2016 Subaru OUTBACK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
643 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
35,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 350 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 302 of 643 complaints (47.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 257 | 40.0% |
| Braking behavior | 49 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 37 | 5.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 35 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 302 |
| Unknown Or Other | 124 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 83 |
| Engine | 53 |
| Power Train | 42 |
| Steering | 24 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 |
| Service Brakes | 19 |
Electrical System: 302; Unknown Or Other: 124; Visibility/Wiper: 83; Engine: 53; Power Train: 42; Steering: 24; Vehicle Speed Control: 21; Service Brakes: 19
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 129 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 109 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 74 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 129; 25,000 to 49,999: 109; 50,000 to 74,999: 74; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (129). 293 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 56 |
| 2017 | 32 |
| 2018 | 50 |
| 2019 | 67 |
| 2020 | 101 |
| 2021 | 171 |
| 2022 | 66 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 21 |
| 2026 | 16 |
2015: 7; 2016: 56; 2017: 32; 2018: 50; 2019: 67; 2020: 101; 2021: 171; 2022: 66; 2023: 31; 2024: 25; 2025: 21; 2026: 16
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 257 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10789134 · 2015-11-08 (November 8, 2015)
MY CAR REQUIRED 2 REPAIRS 5 WEEKS APART OF THE WIRING BUNDLE CONTROLLING THE FOG LIGHTS AND LOW OIL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A CRITTER CHEWING THE BUNDLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. I NOW HAVE BOUNCE LAUNDRY SHEETS STUFFED AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE DEALER; THEY SEE THIS OFTEN FROM CARS OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10789134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11058155 · 2018-01-02 (January 2, 2018)
CAR BATTERY DIES COLD WEATHER. NO WARNING. OBVIOUS DEFECT EITHER BATTERY OR ELECTRICAL DRAINAGE. I NOT ONLY OWNER WITH PROBLEM. ON LINE MANY COMPLAINTS WITH BATTERY DYING AND LEAVING ONE STRANDED COLD WEATHER. SUBARU AND DEALER KNOW OF DEFECT WILL NOT WARRANTY PROBLEM. TWICE STUCK WHEN CAR PARKED ON STREET AND GARAGE. WOULDN'T START.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11058155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809598 · 2015-12-11 (December 11, 2015)
DRIVING IN THE CENTER OF MY LANE ON A WET HIGHWAY. CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 65 MPH. LANE SWAY ON. THE CAR ACTED AS IF THE LANE SWAY ACTIVATED AND GAVE A STRONG STEERING WHEEL BUMP LIKE IT DOES IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO THE SIDE ROAD STRIPE. I WAS DEAD CENTER IN MY LANE, AND THERE WAS NO REASON FOR IT TO BUMP THE STEERING. IT DID THIS TO ME THREE TIMES WITHIN A TEN MILE DRIVE. AFTER THE THIRD TIME I TURNED THE LANE SWAY OFF AND WAS SOON DRIVING IN TOWN AND IT DID NOT DO IT AGAIN. MY WIFE SAYS SOMETIMES WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, THE CAR WILL PULL …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10861245 · 2016-04-25 (April 25, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED AND BRAKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED VARIOUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10861245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10853905 · 2016-04-06 (April 6, 2016)
STEERING WONDERING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, CAN'NT HOLD IN CENTER OF LANE. ON HIGHWAY OR STREET
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10853905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10851022 · 2016-03-22 (March 22, 2016)
STATIONARY VEHICLE ROLLS BACK SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN ON ANY INCLINE WHEN IN GEAR. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH ROLLS IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE DEALER SAID ALL VEHICLES ROLL WHEN IN GEAR. I HAVE OWNED 13 VEHICLES IN MY LIFE, THE ONLY VEHICLES THAT WOULD ROLL IN GEAR WERE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES WHICH IS WHY THE LAST 8 VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED HAVE BEEN AUTOMATIC. THE DEALER DENIED THIS WAS A PROBLEM BUT ON THE SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST THE PAST TWO ITERATIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST OCCASION THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 275 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10851106 · 2016-03-22 (March 22, 2016)
STATIONARY VEHICLE ROLLS BACK SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN ON ANY INCLINE WHEN IN GEAR. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH ROLLS IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE DEALER SAID ALL VEHICLES ROLL WHEN IN GEAR. I HAVE OWNED 13 VEHICLES IN MY LIFE, THE ONLY VEHICLES THAT WOULD ROLL IN GEAR WERE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES WHICH IS WHY THE LAST 8 VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED HAVE BEEN AUTOMATIC. THE DEALER DENIED THIS WAS A PROBLEM BUT ON THE SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST THE PAST TWO ITERATIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST OCCASION THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 275 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10937164 · 2016-12-22 (December 22, 2016)
THIS ISSUE IS A SAFETY ENHANCEMENT REQUEST AFFECTING TOP OF THE LINE SUBARU OUTBACK 2016 LIMITED/PREMIUM MODELS EQUIPPED WITH KEYLESS IGNITION SYSTEMS. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THAT REPORTED IN NHTSA ID NUMBER:10881286. ISSUE: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A DRIVER TO INADVERTENTLY TURN OFF THE ENGINE (WE ARE ONLY HUMAN) USING THE START/STOP BUTTON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, PARK OR NEUTRAL. IF VEHICLE IS ON A SLOPE, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS ON IT'S OWN. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS RISK OF GRAVE BODILY HARM TO PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10937164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11115595 · 2018-08-03 (August 3, 2018)
I HAD EXPERIENCED A SHUDDER, POP, REVVING RPMS OF THE VEHICLES BEFORE A SUDDEN POWER LOSS AT HIGHWAY SPEED (65MPH). I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND HAD LIMITED STEERING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY. THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED BY THE TIME I WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS THEN UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. A TOWING SERVICE WAS CALLED TO BRING IT TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. WITHIN AN HOUR TIME PERIOD THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY LOST ELECTRICAL POWER AND HAZARD LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THIS UNFORTUNATELY WAS LATE AT NIGHTT…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,042 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11432873 · 2021-09-14 (September 14, 2021)
I drove my car several miles to a ferry without any problems. I turned off the ignition and the car sat on the ferry for less than five minutes. When I tried to start the car, the battery was completely dead. The ferry driver had to return to the island side with just my car, which they pushed off the ferry. My husband came and jump started the battery. The car was driving very jerkily after that for about ten minutes. We immediately took the car to an independent service center technician, who tested the battery and said the battery was fine. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11432873 at NHTSA ↗