restore function.
When: After stopping; also reported as temporary fault under extreme conditions (hard braking scenario)
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal does not respond to input; Engine revs but vehicle does not accelerate; Hesitation lasting a few seconds after stop; Condition temporary; clears after restart or brief wait
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru dealer found no codes or history codes; attributed to temporary fault under extreme condition with recommendation to monitor.
Engine oil and coolant mix within the cooling system, causing coolant to drain and engine to overheat. Results in blown head gaskets and potential internal damage.
When: Occurred during highway driving; no specific mileage reported
Symptoms owners cite: Mixing of oil and coolant; Coolant loss; Engine overheating; Red overheat warning light on dashboard; Multiple blown gaskets
Repairs/costs cited: Repair shop evaluated; vehicle available for inspection. Specific repair costs not provided in narrative.
Engine burns or leaks oil at a rate significantly above normal, consuming one quart per 2,000 miles. Oil leaks persist even after Subaru testing and verification by manufacturer.
When: Early in ownership; issue present at 15,000 miles (vehicle purchased new 03/05/2016)
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid oil consumption (1 quart per 2,000 miles); Oil level drop between service intervals; Cam carrier seal leaking oil into engine (reported in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Cam carrier seal replacement: $3,806.20 (one documented case). Subaru has verified consumption as 'normal' despite owner objection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru tested and marked oil consumption as 'normal' operation.
Vehicle suffers repeated battery drain when parked, requiring multiple jump-starts and battery replacements. Cause suspected to be DCM (Disconnect Control Module) fault per owner research into Subaru warranty extension.
When: Recurring throughout ownership; stranding incidents not dated
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dies repeatedly despite recent replacement; Vehicle fails to start when parked; Multiple jump-starts required; Stranding incidents from dead battery
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership performing DCM diagnostic test. No repair cost provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued warranty extension and class action settlement for DCM-related parasitic drain (narrative indicates owner was not informed of this at dealership).
Engine compartment caught fire during vehicle operation, resulting in total loss.
When: During operation; no mileage or date provided
Symptoms owners cite: Fire originated in engine compartment; Vehicle a complete loss
Repairs/costs cited: Total loss; no repair details available.
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
Today marks the third time we are taking this vehicle to the dealer because the engine stalls while driving when accelerating.
My car has required multiple jumps and batteries, since I bought it new. I have records of the services for jumps, and new batteries. The car continues to have a parasitic battery drain, that has caused me to be stranded multiple times. The car is currently at the dealership, and they want to do a DCM test to see if this is cause. I was not informed of battery class action lawsuit, and extension…
I have had very similar issues to the gentleman whose NHTSA # is 11161972. On three occasions when I was driving on the highway at approximately 70 miles an hour and usually going up and incline, my engine would sputter and the car would die. All three times my car screen showed that I had between 60 and 80 miles left in my tank and my fuel gauge which show two clicks to the right of empty. The…
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 gallons) verified based on amount refilled to full. Fuel gauge was reading 2 bars (1/8) and low fuel light on but showing 70 miles of fuel remaining. Both incidents occurred at highway speeds going up very slight incline. Sudden non-response of…
Vehicle stalled in intersection. Car has a rough idle, this is the second time it has stalled. Dealership has looked at the car but not resolved the issue.
Vehicle feels as though it is about to stall. This occurs sporadically when stopping or when under acceleration on the freeway. I have taken the vehicle into two separate dealerships, neither could diagnose a problem. However one did suggest it may be a pcv valve. This appears quite similar to the recent recall (19v856) which does not include this model year.
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 32 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 35,000 and 53,000 miles, with the median around 44,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 53,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover engine issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.