repaired · 2021 Q2
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.
2016 Subaru OutbackProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 644 owner complaints about the 2016 Subaru Outback, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-910 the manufacturer reports only 80% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Subaru Outback has problems
644 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
309Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
83Visibility/wiper1 crash/fire/injury
54Engine5 crash/fire/injury
45Power train3 crash/fire/injury
24Steering
22Vehicle speed control
19Structure
19Service brakes
13Fuel/propulsion system
5714 other systems10 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 309 | 3 |
| Visibility/wiper | 83 | 1 |
| Engine | 54 | 5 |
| Power train | 45 | 3 |
| Steering | 24 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 22 | 6 |
| Structure | 19 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 19 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 3 |
| 14 other systems | 57 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2016 Subaru Outback recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Steering: column
Do not driveRisk. The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Driveline: differential unit
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.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
40kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 145 electrical system complaints. 96% were reported before 100,000 miles.
44under 30k miles139under 100k miles6100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
12 owners mentioned a cost$275median
Middle half: $193 – $551
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Outback year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Outback median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Subaru Outback safety ratings
2016 Subaru Outback SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.5% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Subaru Outback, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What Outback owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale, but the contact discovered the seller was associated with a car dealer. At the time of purchase,…
The reporting citizen was driving legally on [XXX] going forward towards the parking lot next to the round about when an uncrewed, autonomous commercial vehicle operated by Waymo suffered a catastrophic software/hardware failure. The 6,000-pound driverless robot taxi aggressively pursued and chased…
SUBJECT: Formal Safety Defect Complaint: 2016 Subaru Outback – Manufacturing Nondisclosure of Latent "Day 1" Design Flaw Causing Ignition Key Entrapment, Uncommanded Steering Column Lockout, and Severe Family Safety Risk I am writing to formally report a severe, unaddressed safety defect and a…
Own a 2016 Outback?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.