2016 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet

Seat belt or seat problems

27owner reports
40,000median miles
$1,244median quote
1involved a crash

Newest report Aug 29, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

27 of the 411 complaints on this car describe seat belt.

Tick what matches of 27 reports

the belt locks or will not extend

a seat moves or rocks

there is a recall

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the seats covers the 2016 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the seats on the Forester

PE99-020opened Mar 5, 1999

Seat Belts · model years 1999

Seat belt anchorage separation. Closed mar 26, 1999.

NHTSA summary

ODI HAS ONE COMPLAINT ALLEGING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE, LOCATED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND CENTER CONSOLE, BECAME DETACHED WHILE DRIVING.IN ADDITION, THE OWNER INSPECTED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND FOUND THAT THE BOLT WAS PARTIALLY BACKED-OUT.THE COMPLAINT VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH LEATHER SEAT COVERS AND HEATED FRONT SEATS.BECAUSE OF THESE OPTIONS, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE INSTALLED BY AN OUTSIDE VENDOR AT THE PORT OF ENTRY IN VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON.SUBARU STATES THAT A SMALL QUANTITY OF VEHICLES WITH HEATEDFRONT SEATS DID NOT HAVE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN VANCOUVER.THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WERE SUPPLIED SEPARATELY FROM THE FRONT SEATS AND AN OUTSIDE VENDOR INSTALLED BOTH THE LEATHER SEAT COVERS AND THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES TO THE SEAT FRAME.SUBARU HAS SEARCHED THEIR FILES AND FOUND NO ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS OR WARRANTY CLAIMS ON FORESTER VEHICLES FOR LOOSE SEAT BELT BOLTS.SUBARU ALSO CONFIRMED THAT WITH THEIR CURRENT QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTIONS THAT SUCH A CONDITION CANNOT GO UNNOTICED IN THE FUTURE.

None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.

What owners paid

9 of the 27 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,100 to $1,500.

$1,100$1,244$1,500

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 19,118 and 75,021 miles, from the 8 reports that gave a mileage.

218

619

220

221

122

123

424

425

526

What owners wrote

“Sensor on passenger side airbag stays off at times when there is a passenger in the seat. The notification on the dash and above the GPS screen notifies the driver that the airbag is off. This was a previous issue and pertains to a recall that was completed. This has not resolved since the recall has been completed and the problem still continues only 3 years after being "fixed".”
Filed Jul 25, 2025

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 27 reports involved a crash and 1 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.