2016 Nissan Rogue vs 2016 Subaru Forester
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2016 Nissan
Rogue
4/10
The Rogue does everything a family crossover should — until the transmission decides it's done, usually somewhere between 70k and 110k miles.
VS
2016 Subaru
Forester
7/10
The 2016 Forester is the automotive Labrador: not exciting, endlessly capable, and secretly hiding a piston-ring problem you must screen for.
Milo scores the 2016 Subaru Forester higher — 7/10 against 4/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Nissan Rogue |
Subaru Forester |
| Known failure points | 7 | 8 |
| NHTSA complaints | 536 | 409 |
| Safety recalls | 7 | 3 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 42 | 72 |
| Cheap to own | 40 | 68 |
| Fun factor | 25 | 42 |
| Holds value | 45 | 78 |
| Enthusiast cred | 8 | 55 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2016 Nissan Rogue
JATCO JF017E CVT torque converter shudder — feels like driving over rumble strips at 30–45 mph under light throttle
$400–$5,50040k–80k mi
2016 Subaru Forester
CVT (TR580) shudder, judder, or valve body codes (P2764 etc.)
$300–$8,00090k–160k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2016 Nissan Rogue
2016 Rogue SL AWD, 5-seat configuration (no 3rd row), under 60k miles, with documented CVT fluid changes and a clean ownership record — bonus if the CVT was already replaced under warranty (fresh unit resets the clock).
✅ 2016 Subaru Forester
2016 Forester 2.5i Premium with the All-Weather Package, one owner, dealer-serviced, WITH a documented oil consumption test showing under 1qt/3,000mi, CVT fluid changed at least once, and under 100k miles. Manual transmission if you can find one — they're unicorns and the best-driving Foresters.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
Run my free report →
First report free · then $10
Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.