2016 Subaru Legacy problems and recalls

Owners have filed 146 complaints on the 2016 Subaru Legacy, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (51 complaints).

146
Complaints
3
Recalls
9
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
3
Injuries
49.2
Severity index

Severity index 49.2 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 49.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 102 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 28% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 51 complaints (34.9%)51 35%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 41 complaints (28.1%)41 28%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 17 complaints (11.6%)17 12%SteeringSteering: 16 complaints (11.0%)16 11%Power TrainPower Train: 13 complaints (8.9%)13 9%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 9 complaints (6.2%)9 6%Service BrakesService Brakes: 8 complaints (5.5%)8 5%EngineEngine: 7 complaints (4.8%)7 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5134.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4128.1%
VISIBILITY/WIPER1711.6%
STEERING1611.0%
POWER TRAIN138.9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL96.2%
SERVICE BRAKES85.5%
ENGINE74.8%

Complaints filed per year

014272015: 32016: 112017: 152018: 82019: 192020: 202021: 272022: 152023: 122024: 42025: 82026: 4 (partial year)15161718192021272223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20153
201611
201715
20188
201919
202020
202127
202215
202312
20244
20258
2026 (year to date)4
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (24 against 62).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
15V79400024/11/2015POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTSubaru 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 sha
16V29200011/05/2016STEERING:COLUMNSubaru 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
15V50200010/08/2015POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTSubaru 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.

Other Subaru Legacy model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 12 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-04. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.