2016 Subaru Outback problems and recalls

48% of owner complaints on the 2016 Subaru Outback related to the Electrical System (309 of 642).

642
Complaints
4
Recalls
22
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
13
Injuries
36.5
Severity index

Severity index 36.5 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 36.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 122 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 13% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 309 complaints (48.1%)309 48%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 124 complaints (19.3%)124 19%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 83 complaints (12.9%)83 13%EngineEngine: 52 complaints (8.1%)52 8%Power TrainPower Train: 45 complaints (7.0%)45 7%SteeringSteering: 24 complaints (3.7%)24 4%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 22 complaints (3.4%)22 3%StructureStructure: 19 complaints (3.0%)19 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30948.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER12419.3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER8312.9%
ENGINE528.1%
POWER TRAIN457.0%
STEERING243.7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL223.4%
STRUCTURE193.0%

Complaints filed per year

0901802015: 72016: 562017: 322018: 502019: 672020: 1012021: 1712022: 662023: 312024: 242025: 212026: 16 (partial year)151617181920211712223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20157
201656
201732
201850
201967
2020101
2021171
202266
202331
202424
202521
2026 (year to date)16
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.2x those in 2020 to 2022 (76 against 338).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V91000019/12/2019AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULESubaru 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.
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.
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

Other Subaru Outback model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-27. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.