Car · Subaru problems

2016 Subaru Outback problems

643 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Subaru Outback. The most reported area is electrical system (48% of them). NHTSA also lists 225 service bulletins and 4 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 13. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 643 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Electrical system309 · 48%
• Other or unknown124 · 19%
• Visibility and wipers91 · 14%
• Engine and engine cooling55 · 9%
• Power train (transmission and drive)45 · 7%
• Steering24 · 4%
• Speed control and throttle22 · 3%
• Body and structure19 · 3%

14 smaller areas not shown (78 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 225 repair bulletins from Subaru for the 2016 Subaru Outback. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. 13-109-26Received October 5, 2026

   Paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.

2. 15-304-22RReceived October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.

3. 15-333-25RReceived October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   Illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.

4. 18-244-26Received October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   Additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit.

5. 15-308-23RReceived September 3, 2026

   Electrical system

   This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to...

6. 16-156-25RReceived September 3, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   A design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body.

7. 02-195-26Received July 1, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   The availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) for certain vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines.

8. 01-167-08RReceived June 1, 2026

   Additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Subaru Outback. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 16V292000May 11, 2016Do not drive notice

   Steering

   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.

2. 19V910000December 19, 2019

   Air bags

   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.

3. 15V794000November 24, 2015

   Power train

   Due to the improper tightening of the securing nuts, the drive shaft may separate from the rear differential.

See all 4 recalls for the 2016 Subaru Outback, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Outback will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Electrical system 309 complaints · 48%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Visibility and wipers 91 complaints · 14%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Engine and engine cooling 55 complaints · 9%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Power train (transmission and drive) 45 complaints · 7%

• Transmission fluid service$140 to $480
• Transmission solenoid replacement$290 to $1,200
• Torque converter replacement$880 to $2,475
• Clutch replacement (manual transmission)$1,000 to $2,050

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Look up this VIN

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2016 Subaru Outback: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 Subaru Outback?

Of the 643 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Subaru Outback, 309 (48%) name electrical system, and 91 (14%) name visibility and wipers. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2016 Subaru Outback reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 22 of the 643 complaints as involving a crash and 3 as involving a fire. They also reported 13 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Outback have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Subaru Outback. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 225 repair bulletins for the 2016 Subaru Outback.

More

• 2022 Outback problems
• 2021 Outback problems
• 2020 Outback problems
• 2019 Outback problems
• 2018 Outback problems
• 2017 Outback problems
• 2015 Outback problems
• 2014 Outback problems
• 2013 Outback problems
• 2012 Outback problems
• 2011 Outback problems
• 2010 Outback problems
• 2016 recalls
• All Subaru recalls
• Subaru problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.