FaultScore

2016 Subaru Forester driver assist problems

16 of the 617 complaints about the 2016 Subaru Forester are about the driver-assist systems — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 8,000 miles.

F

16

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Warnings 7 43.8%
Adaptive Cruise Control 4 25.0%
Automatic Emergency Braking 3 18.8%
Warnings 1 6.3%
Warning 1 6.3%

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance across every Subaru Forester year

2015 12 3.5%
2016 16 4.7%
2017 17 5.0%
2018 20 5.9%
2019 80 23.5%
2020 83 24.3%
2021 33 9.7%
2022 24 7.0%
2023 24 7.0%
2024 10 2.9%
2025 22 6.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Issaquah, WA Crash

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

I was driving very slowly in a long line of traffic due to a sudden downpour of hail, ice pellets, and frozen rain which blanketed the road in white. Suddenly, without warning, my 2016 Subaru Forester accelerated and veered to the right and into a grove of trees doing extensive damage to the front end. The vehicle was totaled by my insurance company. I suspect that there was sudden acceleration and because of the icy road conditions my car left the road instead of plowing into the car ahead of me. The airbags didn't go off and I wasn't hurt at all but the entire front end was beyond repair.

NHTSA complaint #11585676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chattanooga, TN

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

While driving N on I 24 near Nashville Tn my Eyesight assistant turned off illuminated warning light, as it cancelled my adaptive cruise control at freeway speeds in heavy traffic, while engageing my my brakes and illuminated my forward collision warning coming very close to causing serious accident to whereIended up on shoulder due to severe vibration from my defective passenger lower control arm deffectivecv axle. All of which were looked at and reported to Crown Subaru Service department. They had my vehicle for 2 days, repaired air bag and rearcoil spring recall told me my passenger lower control arm was bent and cv axle was defective the stayed my extended warranty didn't cover it when the warranty personnel said it would be covered. Never even checked my eyesight assist or other safety items associated with it even though I explained it shutoff and turns on and off sporadically. Is it going to take a death or deaths to get these people to do there job and repair and stand by the vehicles we purchase which employees them but a life isn't worth and hour inspection by Crown Subaru or Subaru corp start caring. It was in there shop 2 days prior to incident I could have at least been warned about operation of my vehicle

NHTSA complaint #11482710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chattanooga, TN

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

While driving N on I 24 near Nashville Tn my Eyesight assistant turned off illuminated warning light, as it cancelled my adaptive cruise control at freeway speeds in heavy traffic, while engageing my my brakes and illuminated my forward collision warning coming very close to causing serious accident to whereIended up on shoulder due to severe vibration from my defective passenger lower control arm deffectivecv axle. All of which were looked at and reported to Crown Subaru Service department. They had my vehicle for 2 days, repaired air bag and rearcoil spring recall told me my passenger lower control arm was bent and cv axle was defective the stayed my extended warranty didn't cover it when the warranty personnel said it would be covered. Never even checked my eyesight assist or other safety items associated with it even though I explained it shutoff and turns on and off sporadically. Is it going to take a death or deaths to get these people to do there job and repair and stand by the vehicles we purchase which employees them but a life isn't worth and hour inspection by Crown Subaru or Subaru corp start caring. It was in there shop 2 days prior to incident I could have at least been warned about operation of my vehicle

NHTSA complaint #11482710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Katy, TX Crash 1 injured

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

My Subaru Forester is equipped with Airbags and Subaru's Eye Sight anti-collision braking system. On Aug 5th my wife met with an accident while trying to avoid a head-on collision side swiped a vehicle on the right lane which hit the car on the rear side and the impact further changed the direction of her car and she went and hit the steel fence stone pillar on the right side. The frontal collision with the stone pillar damaged the bumper and car engine is dislocated from its position as the frame is deformed and the front tires jammed. The car's famed anti-collision system did not prevent the collision and the Air bags failed to deploy. I suspect that there is a serious manufacturing defect that all the safety systems failed in the car, hence I request you to conduct an enquiry while the car is being sent to the repair center to ascertain the right cause of failure.

NHTSA complaint #11478865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Katy, TX Crash 1 injured

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

My Subaru Forester is equipped with Airbags and Subaru's Eye Sight anti-collision braking system. On Aug 5th my wife met with an accident while trying to avoid a head-on collision side swiped a vehicle on the right lane which hit the car on the rear side and the impact further changed the direction of her car and she went and hit the steel fence stone pillar on the right side. The frontal collision with the stone pillar damaged the bumper and car engine is dislocated from its position as the frame is deformed and the front tires jammed. The car's famed anti-collision system did not prevent the collision and the Air bags failed to deploy. I suspect that there is a serious manufacturing defect that all the safety systems failed in the car, hence I request you to conduct an enquiry while the car is being sent to the repair center to ascertain the right cause of failure.

NHTSA complaint #11478865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dolan Springs, AZ

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

about a year ago all warning lights came on. Subaru fixed the "rodent" issue for $4000. today, 8/5/2022 same issue happened, i was driving home and forward braking, cruise control, check engine light, ATC TEMP and dynamic traction control lights came on. this vehicle has some issues.

NHTSA complaint #11477829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dolan Springs, AZ

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

about a year ago all warning lights came on. Subaru fixed the "rodent" issue for $4000. today, 8/5/2022 same issue happened, i was driving home and forward braking, cruise control, check engine light, ATC TEMP and dynamic traction control lights came on. this vehicle has some issues.

NHTSA complaint #11477829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dolan Springs, AZ

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

about a year ago all warning lights came on. Subaru fixed the "rodent" issue for $4000. today, 8/5/2022 same issue happened, i was driving home and forward braking, cruise control, check engine light, ATC TEMP and dynamic traction control lights came on. this vehicle has some issues.

NHTSA complaint #11477829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, MA Crash

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

Car accelerated while I was parking in a parking spot and hit fence and unoccupied storefront.

NHTSA complaint #11457842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, MA Crash

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

Car accelerated while I was parking in a parking spot and hit fence and unoccupied storefront.

NHTSA complaint #11457842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Falls Church, VA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

During the January snow storm in the Washington, DC area the ADAS system began to malfunction. The system that controls Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning all shut off. The vehicle was parked at an upward facing angle in order to allow all moisture to drain out/off the back of the vehicle. Once dry, the issue resolved itself. The same issue happened in the past and was tied to an issue with a brake light switch. It appears that the same issue is occurring again on the vehicle and moisture is still effecting the brake light switch.

NHTSA complaint #11453835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Falls Church, VA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

During the January snow storm in the Washington, DC area the ADAS system began to malfunction. The system that controls Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning all shut off. The vehicle was parked at an upward facing angle in order to allow all moisture to drain out/off the back of the vehicle. Once dry, the issue resolved itself. The same issue happened in the past and was tied to an issue with a brake light switch. It appears that the same issue is occurring again on the vehicle and moisture is still effecting the brake light switch.

NHTSA complaint #11453835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Falls Church, VA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

During the January snow storm in the Washington, DC area the ADAS system began to malfunction. The system that controls Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning all shut off. The vehicle was parked at an upward facing angle in order to allow all moisture to drain out/off the back of the vehicle. Once dry, the issue resolved itself. The same issue happened in the past and was tied to an issue with a brake light switch. It appears that the same issue is occurring again on the vehicle and moisture is still effecting the brake light switch.

NHTSA complaint #11453835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,000 miles NEW Hartford, NY

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

HAVE LESS THEN 10,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT TODAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED LOCKED AND THE ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON. IT'S PARKED IN A SEMI-HEATED GARAGE AT HOME.

NHTSA complaint #11377388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,000 miles NEW Hartford, NY

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

HAVE LESS THEN 10,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT TODAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED LOCKED AND THE ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON. IT'S PARKED IN A SEMI-HEATED GARAGE AT HOME.

NHTSA complaint #11377388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Smyrna Beach, FL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

2016 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE EYESIGHT SYSTEM PROBLEMS, FRONTAL COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED OCCASIONALLY, THE SYSTEM WOULD SHUT DOWN AND THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED THE APPROPRIATE WARNING LIGHTS. THE SYSTEM WOULD RE-START ON ITS OWN ANYWHERE FROM IMMEDIATELY TO FIVE MINUTES AFTER FAILURE. WHILE THE SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE, THE FRONTAL COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM AND THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. IF HE ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT WOULD DISENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND BY SLOWING DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10935808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2016 Subaru Forester problems

← Full 2016 Subaru Forester report