This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Subaru Forester wheels problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Subaru Forester have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the wheels at roughly $400 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See wheels across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
| Model year | wheels complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Forester | 3 |
| 2014 Forester | 8 |
| 2015 Forester | 15 |
| 2016 Forester (this page) | 11 |
| 2017 Forester | 7 |
| 2018 Forester | 3 |
| 2019 Forester | 4 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 11 wheels complaints filed for the 2016 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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.
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Subaru Forester in our records for wheels problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA wheels complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering wheels 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 change made to the wheel lug nuts.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces availability of new front wheel hub assemblies incorporating bearing surfaces having increased resistance to imperfections resulting from shock loads.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin announces a change made to the wheel lug nuts.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change made to the rear wheel / brake backing plates.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Stock Yokohama Geolander G91-F tires came with defective valves. One owner's tire shredded at highway speed around 7,600 miles—the valve was missing entirely and the sidewall had separated. A second tire from the same vehicle developed a slow leak from the valve itself months later. Neither tire showed punctures; both had minimal wear. Tire shops confirmed valve failure, not road damage.
Lug bolts crack during routine tire rotations. Multiple owners report mechanics finding fractured bolts when removing wheels; studs seize on the threads and snap when technicians apply excessive force with standard tools or impact wrenches. This issue appeared around 50,000 miles and has repeated across multiple wheels on the same vehicle.
Rear wheel bearings fail prematurely, producing loud humming under acceleration. One owner's bearing failed around 60,000 miles; on the same vehicle, both rear bearings failed again years later.
Base steel wheels have a wide, deep trough molded into the inside. Snow packs in, melts, and overnight the water freezes solid. This ice weight causes violent shaking at highway speeds—a genuine handling hazard. It happened twice to one owner within six weeks.
Stock tire traction on ice is poor; owners report sliding in minimal snow with the factory rubber.
Same Subaru Forester wheels reports on nearby years: 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Defective tire valves (stock Yokohama Geolander G91-F)
Stock Yokohama tires came with known defective valves. One tire blowout had the valve completely missing with sidewall separation; a second tire leaked from the valve itself. Both tires had minimal tread wear and low mileage at failure. No punctures were found by tire shops.
When: 7,626 miles and under 40,000 miles on vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Low tire pressure warning light; Rear driver's side tire completely shredding at highway speed; Outer wall completely separating from tire; Tire valve missing from one tire; Slow leak from tire valve on second tire
Repairs/costs cited: One tire replaced at Firestone; second tire repaired at Costco. Owner directed to keep first blown-out tire as evidence.
Lug bolt/stud fracture and seizing
Lug bolts on wheels fracture during routine tire rotations. Mechanics report excessive force required to remove bolts; studs snap when mechanics attempt removal with standard tools. Multiple bolts fail across different wheels at the same vehicle.
When: Approximately 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: One lug bolt fractured on each wheel across multiple tire rotations; Excessive force required to remove bolts; Lug nuts stripped off; Lug nuts frozen on studs and won't come off; Studs break when attempting removal with extension bars or impact wrenches
Repairs/costs cited: Lug bolts/studs replaced; some repairs done by independent mechanics and dealers. Mechanics warned owner they were not responsible for damage caused during wheel removal.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated they were unaware of the failure; manufacturer was not notified by owner.
Rear wheel bearing failure
Rear wheel bearings failed and required replacement. One instance occurred around 60,050 miles; a second failure of both rear wheel bearings recurred years later on the same vehicle.
When: Approximately 60,050 miles for initial failure
Symptoms owners cite: Loud humming noise from vehicle while driving; Recurrent failure of both rear wheel bearings
Repairs/costs cited: Rear wheel bearing(s) replaced at dealer. Second occurrence was not repaired per owner report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of failure.
Steel wheel design defect (snow/ice accumulation)
Base model steel wheels have a trough running around the inside, 2 inches wide and 1 inch deep. Snow packs into the trough, melts, and water freezes overnight into a solid ice block that acts as an unbalanced weight.
When: Occurred twice within six weeks
Symptoms owners cite: Snow and water accumulate in wheel trough; Ice block forms overnight from accumulated water; Vehicle shakes violently at speeds over 45 mph; Imbalance equivalent to large wheel weight
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommended car wash as solution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America stated they would pass complaint to new product development.
Tire ice/snow traction performance
Stock tires rated as unsuitable for ice driving. Owner lost traction in light snow conditions on a sloped street, causing vehicle to slide and collide with parked car.
When: After 2 inches of wet snow
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of traction in minimal snow conditions; Vehicle slid into parked car
Tire pressure loss from defective valves
Tire pressures do not hold; owner reports having to inflate tires repeatedly.
When: Unspecified timing; issue ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Tire pressure will not hold; Required inflation approximately 3 times in 3 months
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, there was a loud humming noise coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear wheel bearing failed but the contact was unaware which wheel needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired but years later the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken…
Had wheels 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 wheels problem on the 2016 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $400.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, wheels issues most often appear around 27,521 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $400 for wheels 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 wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels 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.