Does the 2016 Subaru Forester have transmission problems?

NHTSA has 51 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Forester, 12% of all complaints filed for that model year. Owners describe delayed engagement when shifting, unintended acceleration at low speed, and rolling in the wrong direction after starting.

Is there a recall for the 2016 Subaru Forester transmission?

No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data provided for this problem area on the 2016 Forester.

How many miles do 2016 Forester transmission problems show up at?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 44,500 miles.

Were there crashes linked to 2016 Forester transmission complaints?

Yes, NHTSA data shows 6 crashes and 2 injuries among the 51 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Forester.

How does the 2016 Forester compare to other years for this problem?

The 2016 Forester's 51 complaints (12% share) fall below the 2015 model year, which had 95 complaints (15% share), but above earlier years like 2013 with 6 complaints (8% share).

2016 Subaru Forester Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 51 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Subaru Forester, 12% of all complaints that year, with 6 crashes and 2 injuries reported. There are no related recalls on file. Median mileage at failure was 44,500 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints: 51; 12% of 414
Crashes reported: 6
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 2
Median mileage: 44,500 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking or coasting at low speed, sometimes crashing into curbs, storefronts, or garage doors.
Multiple owners report a lag of several seconds when shifting from reverse to drive or park to drive, especially on inclines or busy streets.
Some drivers report the vehicle rolling in the wrong direction (backward while in drive) right after starting from a stop.
One owner reported the vehicle bogging down and refusing to move for about five seconds during turns, creating a hazard in traffic.
One owner reported fishtailing and unresponsive steering at highway speed in winter conditions.
A dealer told at least one owner that the reverse-to-drive lag was normal for the CVT and declined to inspect it.

When 2016 Subaru Forester transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 17, 2016, latest Sep 22, 2026.

51 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2016 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2018 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Forester model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

20107 (3%)
20118 (5%)
20125 (5%)
20136 (8%)
201441 (10%)
201595 (15%)
201651 (12%)
201744 (7%)
201823 (5%)
201938 (5%)
202032 (5%)
202114 (7%)
20224 (4%)
20234 (5%)
20240 (0%)
20254 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Subaru Forester have transmission problems?: NHTSA has 51 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Forester, 12% of all complaints filed for that model year. Owners describe delayed engagement when shifting, unintended acceleration at low speed, and rolling in the wrong direction after starting.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Subaru Forester transmission?: No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data provided for this problem area on the 2016 Forester.
How many miles do 2016 Forester transmission problems show up at?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 44,500 miles.
Were there crashes linked to 2016 Forester transmission complaints?: Yes, NHTSA data shows 6 crashes and 2 injuries among the 51 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Forester.
How does the 2016 Forester compare to other years for this problem?: The 2016 Forester's 51 complaints (12% share) fall below the 2015 model year, which had 95 complaints (15% share), but above earlier years like 2013 with 6 complaints (8% share).