2016 Subaru Forester maintenance schedule

The 2016 Forester is part of the SJ generation (2014-2018), sold as an SUV. Below: its service intervals with the source behind each one, the fluids it takes, and the NHTSA recalls issued for it.

Service schedule

What the 2016 Forester needs, and when

5 of these 12 items come from Subaru's own published schedule. Manufacturer rows link to Subaru's own schedule, Independent rows to a service shop or parts retailer's published guide.

Service	Interval	Source
Engine oil and filter Heavy usage dictates 3,000-mile intervals. For the 2014 model year, Subaru's 2014 Warranty and Maintenance Booklet schedules oil every 7,500 miles or 7.5 months; 6,000 miles or 6 months applies from 2015	6,000 mi / 6 months	Manufacturer
Engine air filter Replace regularly; 7,500 miles for heavy/dusty use.	30,000 mi / 30 months	Independent
Cabin air filter	12,000 mi / 1 year	Independent
Tire rotation Inspect and rotate	6,000 mi / 6 months	Independent
Brake fluid Flush system to prevent internal corrosion.	30,000 mi / 30 months	Manufacturer
Engine coolant Initial change at 11 years, then every 75k miles/6 years using Subaru Super Coolant.	137,500 mi / 11 years	Manufacturer
Transmission fluid Inspect fluid; severe service dictates complete replacement sooner to prevent catastrophic failure.	Inspect, replace as needed	Manufacturer
Spark plugs Required replacement for optimal emissions and preventing coil pack stress.	60,000 mi / 5 years	Manufacturer
Serpentine belt Inspect drive belt(s).	Inspect, replace as needed	Independent
Differential and transfer case fluid Inspect; replace every 25,000 miles for heavy usage (towing/hills).	Inspect, replace as needed	Independent
PCV valve Check PCV valve to prevent crankcase overpressurization.	Inspect, replace as needed	Independent
12V battery Test / replace.	30,000 mi / 3 years	Independent

Intervals are for normal driving; towing, short trips, extreme heat or dust shorten them.

Fluids and engines

What goes in it

Coolant: Subaru Super Coolant
Transmission fluid: CVT Fluid

Powertrains in this generation

2.5L / 2.0L 4-cyl (FB25 / FA20F), CVT, AWD

Confirm the exact spec against the owner's manual or the label under the hood; capacities vary by engine and drivetrain.

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA recalls for the 2016 Subaru Forester

From NHTSA's recall database, matched by model and year. Recall repairs are free at Subaru dealers, and a given car may already be fixed or fall outside a campaign, so check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.

Air bags

NHTSA 19V701000

October 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.

Exterior lighting

NHTSA 19V149000

February 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.

Engine and engine cooling

NHTSA 16V162000

March 2016

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.

Running costs

What maintenance typically costs

A typical year of maintenance: $632

Typical US independent-shop estimates for this generation; they vary by region and condition.

Other Forester model years

SK (2019-2024)

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

SJ (2014-2018)

2014 201520162017 2018

Shopping new? The Subaru Forester guide covers the current model, with what it costs to keep for 1 to 15 years.

Sources

techinfo.subaru.com (Manufacturer)
autonationsubaruarapahoe.com (Independent)

Researched 2026-09-21. Modeling, not mechanic advice - always confirm against your car's owner's manual and service records.

Running a Forester for income?

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