Subaru · Outback · 2016
2016 Subaru Outback: problems & reliability
NHTSA has logged 642 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls for the 2016 Subaru Outback. The most-reported problem area is the electrical system (48% of complaints), followed by visibility & wipers and engine. Make sure every open recall has been fixed by a dealer before you buy.
Common 2016 Subaru Outback problems
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Electrical system problems
309 owner complaints to NHTSA (48% of all complaints for this model year) involve the electrical system, including 3 crashes. One owner reported: “This incident occurred on Friday July 29, 2022 @ 5pm. I was pulling into a parking space while my foot was on the brake I proceeded to put the car in park when the car suddenly lunged forward into the concrete patio of the Market/Store. I…”
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Visibility & wipers problems
91 owner complaints to NHTSA (14% of all complaints for this model year) involve the visibility & wipers, including 1 crash. One owner reported: “Media screen failure. Is available for inspection. Safety of pedestrians or other accident at risk because the screen is useless in bright sunlight. Planning to complain to dealer. No warning signal or alert when backing up when screen is…”
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Engine problems
52 owner complaints to NHTSA (8% of all complaints for this model year) involve the engine, including 2 crashes, 2 fires, 5 injuries. One owner reported: “My 2016 Outback 2.5L model experienced an exhaust noise and/or odor coming from cracks at the bellows section of the front exhaust pipe which includes the catalytic converter. It was diagnosed as leak occurring at the front exhaust pipe…”
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Transmission & powertrain problems
45 owner complaints to NHTSA (7% of all complaints for this model year) involve the transmission & powertrain, including 2 crashes, 1 fire. One owner reported: “The contact owns a 2016 subaru outback. The contact stated that while his wife had attempted to park the vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated while at a complete stop. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped a curb and hit a…”
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Steering problems
24 owner complaints to NHTSA (4% of all complaints for this model year) involve the steering, including 3 crashes, 1 injury. One owner reported: “I was traveling on i49 at ~60 mph, in light rain, and non freezing temperature. I was on a straight stretch of road with cruise control off. The tires were in good condition. I was approaching brush creek bridge and holding the steering…”
Owner complaints by area
| Area | Complaints | Share | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 309 | 48% | |
| Visibility & wipers | 91 | 14% | |
| Engine | 52 | 8% | |
| Transmission & powertrain | 45 | 7% | |
| Steering | 24 | 4% | |
| Speed control & acceleration | 22 | 3% | |
| Body & structure | 19 | 3% | |
| Brakes | 18 | 3% |
642 complaints filed with NHTSA in total, reporting 22 crashes, 3 fires, 13 injuries. A complaint can involve more than one area.
2016 Subaru Outback recalls
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Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUX-09.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Outback vehicles. A replacement air bag control module may have been installed that is not compatible with the passenger air bag module, possibly affecting air bag deployment.
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Steering › Column
Risk: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
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Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Risk: If the drive shaft detaches from the rear differential, it may strike the fuel tank and result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the fastening nuts, and tighten or replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 10, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is WQV-57.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016 Legacy vehicles manufactured October 24, 2015, to November 16, 2015, and Outback vehicles manufactured October 24, 2015, to November 17, 2015. Due to the improper tightening of the securing nuts, the drive shaft may separate from the rear differential.
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Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Risk: If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQU-56.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. To check whether a specific car’s recalls have been repaired, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2016 Subaru Outback crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 Subaru Outback SUV AWD. Ratings can differ between body styles and drivetrains.
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Specifications
- Drivetrains
- AWD
- Body styles
- SUV
Other Subaru Outback years
About this data
Problems, complaint counts, recalls and crash-test ratings come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public databases, last checked 2026-11-03. Complaints are reports from owners and have not all been verified by NHTSA.
How we score reliability: every model year starts at 100. Points come off for the number of owner complaints (on a log scale, up to 40 points), for each safety recall (2 points each, up to 15) and for complaints involving crashes, fires, injuries or deaths (up to 15). Popular vehicles get more complaints simply because more are on the road, so compare scores between similar vehicles. More about our method.
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