Is the 2016 Subaru Outback a bad year?
643 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Outback years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2016 Subaru Outback are in line with other Outback years. Electrical system and visibility and wipers stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Outback owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 40,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 309 (48%) | 27k–60k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 91 (14%) | 5k–51k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 55 (9%) | 12k–65k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 44 (7%) | 15k–61k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 19 (3%) | 3k–42k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 19 (3%) | 9k–42k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel system | 13 (2%) | 3k–46k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 24 (4%) | 1k–28k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 22 (3%) | 3k–36k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 40,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 643 complaints: 22 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 14 say the car was towed.
20 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Key sticks in the ignition and will not come out. The failing park position switch did not allow the key to be turned to the fully off position for key removal.
My 2016 Subaru outback 3.6 limited has 64,000 miles on it. Recently I noticed an unfamiliar noise. When I brought it to a mechanic he said it needed a wheel bearing and the wheel was about to fall off.
Complete draining of battery just sitting there for no reason... We see this is an enormous problem with outbacks, and we have one with great problems leaving us stranded !
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 40,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Subaru Outback: 4
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. In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
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. The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Due to the improper tightening of the securing nuts, the drive shaft may separate from the rear differential. 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.
Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke. If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Subaru: 244
Repair instructions Subaru sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Subaru Outback. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Diagnostic procedures along with availability of new Engine Control Module (ECM) reprogramming files to address DTC P2404…
Step-by-step diagnostic procedure for resolving Remote Engine Start (RES) failures for both Telematics and remote engine start equipped vehicles
Diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs B1571(REFERENCE CODE INCOMPATIBILITY IMMOBILIZER CM TO ECM) and B1572(IMM CIRCUIT EXCEPT ANTENNA CIRCUIT)…
Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis)
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2015 Outback: 510 complaints, keep it · 2017 Outback: 921 complaints, keep it.
Every Subaru Outback year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Outback years side by side
Other Subaru models: Subaru Ascent · Subaru Crosstrek · Subaru Forester · Subaru Impreza · Subaru Legacy · Subaru WRX · Subaru XV Crosstrek. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Subaru Outback a bad year?
643 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Outback years. At 40,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Outback?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (309), visibility and wipers (91), engine (55), transmission and drivetrain (44), body structure (19).
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Outback have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-910), Steering (NHTSA 16V-292), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 15V-794), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 15V-502). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.