2016 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 29owner reports
- 32,000median miles
- 8involved a crash
Newest report Mar 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
29 of the 414 complaints on this car describe brake wear.
Tick what matches of 29 reports
Brake wear on other Forester years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ABS module (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 13,888 and 73,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Subaru Forester that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This bulletin provides diagnosis and procedure information to be applied when diagnosing potential fluid leaks on front and rear brake calipers. This information has been developed to reduce unnecessary brake caliper replacement.
This Service Information bulletin announces availability of a new front brake pad shim kit to specifically address customer concerns of a squeaking or squealing sound on the models listed above.
This Service Information bulletin announces instruction for application of additional lubrication between the brake caliper support and pad clips.
What owners wrote
“I had my foot on the brake, opened the garage door with my garage door opener, and before I took my foot off the brake the car surged, jumped, and smashed into the brick wall next to the garage. I did not put my foot on the gas.”
Filed Mar 22, 2026
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 8 of 29 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Airbag warning light or recall 99 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 42 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 35 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 27 reports