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2016 Subaru OUTBACK: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues25740.0%
Braking behavior497.6%
Steering behavior375.8%
Transmission and shifting355.4%
Engine operation81.2%
Fuel system concerns10.2%

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.

Electrical System
302
Unknown Or Other
124
Visibility/Wiper
83
Engine
53
Power Train
42
Steering
24
Vehicle Speed Control
21
Service Brakes
19
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System302
Unknown Or Other124
Visibility/Wiper83
Engine53
Power Train42
Steering24
Vehicle Speed Control21
Service Brakes19

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000129
25,000 to 49,999109
50,000 to 74,99974
75,000 to 99,99920
100,000 to 149,99915
150,000 and above3

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.

2015
7
2016
56
2017
32
2018
50
2019
67
2020
101
2021
171
2022
66
2023
31
2024
25
2025
21
2026
16
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20157
201656
201732
201850
201967
2020101
2021171
202266
202331
202425
202521
202616

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10760241 · 2015-08-31 (August 31, 2015)

I JUST PURCHASED A 2016 OB 2.5I PREMIUM. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND A HALF. ON FRIDAY I DECIDED TO WASH MY CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. I STARTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, RAISED THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER, WENT AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND RAISED THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER. I THEN WASHED AROUND THE CAR. WHEN I WENT TO PUT THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER DOWN IT HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER AND SLAPPED IT DOWN ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. AN HOUR LATER I NOTICED A CRACK COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DID THE "PEN TEST" AND FOUND A SMALL DEPRESSION UNDER THE WI…

Owner-reported narrative. 225 miles reported. Look up ODI 10760241 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10781227 · 2015-10-10 (October 10, 2015)

NON COLLISION OR OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. A CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO OWNER WEBSITE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF WHICH SUBARU IS AWARE FOR THE 2015 AND 2016 MODEL YEARS. THEY OCCASIONALLY COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING THEY DO SO AS A "COURTESY" CAR WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN GARAGE ENGINE OFF. WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED

Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10781227 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10787018 · 2015-10-29 (October 29, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112.

Owner-reported narrative. 112 miles reported. Look up ODI 10787018 at NHTSA ↗

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 10790669 · 2015-11-16 (November 16, 2015)

I WAS IN A STORE PARKING LOT. I DROVE APPROX. 2 BLOCKS AND CAME TO A FULL STOP WHERE THERE WAS A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING. I ACCELERATED MAKING A LEFT TURN AND BEGAN CLIMBING A SMALL HILL TO EXIT THE PARKING AREA. I TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET AND MY CAR LOST ACCELERATION. I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND PRESSED IT DOWN APPROX. 50 PERCENT. WHILE DOING SO, I DID NOT HEAR THE ENGINE RACING. THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERED 2 MILES PER HOUR. I BRAKED, CAME TO A FULL STOP AND TOOK MY CAR OUT OF GEAR. I MOVED IT BACK TO DRIVE AND THE CAR RES…

Owner-reported narrative. 560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10790669 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10794654 · 2015-11-18 (November 18, 2015)

I JUST PICKED UP AND DROVE HOME. THE DRIVER MIRROR ALWAYS DETECTED - EVERY TIME. THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT ALWAYS DETECT , MAYBE MISSING 20-25%,EVEN SOME LARGE TRUCKS, I DID BRING BACK TO DEALER TWICE BUT THEY SAID CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THAT MADE ME NERVOUS IN THAT "THE TECHNOLOGY MIGHT LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT ,NOW THE CAR WAS 3200 MILES AND NOT WORK AT ALL WHEN I DROVE FROM MY HOUSE TO WORK THIS MORNING FROM RENTON TO REDMOND ON 405 WITH AVERAGE 50 MILE PER HOURS

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794654 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 10817540 · 2016-01-04 (January 4, 2016)

2016 SUBARU OUTBACK WHILE DRIVING CAR ON I-95 , NOTICED 4-4 IN. CRACK IN LOWER DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD ,AFTER INVESTIGATING NOTICED SMALL PIT SIZE OF PENCIL POINT WHERE THE CRACK STARTED. CRACK KEPT GROWING. NEXT DAY CONTINUED MY TRIP ON I-95 , ABOUT 3 HRS LATER ANOTHER CRACK APPEARED IN THE UPPER CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD , AFTER INVESTIGATING NOTICED SMALL PIT THE SIZE OF PENCIL POINT WHERE THE CRACK STARTED. SAME AS FIRST CRACK I DID NOT NOTICE ANY DEBRIS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD . I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR IN…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10817540 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

15V502000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft

Reported: 2015-08-10 (August 10, 2015)

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.

Consequence: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V794000 · Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft

Reported: 2015-11-24 (November 24, 2015)

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.

Consequence: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V292000 · Steering:Column

Reported: 2016-05-11 (May 11, 2016)

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.

Consequence: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V910000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module

Reported: 2019-12-19 (December 19, 2019)

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.

Consequence: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗