2016 Subaru Forester acceleration & cruise control problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Nov 19, 2024CAAcceleration & Cruise ControlSuspensionWheels & Tires

   When the car accelerates to around 70 mph, the right front side starts to shake and vibrate, giving the impression of driving on a bumpy road. The issue becomes noticeably worse when changing lanes to the right. Both wheel alignment and tire balancing have been checked and found to be fine. After researching online, many Subaru owners have reported similar issues caused by problems with the lower control arm or wheel bearing, leading to shaking at high speeds. However, when…

   NHTSA complaint #11626190 · source
2. Filed Sep 2, 2024ORAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Acceleration issues, this is the 3rd time it has happened since we've owned our forester in 2018. Yesterday morning my wife was pulling out of our driveway and while she put it in reverse and started to release the brakes to naturally roll back, it hard accelerated and shot us out into the road until she fully pressed the brakes in. I was already aware of this issue, so I looked over as this was happening and saw her foot was on the brake pedal the entire time. The car was…

   NHTSA complaint #11612081 · source
3. Filed May 4, 2024OHAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I bought a new 2016 Subaru Forester in March of 2016 from Subaru of Dayton. I have been hearing reports of unexpected acceleration. I have had two cases of this problem. Both times I was turning right. The first time I was pulling into a parking spot in a shopping center. As I turned right the car surged and I almost hit a light pole. Luckily when I jammed on the brakes, it stopped in time. The second time I was slowly pulling out of a parking lot. As I turned right the car…

   NHTSA complaint #11586954 · source
4. Filed Sep 19, 2023TXEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise Control

   This 2016 Subaru Forester PCV Valve does not regulate the combustion system properly, this allows oil to enter this chamber. It causes loss of power and acceleration when driving. Hazardous driving conditions can cause accidents. crankcase ventilation issues engine oil system issues

   NHTSA complaint #11545469 · source
5. Filed Jun 9, 2023NJAcceleration & Cruise Control

   My wife was pulling into a parking space and braking. All of the sudden, the car accelerated. Fortunately, she was able to brake enough to stop it. We have a dashcam and you can see it a bit in this video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10CzPCDWEwxmfKK4siRRTRez3YUxusMFR/view?usp=sharing

   NHTSA complaint #11526238 · source
6. Filed May 24, 2023NJCrash2 injuredTowedOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   While stopped at a “STOP” sign, the Subaru Forester unintentionally accelerated into a tree although the brake pedals were repeatedly utilized; it was totaled.

   NHTSA complaint #11523588 · source
7. Filed May 22, 2023WIEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

   parked in angle space and turned off car. went into store for about 15 minutes. got in car and started it. heard a noise sounding like a car revving engine and looked behind me to see if it was another vehicle. realized it was my car. tried to push foot on accelerator but it was all the way to floor and would not come up. immediately put foot on brake and turned off car. looked at floor mat and found that was not the issue. waited about 30 seconds and turned car back on and…

   NHTSA complaint #11523230 · source
8. Filed Mar 27, 2023WACrashTowedBody & StructureAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Car unexpectedly accelerated when turning into a parking space. Gradually braking going in to the space and then car suddenly accelerated across the curb and hit a building. Car can be available for inspection. No one was hurt but only because of being lucky that no one was on the sidewalk by the building. Emergency services were called and police made a report and all is reported to the insurance company. There has been no inspection yet by manufacturer. Called Subaru and…

   NHTSA complaint #11514085 · source
9. Filed Aug 20, 2022OHElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I pulled into a parking space with a friend and as I turned the wheel to pull in and had the foot on the break, as soon as I let up on the brake the car lurched forward. Luckily, I slammed back on the brake since my foot has just come off it. This was very scary as I came close to ramming into the car parked in front of me. There is no way that I hit the gas and made it lurch like it did. The car is only a 4 cyl. Now I am scared to drive it. There were no warning lights at…

   NHTSA complaint #11480344 · source
10. Filed Aug 20, 2022CAElectrical SystemEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

    Our Subaru Forester is slow to respond on acceleration and then surges quickly. This problem just started to surface. Our concern is when stepping down on the accelerator the car is very slow to react and then surges forward quickly, creating a serious concern over a potential accident. On August 17, 2022 I was reversing up my driveway to the garage and as I depressed the accelerator the car failed to respond. I was reluctant to depress the pedal further over concern it…

    NHTSA complaint #11480297 · source
11. Filed Aug 12, 2022VACrash1 injuredTowedFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

    The accident with my 2016 Subaru Forester happened on 07-07-2022. It happened in daylight on our farm. I was the only person in the car and was wearing my seatbelt. I had slowly pulled into a parking spot, had my foot on the brake and had essentially stopped at the 6x6 piece of lumber that was marking the spot. As I was stopping the car accelerated out of control and sped down a very narrow path on a hill diagonally to the right of the parking spot. I struggled to control…

    NHTSA complaint #11479076 · source
12. Filed Jun 13, 2022600 miMDCrashAcceleration & Cruise Control

    The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while attempting to park in a driveway, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated causing the contact to crash into a building wall. There were no injuries sustained. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was repaired but the failure continued to proceed to accelerate. several times after the repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately…

    NHTSA complaint #11468988 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology