5.9

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,067 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Subaru Forester lights problems

lights problem

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2016 Subaru Forester Owner Comments

problem #6

Dec 072023

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Concerned driver stopped me and said I had no brake lights, only the lights atop the hatch showed breaking. After returning home I checked all settings on light controls and none made lower break lights work when pedal depressed. This could cause someone not watching top of vehicle crash into my vehicle. If light on top malfunctions I will not have any brake lights. Running lights work fine but do nothing when breaking. At first though it had to do with setting on light controls. I think I-??ve been told I had no tail lights only front running lights and had to turn control at dusk to have taillights of any kind.

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #5

Apr 212021

Forester

  • miles
The backup camera and reverse taillights stopped functioning soon after I bought this vehicle in 2020. I am the 2nd owner and bought it from Peterson Toyota dealership in Boise, ID. There was no particular incident, i just noticed that the backup camera no longer showed an image when putting the car into reverse. I later found out while getting an oil change that the reverse taillights were not functioning either. It is available for inspection, and I have taken it to 2 Subaru dealerships who assessed it and said they couldn't find any specific issue. They confirmed the problem however. It has not been assessed by insurance representatives or police. There was no warning lamp or indication that my reverse lights were not working, other than realizing why no one was letting me out of parking spots. I have tried both replacing the bulbs and replacing the fuses for these systems, with no change. Upon researching, I found an identical problem occuring in Subaru WRX's manufactured between 2015-2021 that is listed under recall 22V522000. I would like to get this fixed as soon as possible and would like to see if it is possible to extend the existing recall to include my vehicle?

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #4

Feb 282019

Forester

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V149000 (exterior lighting). Bob baker Subaru (5500 paseo del norte, carlsbad, ca 92008, (760) 438-2200) was unable to service the recall campaign because the tools, equipment, and part were unavailable from the manufacturer. It was stated that the part may not become available until mid October of 2019. The recall was issued on February 28, 2019. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Encinitas, CA, USA

problem #3

Feb 282019

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V149000 (exterior lighting). The contact called tucson Subaru at 520-422-2111 (located at 4901 N oracle rd, tucson, AZ 85704) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #2

Jan 012017

Forester

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. Periodically, when starting the vehicle, the headlights failed to operate. The contact would have to jiggle the headlight assemblies in order to get them to operate. The contact mentioned that the headlights have been replaced three times within two years and were inadequate. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Allenton, MI, USA

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problem #1

Dec 102016

Forester 4-cyl

  • 14,400 miles
2016 Subaru Forester was rated by insurance inst for highway safety as poor for headlights. Having driven on dark country roads I can agree. Headlights on passenger side light up right side of road, driver's side has focal point of less than 100ft. Going downhill, a dark line blocks all light so that seeing road ahead is very difficult. High beams are a bit better, more of surrounding country side lit up; down-range lighting might have focal point of 200/250 feet, well below iihs standards. Dealer says lights are properly aimed. Subaru, New Jersey, contacted. They claim no knowledge of iihs review and my complaint was treated as it kinda sucks to be you.

- Severn, MD, USA

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