2016 Subaru Forester transmission and drivetrain problems
51 of the 414 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Forester name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 41 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database6 of the 51 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 3
Half of the 36 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 10,000 and 70,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
414 complaints in all about the 2016 Subaru Forester, 3 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Forester transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
While pulling into a parking lot spot at idle speed, I lightly depressed the accelerator when all of a sudden the vehicle surged forward colliding with the veh parked to my left. My veh jumped the curb with the front end coming to rest on the sidewalk.
Broken transmission due to broken transmission belt at 43,000 miles. I was stopped at a red light, when the light turned green I took my foot off the brake and put my foot on the accelerator. Immediately, there was a huge bang, and my car rocked back and forth. I thought I had been rear ended but there was nobody behind me.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. While driving various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. Klamath falls Subaru in klamath falls, oregon 97603 was made aware of the failure but the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,200
When making a right or left turn the vehicle will bog down and it will not move. The situation last about 5 seconds and during this time I AM unable to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. The happens multiple times per day to none per day.
While traveling at speeds above 25 MPH in mild to moderate winter conditions, the rear end is fishtailing and pushing the front of the vehicle in an unsafe manner. My family and I were nearly thrown into a ditch several times in a 2 mile excursion on the interstate on christmas day.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications41 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 16-156-25R Service bulletinAug 20, 2026
- This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 16-156-25R Service bulletinJun 2, 2026
- This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Subaru Forester names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Subaru Forester
Source: the same files- airbag problems 114 complaints
- electrical problems 94 complaints
- engine problems 60 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Subaru Forester?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 51 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (12% of everything owners filed about it), and 41 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Subaru Forester?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 3 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Subaru Forester?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 45,000 miles; half of them between 10,000 and 70,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.