The 2016 Forester with the naturally-aspirated 2.5L FB25 engine is generally solid, but watch for head gasket seepage, CVT cooler issues, and occasional internal engine damage from oil starvation or bearing failures—problems that can turn catastrophic if ignored.
CVT Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission overheating warning light, Burnt ATF smell, Delayed engagement or shuddering, Coolant/ATF cross-contamination in severe cases
Fix: Replace external CVT cooler and flush entire system; typically 3-4 hours labor. If contamination occurred, CVT may need replacement which jumps to 8-12 hours plus $4,000-6,000 in parts.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200 for cooler alone; $5,000-8,000 if CVT damaged
FB25 Head Gasket Seepage
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: External oil weeping at head/block junction, Slight coolant smell from exhaust on cold start, Gradual coolant loss without visible leaks, No catastrophic overheating in most cases
Fix: Full head gasket service with head resurfacing; 12-16 hours labor. Requires pulling engine on Foresters due to boxer layout and tight bay.
Estimated cost: $2,500-3,800
Connecting Rod Bearing Failure (Oil Starvation)
Rare · high severitySymptoms: Loud knocking from bottom-end at idle, Sudden loss of oil pressure, Metal shavings in oil, Engine may seize if driven
Fix: Requires short block replacement or full rebuild with crank/rod bearing replacement; 18-24 hours labor. Often caused by neglected oil changes or low oil level operation.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Rear Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · low severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting to Drive/Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle, Visible sag of transmission tail
Fix: Replace rear transmission crossmember mount; 1.5-2 hours labor. Straightforward job but requires lifting transmission slightly.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Brake Light Switch Failure (NHTSA Recall)
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Brake lights inoperative, Cruise control won't engage, Push-button start may not work, EyeSight disabled
Fix: Replace brake pedal switch assembly; 0.5-1 hour labor. Check if recall WUA-19 was completed—should be free at dealer if not.
Estimated cost: $150-300 if paying; $0 if recall applies
Fuel Filter Clogging (Pre-Pump Sock)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting when tank below 1/4, Stuttering under acceleration, Lean codes (P0171/P0174), Fuel pump whine
Fix: Drop fuel tank and replace pump assembly with new sock filter; 2-3 hours labor. In-tank filter, not external canister on this gen.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Solid choice under 100k miles if CVT service history is documented and no oil consumption issues—avoid high-milers without transmission records.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.