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: structure
19 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Engine, Apr 9, 2024
Car exhaust inside the vehicle when driving at low speeds, idling, or parked into the cab of the vehicle. Only way to stop the exhaust fumes is to use the recirculate interior air. Rear hatch hydraulics are failing, hatch will not open completely and partially shuts when opened. When driving very loud squeaking from vehicle.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Aug 31, 2022
The rear passenger side child lock will not disengage. The child lock is engaged when the dog is in the back seat and disengaged otherwise. The lock was engaged once and will not disengage. If adults are riding in the back seat and there is an emergency, they are limited to the driver's side to exit. If the driver's side child lock mechanism fails, they will be forced to rely on someone to open the door from the outside. I feel this is a massive safety concern and could be potentially dangerous.
Structure, Nov 3, 2021
Our vehicle has factory-installed child safety locks incorporated into the rear passenger doors. The safety lock on the rear passenger-side has failed in the "engaged" position, and cannot be disengaged using the small black switch in the door. Consequently, the only way the door can be opened is by using the outside handle. We see this as a serious safety issue, since in an emergency egress situation, the only way a passenger in the right rear seat can exit the vehicle is if someone opens the door from the outside. Looking on online forums, there are many incidents of this same problem. However, Subaru has not chosen to correct this problem for cars that are outside of vehicle warranty.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Apr 23, 2021
2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. A FOUR-INCH WAVY CRACK ON THE LEFT BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD; A WEEK LATER ANOTHER CRACK OF ABOUT 6 INCHES APPEARED. THE CRACKS OCCURRED WITH THE SUBARU CAR IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY.
Structure, Nov 8, 2020
WE HAD A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH OUR CHILD A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND HAD TO SET THE CHILD LOCK ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR (PASSENGER SIDE). THE CHILD LOCK DOES NOT UNDO NOW. AFTER AN INTERNET SEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM/DEFECT FOR MANY OWNERS, ESPECIALLY AFTER SETTING THE CHILD LOCKS FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE NOW AT ALL AND WE DON'T NEED THE CHILD LOCKS ACTIVATED. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR OUR KIDS WHO ARE TEENAGERS TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2020
SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE ON 6/16/2016 WE HAVE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW ENGAGING THE AUTO-REVERSING (ANTI-ENTRAPMENT) FEATURE CAUSING AN INABILITY TO CLOSE WINDOW. WE HAVE MENTIONED THIS ISSUE TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES SOMETIMES DOCUMENTED, SOMETIMES NOT. THEY RESET SWITCH, ONLY FOR THE PROBLEM TO RETURN. ON OUR LAST VISIT6/31/2020 WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS A TSB (12-272-19R) BUT WE WOULD BE CHARGED $276.22 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED. WE ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR $2547.00 GOOD UNTIL 6/16/2026 OR 126000 MILES AND WERE TURNED DOWN ON COVERAGE FROM THEM AS WELL.
Structure, Feb 19, 2020
HOOD UNLATCHES UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAS PROBABLY OCCURED A HALF DOZED TIMES OR SO IN THE LAST YEAR. JUST YESTERDAY DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IT UNLATCHED. FORTUNATELY THE SAFETY LATCH DIDN'T RELEASE, BUT THAT COULD CERTAINLY HAPPEN ESPECIALLY WITH THE WIND PRESSURE FROM DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS.
Structure, Sep 4, 2019
WHILE STATIONARY, MY DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CHILD SAFETY LOCK SWITCH ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE DOOR WAS ENGAGED. TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK; HOWEVER, THE SWITCH WAS SEIZED IN THE ENGAGED POSITION. CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO THE ONLY SUBARU DEALER IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA. THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 36,000 MILES AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEY SAID IT WAS A CORROSION ISSUE CAUSED BY LACK OF USE; THEREFORE, IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. WE HAVE NEVER USED THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 1, 2019, crash
I HAD AN ACCIDENT @ 5PM-ENTERING A BUSY ROAD FROM A DRIVEWAY-HIT THE SIDE DOOR OF A CAR RACING LEFTTORIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. MY FAULT OF COURSE. I HEARD NO BEEP WARNING FROM THE SO-CALLED COLLISION MITIGATION SYSEM (?), NOR DID I FEEL ANY BRAKING. SUBSEQUENTLY I TESTED THIS FEATURE IN MY DRIVEWAY WHERE I SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR FORWARD TOWARD MY LARGE GARAGE, I WOULD HAVE HIT THE GARAGE-NO BEEP-NO BRAKING. THEN, IN A SNOW STORM, I HAD TO BRAKE SOASTO NOT HIT A LARGE TRUCK SKIDDING IN FRONT OF ME. I MISSED HITTING HIM BY INCHES. AGAIN, I HEARD NO BEEP AND FELT NO BRAKING. DEALER TESTED THIS FEATURE ON MY CAR BY LETTING IT GO TOWARDS BRUSHES IN A CARWASH, I HEARD BEEP WARNING, BUT AGAIN FELT NO BRAKING. DEALER SAID SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY. AND SO-I CONCLUDE THAT WHENEVER I HEAR ANY KIND OF WARNING BEEO, I SHOULD MANUALLY AND QUICKLY 'HIT THE BRAKES', NO MATTER WHAT. AFTER ALL, I HAVE TO KEEP MY EYES ON THE ROAD FOR GOD'S SAKE. I AM NOT HAPPY.
Structure, Jul 4, 2018
DROVE ON FREEWAY ABOUT 65 MPH PASSED BY THE BIG TRUCK SUDDENLY EXPLODED SUNROOF. NOBODY IN FRONT OF ME AND IT JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, May 6, 2018
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. I HAVE DASHCAM FOOTAGE SHOWING BEFORE AND AFTER THE FORMATION OF THE CRACK. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OF ANY OBJECT TO CAUSE THE CRACK OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
Structure, Nov 10, 2017
DURING A 75 MPH DRIVE ON AN INTERSTATE HWY THE MOONROOF EXPLODED. DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES WE COULD NOT VISIT A DEALER AND WERE COMPELLED TO TAPE A TEMPORARY COVER TO THE VEHICLE TO LIMIT WIND NOISE. LATER IN THE TRIP RAIN OCCURRED, WHICH LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE DAMAGING THE INTERIOR.
Structure, Oct 30, 2017
ON 09/19/2017 I HAVE BROUGHT OUR VEHICLE TO LITHIA RENO SUBARU FOR SERVICE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR PANEL. WHEN THE DOOR HANDLE WAS PULLED ON WHILE CLOSING THE DOOR, THE DOOR PANEL PULLED IN EXCESSIVELY. LITHIA RENO SUBARU DETERMINED THAT THREE SCREWS WERE MISSING ON INNER DOOR PANEL. I BELIEVE THIS DEFECT EXISTED FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST ASSEMBLED AT THE FACTORY. THIS DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURER WARRANTY.
Air bags, Structure, Apr 8, 2017, crash
HIT DEER WITH RIGHT FRONT FENDER AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A DRY, STRAIGHT HWY. IMPACT WAS MINOR, SHEET METAL DAMAGE ONLY,NO FLUID LOSS OR SUSPENSION SYSTEM DAMAGE BUT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY, MUCH SMOKE. SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEFLATE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO EXIT VEHICLE. AIRBAG IMPACT ON LEFT EAR HAS DAMAGED HEARING, PROBABLY PERMANENTLY. CLEARWATER COUNTY IDAHO SHERIFFS OFFICE CASE NUMBER P2017-00350.
Structure, Mar 4, 2017
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CRACKED-OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION (DOOR WAS CAUGHT BY LATCH, PREVENTING IT FROM SWINGING OPEN FULLY). ISSUE FIRST OCCURRED AT AROUND 4000MI IN EARLY OCTOBER 2016 WHEN TRAVELING ON I278 EASTBOUND AT 50MPH. DRIVER THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS STUCK IN DOORJAMB. ISSUE REOCCURRED AT 4500MI IN MID OCTOBER 2016 ON RT17 SOUTHBOUND WITH 4 PEOPLE IN TOW, TRAVELING AT 65MPH. LOCAL SERVICE CENTER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE TWO OCCURRENCES AT 4573MI ON 22 OCT. 16. DOOR LATCH MECHANISM WAS INSPECTED AND DETERMINED WORKING AS DESIGNED. ISSUE REOCCURRED 500MI AFTER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM WAS LAST INSPECTED ON I278 WESTBOUND, TRAVELING AT 20MPH. ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED AT 5071MI ON 15 NOV. 16. DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AND NO ISSUE ENCOUNTERED SINCE REPAIR. OBSERVED CONDITIONS AT TIME OF DOOR LATCH FAILURE WERE: HUMID, 60-74F TEMPERATURES, SMOOTH ROADS, NO POTHOLES, VEHICLE WAS TURNING TWICE LEFT AND ONCE RIGHT.
Structure, Feb 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR DOORS FAILED TO OPEN AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ICE WOULD BUILD UP, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,029....UPDATED 03/29/17 *BF ...UPDATED 04/20/17 *BF *CN
Structure, Nov 5, 2016
FRONT WINDSHIELD CONTINUES TO CRACK CAUSING STRUCTURAL DEFECT IN VEHICLE. RECALL SUBARU 12-192-15R EXTENDED WARRANTY ONE TIME. WINDOW REPLACEMENT HAS CRACKED A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES IN 18,000 MILES. FRONT WINDOW CRACKED 4 TIMES WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING WITH NO APPARENT OBJECT BEING HIT. FRONT WINDOW CRACKED 2 TIMES WHILE BEING PARKED. REPEATED ISSUES NOTED IN WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG FOR MODEL YEARS 15, 16, AND 17.
Structure, Jul 16, 2016
TOOK DELIVERY OF OUR CAR IN THE RAIN - DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE IT WAITING IN A SHOWROOM - SO DIDN'T NOTICE SCRATCH ON BOTH SIDES (IT IS BLACK) TIL GOT IT HOME AND CLEANED IT UP. DEALERSHIP ON RECHECK BUFFED OUT THE WHOLE CAR - STILL THERE - DISAPPOINTED - A LOT OF MONEY FOR A VEHICLE TO HAVE SUCH AN ELEMENTARY TROUBLE.
Structure, Apr 20, 2016
AT 9AM ON APRIL 20, 2016, I WALKED PAST THE FRONT OF MY OUTBACK, PARKED WITH THE IGNITION OFF, IN MY GARAGE. THE REAR TAILGATE SUDDENLY BEEPED AND OPENED FULLY. I HAD NO KEY FOB OPENERS ON MY PERSON NOR WERE ANY OF MY TWO KEY FOBS WITHIN 20 FEET OF THE CAR AT THE TIME. ALL DOORS HAD BEEN IN A CLOSED POSITION, INCLUDING THE TAILGATE, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT LOCKED AT THE TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT COULD HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, OR IF IT OPENED WHILE PARKED UNDER A LOW CEILING OR OVERHEAD, OF IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN IN A PUBLIC SPACE WHERE AN INTRUDER WOULD THEN BE TEMPTED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE IN HOPES OF STEALING IT OR TO LIE IN WAIT FOR THE OPERATOR.