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2016 Forest River ForesterProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 7 owner complaints about the 2016 Forest River Forester, most often about the structure. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-336 the manufacturer reports only 69% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 69%Owner complaints70 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage8kStructure, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 12, 2022. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2016 Forest River Forester has problems

7 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Structure30
Electrical system20
Service brakes20
Exterior lighting10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2016 Forest River Forester recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

100%repaired · 2019 Q3

Visibility: power window devices and controls

Recall 18V-444 · Jul 3, 2018 · 53 vehicles · 53 repaired

Risk. High electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

73%repaired · 2022 Q3

Exterior lighting: back up lights

Recall 16V-465 · Jun 27, 2016 · 1,999 vehicles · 1,452 repaired

Risk. If the rear brake lights fail to illuminate, following motorists may not realize that the vehicle in front of them is stopping.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

69%repaired · 2018 Q3

Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer

Recall 16V-336 · May 23, 2016 · 13 vehicles · 9 repaired

Risk. Failure to meet the flammability standard of FMVSS 302 could enhance the spread of a flame in the event of a fire, increasing the risk serious injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Forest River.

Best & worst years

2016 vs. every other Forester year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Forester median. How we score

'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What Forester owners report

Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The Maxxair fan is a component that sits on the roof of the RV. Looking at the install instructions, the unit is installed by attaching the flange to the roof. What failed was that the 'top' portion of the fan, where the motor and and the cover attachments are, flew off at speed, on the highway.…
Complaint 11464345 · May 12, 2022
WHITE PLASTIC COMPONENT FELL OUT OF THE RV COACH ENTRY DOOR LOCK MECHANISM CAUSING DOOR LOCK TO JAM. MOST OF THE LOCK MECHANISMS ARE METAL BUT THIS SMALL PIECE IS PLASTIC AND THERE IS NO MECHANISM TO KEEP IT FROM FALLING OUT. AFTER I RE-INSERTED IT AND OPERATED THE MECHANISM A FEW MORE TIMES, IT…
Complaint 11034024 · Oct 17, 2017 · 13,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FOREST RIVER FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR HOME AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BEEP WHICH INDICATED THAT THE JACKS ON THE MOTORHOME WERE LOWERING DOWN. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER AND LIFT THE JACKS BACK UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE…
Complaint 10918551 · Oct 24, 2016 · 3,000 miles

Own a 2016 Forester?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.