2016 Subaru Forester powertrain problems

Transmission overheats during highway driving, triggering AT OIL TEMP warning light and forcing pullouts to cool the vehicle. Owners report solenoid replacement, CVT oil cooler, and thermostat service recommended but original overheating issue remains unresolved.

When: Highway driving; one case at 75K miles, warning appearing after 35–40 minutes continuous speed

Symptoms owners cite: AT OIL TEMP dashboard warning light illuminates; Vehicle forced to cool down during long highway trips; Extreme heat conditions exacerbate issue

Repairs/costs cited: Solenoid replacement, CVT oil cooler replacement, thermostat service; owner paid ~$644 out-of-pocket, remaining repairs under goodwill. Root cause remains uncertain.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru unable to replicate original issue; provided educated-guess repairs; refused to guarantee future repair coverage until issue identified

Transmission slips or loses drive during acceleration and at stops; jerks and shudders during shifting, especially around 2500 RPM. Vehicle hesitates or fails to accelerate smoothly from stops or during passing attempts.

When: At various speeds; shifting; acceleration attempts; one case at 126K miles after transmission fluid flush

Symptoms owners cite: Slipping sensation during acceleration; Jerking and shuddering when shifting; Vehicle hesitates to respond to accelerator pedal; Loss of motive power at stops with rough idling; Surging forward at stops despite brake applied

Codes mentioned: P0700, P2764

Repairs/costs cited: Transmission fluid flush performed at 90K miles; one case required full transmission replacement ($7,731); one case required transmission valve body replacement

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim jerking/bogging during turns is normal for CVT; dealers claim delayed engagement is normal characteristic; Subaru extended CVT warranty but refuses coverage when dealers cannot duplicate problem

While cruise control active at highway speeds (~70–80 MPH), transmission electronically drops into neutral without warning while gear shifter remains in Drive. Engine RPM spikes as vehicle slows. Engine shuts off, requiring restart attempts.

When: Highway driving at cruise control; five separate incidents reported between May 2017 and August 2018 at 31K–52K miles; one case at ~80 MPH after 1.5+ hours driving

Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shifts to neutral unexpectedly; Shifter remains in Drive position; RPM spikes to 5500+ RPM as vehicle decelerates; Engine shuts off after ~30 seconds; Difficult restart; three of five times required 15-minute wait; once battery died from multiple restart attempts in cold; Vehicle stranded on highway requiring tow truck

Repairs/costs cited: Owner had remote starter removed by Best Buy at Subaru's request; installed dashcam to document issue; dealer diagnosed faulty fuel pump after 4 weeks, but stated inability to confirm fuel pump was actually faulty; Subaru technician test-drove 500 miles without reproducing issue

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru unable to find evidence of issue; Subaru technician drove vehicle 500 miles without reproducing problem; remote starter removal suggested as potential cause

6-speed manual transmission unexpectedly shifts to neutral while engine braking downhill or on flat roads, especially in first or second gear. Gear lever physically moves and pops into neutral.

When: Engine braking downhill or flat roads; first or second gear at low speed (1500–3000 RPM) with foot off gas; reported at 10K miles, duplicated at 30K miles

Symptoms owners cite: Gear lever visibly moves and pops into neutral; Occurs at low speed downhill with foot off accelerator; Easily duplicated in first gear

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership inspected shift cables, bushings, cable adjustment, engine mounts, and transmission mounts; all deemed in good condition. Issue confirmed on another identical transmission/shifter vehicle.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru Technical Services stated vehicle is 'operating as designed' and transmission coming out of gear is 'normal condition for cable shifted split case 6-speed transmission'; no repair or further investigation advised

Vehicle surges forward unexpectedly when accelerating lightly from stop, in parking spaces, or while reversing—collision or near-collision results. Dealers cannot replicate.

When: Starting from stop; pulling into parking spaces; reversing; low-speed maneuvering; one case at 1800 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Sudden surge forward when foot lightly applied to accelerator; Vehicle jumps curb or strikes objects; Occurs especially on inclines or when entering garage; Dealer reports cannot replicate issue

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; owner cited Motor Trend December 2016 article mentioning 'jumpy throttle response' on 2016 Forester; owner reports fear of driving vehicle

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru unable to replicate; dealer found nothing abnormal; no recall issued despite owner noting similar complaints in NHTSA database

While reversing, vehicle accelerates without warning and strikes parked vehicle. Issue recurs only when attempting to shift into reverse.

When: Approximately 1800 miles; recurred on second attempt

Symptoms owners cite: Unintended acceleration while in reverse; Vehicle impacts parked vehicle; Air bags did not deploy; Failure recurred on subsequent reverse attempts

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated this type of failure had never before occurred

Complete transmission failure; one case involved broken transmission belt at 43K miles causing vehicle to roll backward at stop light. Owner reports loud bang, shaking, and inability to drive.

When: 43000 miles; another case at 126K miles

Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang and sudden jerking at red light or during acceleration; Vehicle rolls backward uncontrollably; Complete loss of drive; unable to move vehicle; Requires towing

Repairs/costs cited: 43K case: Subaru agreed to replace transmission under warranty but offered remanufactured unit instead of new (inferior warranty). 126K case: Transmission fluid previously flushed; dealer diagnosed transmission faulty and needing replacement but repair not yet completed.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru authorized replacement but with remanufactured rather than new transmission; dealer described as unresponsive, dismissive, disrespectful; no timeframe provided for 126K case repair

Significant lag time (3–4 seconds) when shifting from Reverse or Park to Drive before power reaches wheels. Extremely dangerous when backing out of driveway or merging into traffic. Occurs with only 3700 miles on one vehicle.

When: At very low mileage (3700 miles noted); persistent from early ownership

Symptoms owners cite: 3–4 second delay between shift and wheel engagement; Requires pressing gas harder on inclines; Feels like car is in neutral when ascending small hills or pulling trailer; Multiple owners report same symptom

Repairs/costs cited: No repair available; dealers claim this is normal CVT characteristic

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru and dealers acknowledge many complaints but state this is a 'characteristic of the vehicle' and 'operating as designed'; no fix offered

Catastrophic engine failure with loud bang, thick smoke, and visible cracks and holes in engine block leaking oil everywhere. Occurs at highway speeds.

When: 70 MPH highway cruising; second incident occurred 3 weeks after first repair

Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang at highway speed; Complete engine power loss; Visible oil everywhere under hood; Giant crack and hole in engine block; Thick smoke; Loss of torque during acceleration (second incident); Faltering from 60 MPH down to 20 MPH

Repairs/costs cited: First incident: 170-mile tow; 5 weeks in shop for repair. Second incident: Same symptoms in same area; loud bang and smoke right at dealer.

Vehicle suddenly loses all power while driving, engine dies, and vehicle becomes unable to restart. Occurs at cruise speeds after extended highway driving.

When: Highway driving at 70+ MPH after extended driving periods; one case after 1.5+ hours driving at ~80 MPH

Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of all power; Engine dies; Interior lights blink erratically; Radio and air conditioning lose power; Engine will not start after restart attempts; Starter cranks but engine won't turn over; Requires towing; engine starts next day at dealer with no codes

Repairs/costs cited: No error codes in computer; dealer unable to diagnose; vehicle starts normally after towing and waiting

Vehicle rolls backward uncontrollably on slope despite foot firmly on brake and shifter in Park. Occurred twice at same location; dealership acknowledged this is a known manufacturing issue. Brakes and emergency brake both fail to stop vehicle.

When: 2017 purchase; issues noted when backing out of parking spaces on slopes; repeated incidents years later

Symptoms owners cite: Rapid uncontrolled backward roll on slopes; Foot brake completely ineffective; Emergency brake ineffective; Power steering fails; Cannot shift out of park; Vehicle crashes into nearby object; Multiple incidents at same location weeks apart

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle crashed into sign and gas pump; major damage to rear bumper, power lift door, and frame

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership acknowledged this is a known engineering/design fault; stated manufacturer's engineering department knew about it and was making improvements; no fix provided or recall issued

Key becomes stuck in ignition after turning off engine and placing vehicle in Park. Key cannot be removed without cycling the ignition and shifting multiple times. Occurs intermittently or repeatedly over short periods.

When: 25K miles; 6500 miles; occurs daily or multiple times per week on some vehicles

Symptoms owners cite: Key stuck in ignition after engine shutdown; Multiple removal attempts required; Requires turning motor back on and pulling key simultaneously; Intermittent but recurring problem; Steering locks up when key stuck; Cannot restart or remove key on stuck occasions

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer acknowledged failure occurred in other vehicles; attempted to tap shift column to dislodge key without success; vehicle not repaired at dealership; one owner paid out-of-pocket and received reimbursement after complaint

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA for assistance; acknowledged problem occurs in other vehicles

Vehicle shifts out of Park on its own after engine is turned off and key removed from ignition. Occurs every time vehicle is parked.

When: 6500 miles; recurring with every parking

Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifts out of Park after engine shutdown; Occurs every time vehicle is parked; Check engine warning light illuminates

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired at dealership

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not made aware of failure

Vehicle bogs down and loses power when making right or left turns, lasting about 5 seconds and preventing escape from oncoming traffic. Occurs multiple times daily or not at all, intermittently over 12+ months.

When: Ongoing issue for 12+ months

Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle bogs down during turns; Loss of power for ~5 seconds; Unpredictable frequency (multiple times daily to none); Creates safety hazard with oncoming traffic

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service representative stated this is 'normal for the transmission in this vehicle'

Multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously; transmission begins to idle roughly and try to lurch forward even with brake fully depressed at stops. All warning lights eventually come on and usual safety features shut down.

When: Transmission starting to fail; ongoing for weeks before lights illuminate

Symptoms owners cite: Multiple warning lights illuminate at once; Rough idle at stops; Vehicle lurches forward despite brake applied; Driver forced to shift to neutral to prevent being pushed into cross-traffic; Safety features shut down (ABS, traction control, etc.); All warning lights come on

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru aware of transmission issues and previously offered warranty extension, but owner's car exceeds 100K-mile limit and refused coverage

Alternator sends bad signal to engine computer, causing loss of power to specific cylinder during highway driving. Vehicle loses power while entering highway, creating near-miss accident.

When: While entering busy highway

Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Service emissions warning appears; Dash lights blink erratically; Loss of power to cylinder #2; Vehicle limps through intersection; Nearly T-boned by oncoming traffic

Repairs/costs cited: Technician diagnosed faulty alternator sending bad info to computer

Multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously; transmission jerks at stops; loss of power. Valve body replacement corrects issue; reputable mechanic reports seeing 2–3 Foresters per month for this same problem.

When: 113K+ miles

Symptoms owners cite: Five different warning lights illuminate at once; Occasional delay starting at stoplights; Jerking transmission; Loss of power

Repairs/costs cited: Valve body of transmission replaced by independent mechanic; mechanic reports 2–3 Foresters per month with identical issue

Vehicle hesitates to accelerate when foot applied to pedal; driver must persistently depress accelerator before vehicle responds. No warning lights. Issue reoccurs multiple times during driving.

When: 10K miles; recurring throughout ownership

Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when accelerating from stop; No warning lights present; Requires persistent pedal depression for response; Reoccurs multiple times during drive

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated vehicle is operating as designed; no repair performed

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer informed owner vehicle is operating as designed

Car turns itself off soon after starting when shifted into gear. Stalls out when starting or during low idle at traffic lights. Persists even after tune-up.

When: During normal driving; at stops and traffic lights

Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off soon after starting when gear engaged; Stalls at low idle; Stalls at traffic lights; Persists after tune-up service

Repairs/costs cited: Tune-up performed without resolving issue

Head gasket leak ruins temperature gauge; mechanic states it is a design flaw that will continue recurring until leak is fixed.

When: <UNKNOWN>

Symptoms owners cite: Head gasket leak; Temperature gauge failure

Repairs/costs cited: Temperature gauge replacement cost $700; mechanic states this is design flaw with no preventive measures

Rear differential plug pulled and fluid lost; vehicle owner blames Subaru dealership's misdiagnosis but Subaru blames independent oil-change facility. Vehicle stranded on highway; differential requires replacement; possible transmission damage. 31K miles with only routine oil and brake pad service performed.

When: 31K miles after highway trip from NJ to ME; occurs during highway driving causing lockup

Symptoms owners cite: Difficulty accelerating from left lane; Loud noise during right turn; Vehicle pulls back and wheels lock up; Stuck in place for hours requiring tow truck; 6-minute tow to hotel; 5-hour tow later from another shop

Repairs/costs cited: Caliper sticking initially suspected; Subaru later diagnosed rear differential fluid loss requiring differential replacement with possible transmission damage; Subaru refused warranty coverage claiming independent oil-change shop pulled differential plug (front differential is near oil drain, rear is 10 feet away)

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru refused warranty coverage; blamed independent oil-change service; warranty threatened to be voided; owner reports Subaru stated hint that independent service could void warranty

When accelerator slightly pushed after vehicle comes to stop, vehicle accelerates abruptly in jack-rabbit manner causing unintended collision with closed garage door.

When: 02/10/2023; vehicle at stop at beginning of driveway parking area

Symptoms owners cite: Jack-rabbit acceleration with light pedal input; Uncontrolled surge forward; Vehicle impacts closed garage door

Repairs/costs cited: Garage door damage: $8,700; vehicle damage: $1,000+

Vehicle slows down drastically while foot on gas and RPM increasing; owner suspects CVT slipping causing engine braking. Subaru extended CVT warranty due to known issue but refuses to replace transmission when dealer cannot duplicate problem.

When: <UNKNOWN>

Symptoms owners cite: Slowing down while accelerating; RPM increasing without corresponding speed increase; Engine braking sensation

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru extended CVT warranty acknowledging known issue; refuses replacement because dealer cannot duplicate problem

At very low mileage (82–90K at purchase), owner notices transmission hesitation during acceleration from stopped position at intersections. Independent mechanic reports 2–3 Foresters per month in shop for identical issue.

When: 82–90K miles; low-mileage used vehicle purchase

Symptoms owners cite: Barely accelerates when shifting from stop at intersection; Significant delay in response

Repairs/costs cited: Expensive repairs performed; independent mechanic reports high frequency (2–3 per month) of identical issue in this model