2016 Subaru Forester: steering wheel locks up

5 of the 416 complaints about the 2016 Subaru Forester describe steering wheel locks up.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 1%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 10 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Steering wheel locks up by model year

2021
2
2020
1
2019
2
2018
4
2017
1
2016
5
2014
2
2000
1
1999
1

What owners say

Filed May 15, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · IL

While driving on highway using cruise control at 70 mph my car suddenly stalled …. I was able to get to apron of road , but my steering locked and I had no brakes.. I could put car into neutral but had to “jam” it into park , trying to get it to stop rolling . It would not restart . I had it towed to an auto repair center as there was no Subaru dealer in the area. Because I had kept trying to restart it , my battery was dead . They recharged my battery and the car then started . I took it to a Subaru dealer where I was told they could find nothing wrong …. Except I needed a new battery . This was NOT the reason that my car suddeney lost power ! It had happen once before while on the highway but I was able to restart it at that time . This could have caused a serious accident and I worry that it will happen again. I warning was indicated prior to episode . I have receipts from auto repair shop (In Lincoln, Illinois) and Subaru dealer ( in Columbia Missouri)

Filed Jul 14, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · FL

Key stuck in switch when car is put into park. Steering locks up and then can not restart or remove key. This happens almost daily at this point

Filed Sep 5, 2020 · Steering · 51,000 miles · TN

Power steering failed with no warning. Vehicle was driven and parked. When restarting the vehicle power steering would not work. There are many reports of power steering locking up or just not working with no previous warning.

Filed May 4, 2020 · Body, Steering · 38,000 miles · VA · crash · 1 injury

Steering wheel locked while car was being driven on highway, causing car to crash into guardrail on median, causing extensive bent frame of car and extensive body damage, causing car to be declared a total loss, and causing nerve damage in the neck of driver.

Filed May 3, 2017 · Steering · 14,000 miles · OH

Steering wheel locked while in garage, on level with wheels straight. Towed to wagner dealership who agreed it was malfunctioning. Extended manipulation freed it. How do I fix this?