2016 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 642 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 22 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleDec 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.
In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 19V910000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, columnDo not drive until repairedMay 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.
The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V292000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftNov 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 15V794000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftAug 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.
If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
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.
Campaign 15V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
309 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Apr 21, 2021
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. CAR WILL NOT START UNLESS CHARGED. BOUGHT NEW BATTERY IN FEBRUARY 2020. WORKED FOR A TIME, BUT CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN. KEEP GETTING BATTERY CHARGED TO RUN. HAVE HAD BATTERY CHECKED. IT IS GOOD AS IS ALTERNATOR. MUST CHARGE BATTERY EACH TIME I WANT TO DRIVE CAR. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 2020.
Electrical system, Apr 20, 2021
I PURCHASED MY 2016 OUTBACK SEPT 2019 FROM A DEALERSHIP WITH 38,000 MILES. THEY HAD REPLACED MY BATTERY ABOUT 4 MONTHS BEFORE I GOT IT. IT HAS A 30 MONTH FULL WARRANTY. THE BATTERY WENT COMPLETELY DEAD ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO.. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO JUMP ME. THE DRIVER INFORMED THAT THEY GET PLENTY OF CALLS FOR THE NEWER SUBARUS . I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO CHARGED ME FOR THE BATTERY AND SAID THEY DON'T HONOR THE WARRANTY ON A CAR THAT WAS SOLD AFTER THE BATTERY WAS INSTALLED. THEY ALSO DIDN'T MENTION THAT SUBARUS WERE HAVING ELECTRIC ISSUES. MY SON LOOKED IT UP AND INFORMED ME THAT SUBARUS THAT WERE DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCES, WHICH MINE IS, TEND TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM
Electrical system, Apr 19, 2021
THE CAR BATTERY HAS DIED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE BATTERY WAS FACTORY REPLACED IN 2019 BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS SINCE NEEDED TO BE JUMPED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. THERE IS ALSO CORROSION ON THE NEW BATTERY ALREADY. WHEN THE BATTERY HAS DIED IT'S EITHER BEEN PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY OR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SOMEWHERE NEEDING A JUMP WHEN IT WOULDN'T START.
Electrical system, Apr 18, 2021
WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY TWO TIMES. THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH ITS DESIGN THAT ALLOWS THE BATTERY TO DRAIN TO A COMPLETELY DEAD AND IRREVERSIBLE STATE EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR A MEANINGFUL PERIOD OF TIME EACH DAY. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN MAY, 2018 AND THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS APRIL, 2021.
Electrical system, Apr 18, 2021
IN EARLY JANUARY, OF 2018, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. WE HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP-STARTED. THIS CONTINUED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. ON 5/25/18 WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT ON 5/29/18 TO HAVE IT ASSESSED. THEY FOUND: ' BATTERY NOT FULLY CHARGED. FOUND SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR BATTERY CHARGING. PERFORMED SOFTWARE UPDATE.' THE PROBLEM CONTINUED...WE MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT ON 7/11/18, AND THEY GAVE US A RENTAL VEHICLE WHILE THEY HAD OURS, FOR 8 DAYS. THIS TIME: 'AFTER FINDING A PARASITIC DRAW, AND REPLACING A MODULE, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED'. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS BECOMING A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH SUBARU BATTERIES, BUT THAT SUBARU WASN'T WILLING TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AT THEIR COST. WE CONTINUED TO BE INCONVENIENCED, (STRANDED), UNTIL THE DEALERSHIP RELENTED, AND INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY.
Electrical system, Apr 18, 2021
BATTERY IS SUFFERING EXCESSIVE DRAIN. LAST REPLACED BATTERY FAILED WITHIN 2 YEARS.
Electrical system, Apr 17, 2021
THE BATTERY HAS A SLOW DRAIN ON IT. I END UP HAVING A DEAD BATTERY ABOUT EVERY 4-6 WEEKS AND NEED TO JUMP THE CAR. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY, AND STILL HAPPENS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 17, 2021
I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 4 TIMES SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN 2016. I CAN'T LET IT SIT MORE THAN 3 DAYS IF ITS COLD OUT OR THE BATTERY DIES. I HAVE TO JUMP THE BATTERIES QUITE FREQUENTLY. I CAN'T LET THE CAR SIT MORE THAN 7 DAYS IF IT IS WARM OUTSIDE. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL. I ASKED WHAT COULD BE CONSTANTLY DRAINING THE BATTERIES. I HAD THOUGHT THE CAR WAS A LEMMON WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT. THE BATTERY PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR.
Electrical system, Apr 17, 2021
THE CAR WILL BE DRIVEN NORMALLY AND THEN WHEN YOU GO TO START IT THE BATTERY IS DEAD. THIS HAS OCCURRED AFTER MULTIPLE YEARS AND MULTIPLE TIMES THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO LOOK FOR A PROBLEM SINCE THEY SAY IT IS MY FAULT. I HAVE OPENED A CASE WITH SUBARU IN THE PAST BUT NOW THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO THE LATEST EMAIL CONTACT. DATE BELOW IS DATE I LAST CONTACTED SUBARU.
Electrical system, Apr 16, 2021
MY BATTERY KEEPS GOING OUT. I REPLACED A NEW BATTERY AND IT STILL DIES. I TOOK THE NEW BATTERY BACK TO THE RETAILER WHO TESTED THE NEW BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS STILL GOOD. HOWEVER, MY BATTERY STILL GOES OUT 3-4 TIMES A WEEK AND NOW I HAVE TO BUY A PORTABLE BATTERY BOOSTER TO START UP THE CAR ON A ROUTINE BASIS.
Electrical system, Apr 16, 2021
BATTERY WOULD NOT RECHARGE DURING SHORT, FREQUENT TRIPS. BATTERY WOULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. REPLACED.
Electrical system, Apr 16, 2021
MY CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHICH CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. IF I DON'T DRIVE MY CAR FOR A FEW DAYS, SOMETIMES IT WON'T START WITHOUT GETTING JUMPED OR CHARGING THE BATTERY DIRECTLY. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE WORKING FINE. IT'S JUST WHEN STARTING THE CAR. MY ISSUES SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE DOCUMENTED IN A CURRENT LAWSUIT AGAINST SUBARU FOR DRAINED BATTERY.
Electrical system, Wheels, Apr 15, 2021
THIS VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD. THE FIRST BATTERY LASTED 4 YEARS. THE SECOND BATTERY WAS DEAD IN 10 MONTHS. NOW WE WILL TRY A THIRD. IN LOOKING UP OTHER DRIVERS COMMENTS, THIS IS A KNOWN PRODUCT PROBLEM. THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT ABOUT THIS, BUT IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO A KNOW TIRE WEARING PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THOSE, 3 TIMES. I HAVE 92000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELIN TWICE. GOOD FOR 60,000. LUCKY TO GET 30,000 ON THEM. TWICE NOW BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY, I HAVE BEEN STRANDED. THIS LAST TIME, I WAS AT MY VACATION HOME, ONLY ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE AREA. LUCKILY THEY HAD JUMPER CABLES, AND JUMPED THE CAR AND FOLLOWED ME TO THE AUTO STORE. THE FIRST TIME I MISSED WORK, AND HAD TO WAIT TILL MY HUSBAND CAME HOME TO GIVE MY CAR A JUMP. BOTH TIMES, THE CAR WAS SITTING OVERNIGHT.
Electrical system, Apr 13, 2021
KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION CYLINDER INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR SUBARU UNDER THEIR OWN TSB 16-112-18R.
Electrical system, Apr 13, 2021
ALMOST NEW BATTERY FAILED. HAD REPLACED PREVIOUS BATTERY ON SEPT 15, 2020 WITH INTERSTATE BATTERY, AND ON APR. 13, 2021 IN THE MORNING THE BATTERY WAS FOUND DISCHARGED DESPITE NOTHING BEING ON IN CAR OVERNIGHT. THE RED TERMINAL IS CORRODED.
Electrical system, Apr 12, 2021
BATTERY DRAIN TO ZERO, I CAN'T START THE ENGINE, BATTERY WAS REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOW AGAIN I DO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I TRY TO CHARGE THE BATTERY IT SHOWS 100% CHARGED, BUT FOR SOME REASON, I CAN'T START THE ENGINE, SEEMS LIKE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH BATTER TO START IT.
Electrical system, Apr 2, 2021
DEAD BATTERY WITHIN FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, AT 75,000 MILES NOW AND THIRD BATTERY HAS NOW FAILED. UNSAFE.
Electrical system, Apr 1, 2021
I HAVE HAD >10 EVENTS OF DEAD BATTERY NEEDING CHARGED OR JUMPED. I ALMOST MISSED MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING DUE TO THIS INCONVENIENCE. I HAD MY BATTERY TESTED AND FOUND IN GOOD OPERATION. I FINALLY REPLACED MY BATTERY AND IN LESS THAN A MONTH I HAD ANOTHER INCONVENIENCE 10 MINUTES BEFORE I NEEDED TO LEAVE FOR A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. THE BATTERY WAS UNABLE TO BE JUMPED AND I HAD TO SCRAMBLE TO FIND A RIDE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 30, 2021
THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND IT WAS ABOVE FREEZING. NONE OF THE LIGHTS HAD BEEN LEFT ON/DOORS OPEN... THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE A FOB KEPT TOO CLOSE... THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WE'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S A BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ELECTRICAL ISSUE OR WHAT. WE'VE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. IT FIRST HAPPENED WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2017 IN THE SUMMER TIME, AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN USE.
Electrical system, Mar 28, 2021
I PURCHASED MY OUTBACK AS A NEW CAR. I ORDERED IT. I PICKED IT UP IN AUGUST OF 2015. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY 6-7 BATTERIES. MY MOST CURRENT REPLACEMENT WAS TODAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THROUGH MANY BATTERY REPLACEMENTS, IT IS THE CLIMATE WHERE I LIVE, A FAULTY BATTERY, AND POSSIBLY OTHER THINGS. TODAY I MENTIONED TO THE SUBARU SERVICE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENED WITH MY OTHER CARS (I'VE HAD THREE OTHERS.) THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE, BUT I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND VERIFY. I'D HAD TO CALL AAA WHILE IN BLYTHE JUST TO GET TO AN AUTO ZONE FOR A BATTERY BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SUBARU DEALERS IN THE AREA. I HAVE HAD TO GET 1-2 AT A LOCAL GOOD YEAR BECAUSE MY LOCAL SUBARU IS ABOUT A 25-30 MINUTE DRIVE AND DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GET THERE...AND NEEDED A BATTERY. TODAY I ASKED HOW MANY I HAVE GOTTEN WHILE AT SUBARU. WE COUNTED ABOUT FOUR. A FEW DAYS AGO I TRIED STARTING MY CAR AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO START IMMEDIATELY. (I THINK THE LAST TIME I WAS AT SUBARU THEY SAID IT WAS FINE.) THIS BATTERY LASTED THE LONGEST, ABOUT A YEAR. I'VE HAD SOME LAST LESS THAN THAT. I EVEN BOUGHT A FARADAY POUCH TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP. I'M WRITING THIS LATE AT NIGHT WHILE ALL IS IN MY MIND. SO I DON'T HAVE TODAY'S PAPERWORK ON ME, AND I DIDN'T HAPPEN TO GET THE DATES THE MAN AT SUBARU GAVE ME OF WHEN THEY PUT IN A BATTERY. I KNOW THE DESERT HEAT CAN BE HARSH, BUT 6-7 BATTERIES IS UNREASONABLE AND NOT SAFE.
Electrical system, Mar 18, 2021
I PURCHASED OUR OUTBACK NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP IN PENNSYLVANIA IN MARCH, 2016. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE HAD THE OME AND TWO REPLACEMENT BATTERIES FAIL AND WE ARE NOW ON OUR 4TH BATTERY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY REASON THE BATTERIES MAY HAVE FAILED. WE HAD OUR VERY EXPERIENCED SUBARU MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND HE COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE. THE CAR IS MOSTLY DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAS 133,000 MILES ON IT.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 18, 2021
BATTERY DRAINS AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR A FEW DAYS. I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED LAST YEAR, AND HAD THE NEW BATTERY CHECKED RECENTLY AT THE DEALER. THEY (DEALER) SAID IT WAS FINE AND SAW NO PARASITIC DRAIN. THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD DRIVE THE CAR EVERY DAY TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED, WHICH I FIND TO BE VERY ODD AND EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT. I ALSO OWN A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT AND DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE IT EVERY DAY TO KEEP THE BATTERY HEALTHY. THE CAR SAT FOR ONE WEEK RECENTLY AND THE BATTERY DRAINED AGAIN. I JUMPED IT YESTERDAY IT AND DROVE IT FOR 30 MINUTES AND TODAY THE BATTERY IS DEAD AGAIN.
Electrical system, Mar 17, 2021
BATTERY DYING AFTER SHORT DRIVE
Electrical system, Mar 16, 2021
CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GET STALLED WITHOUT ANY REASON AFTER PARKING CAR FOR SOME MINUTES. NOTHING WORKS. I NEEDED TO CALL AAA OR FRIEND FOR HELP (BATTERY JUMP). IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. SOMETIMES, WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION, POWER TO WINDOWS HAS FAILED. HOWEVER, COMES BACK AT RANDOM TIMES. I HAVE CHANGED BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES BUT IT DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS.
Electrical system, Mar 16, 2021
BATTERY DOES NOT HOLD A CHARGE. DRAINS IN A DAY JUST SITTING IN MY GARAGE. CAN'T GO ANYWHERE FOR FEAR IT WILL NOT START. PROBLEM SEEMS ELECTRICAL MORE THAN THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY TESTED GOOD AT THE DEALER.