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: visibility/wiper
83 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Mar 18, 2019
CAR WAS STATIONARY AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN SEVERAL HOURS AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE TOP CENTER DOWN ABOUT SIX INCHES ACROSS BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FIELD OF VIEW. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE, MAJOR OR MINOR, FROM THE POINT WHERE THE CRACK APPEARED TO START FROM.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 16, 2019
PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE ONTO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN AT SUBARU OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE. 2016 OUTBACK 3.6R BULLETIN NUMBER: 12-192-15R; NHTSA ID:10093903; REVISED: 11/19/15 UPDATE BULLETIN NUMBER: 12-192-15R; NHTSA ID:10093903; REVISED: 03/06/17 ISSUE: SPONTANEOUS CRACKED WINDSHIELD HELLO, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MENTIONED VEHICLE, 2016 OUTBACK 3.6R EQUIPPED WITH THE ALL-WEATHER PACKAGE AND EYESIGHT. ON FEBRUARY 28, 2019 A SMALL VISIBLE RUNNING CRACK ONE INCH IN LENGTH APPEARED JUST IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD. WITH INSPECTION THE CRACK ACTUALLY STARTED AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IN THE DEICER/DEFROSTER AREA. SINCE THEN THE CRACKS HAVE INCREASED DAILY IN LENGTH AND IN NUMBER. ONE RUNNING CRACK HAS NOW SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE LOWER HALF OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE. ANOTHER VISIBLE RUNNING CRACK ONE INCH IN LENGTH NOW HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT TOO ORIGINATES FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IN THE DEICER/DEFROSTER AREA. UNDER VERY CLOSE PHOTO INSPECTION AT THE JUNCTIONS OF THESE MERGING CRACKS CHIPPING IS OCCURRING CAUSING ADDITIONAL SPIDERING CRACKS. I DID CONTACT MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MARCH 5, 2019.A SALESPERSON FILLED OUT AND I SIGNED AN INFORMATION FORM FOR REPORTING THIS ISSUE TO SUBARU AMERICA. I WAS NOT OFFERED AND DID NOT RECEIVE A COPY. HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM YET. THIS ISSUE AND REPAIR MENTIONED IN TSB ID: 12-192-15R NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE ATTACHED DETAILED PHOTOS AND MC-10093903-2280.PDF DOCUMENT. THIS SHOULD EXPEDITE THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 27, 2018
OUR WINDSHIELD HAS HAD 3 CHIPS/CRACKS IN IT SINCE NEW. THE FIRST ONE WAS A CHIP THAT WAS REPAIRED BY SAFELIGHT. THE SECOND WAS A CRACK/CHIP WHERE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED BY SAFELIGHT. BOTH OF THESE HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON-HIGHWAY. BOTH WERE IN DIFFERENT SPOTS, BUT WERE LOCATED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE THIRD ONE WAS A LARGE CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE WE NOTICED YESTERDAY (12/26/18) WITH NO APPARENT CHIP ASSOCIATED. WE'RE NOT SURE IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING OR STATIONARY. DATES FOR THE INITIAL CRACKS ARE ESTIMATES, BUT FIRST ONE WE ESTIMATE TO BE 8/2017. THE SECOND ONE WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED IS ESTIMATED MAY 2018. WE NOTICED OTHERS WERE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES AFTER DOING A SEARCH 12/26/18. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT SUBARU HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME 2015 AND 2016 MODELS, BUT OUR VEHICLE VIN DID NOT SHOW UP WHEN DOING A SEARCH.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 7, 2018
3 MONTHS AFTER GETTING MY OUTBACK THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT THE BASE AND WENT UP AND OVER. I REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AT A COST OF $500. MY WINDSHIELD RECENTLY CRACKED AGAIN AND WHEN I TAKE TO THEM AT THE SERVICE COUNTER THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY A WINDSHIELD EVERY YEAR FOR A BRAND NEW CAR. FOR A CAR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE 5+ STAR SAFETY RATED I SHOULD HAVE AN INTACT WINDSHIELD. THE CRACKS ALSO APPEARED OVERNIGHT. THEY WERE NOT THERE WHEN I PARKED THE CAR, BUT WHEN I GOT IN IT THE NEXT MORNING. ALSO - NO CHIPPING OR STARING WAS FOUND WHERE THE CRACK STARED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 20, 2018
SPONTANEOUS CRACKS ON WINDSHIELD AND THEIR EXTENSION DURING HOT, SUNNY DAY. FOR THE SAFETY ISSUE, IT HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 14, 2018
DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY IN A RURAL AREA AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING, NO OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND. I HEARD A SOUND LIKE A SMALL STICK BEING BROKEN. IT GOT MY ATTENTION AND I WONDERED WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT. ABOUT 10 MILES LATER I NOTICED A CRACK COMING UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE. IT DEVELOPED INTO 2 CIRCLE CRACKS IN MY VIEWING AREA. DEALER SAID IT WAS A OLD CHIPPED PLACE OR A NEW CHIP THAT CAUSES IT. NEVER NOTICE A CHIP BEFORE OR AFTER I HEARD THE SNAP.
Visibility/wiper, May 27, 2018
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE IN 16 MONTHS. THE 1ST CRACK HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH NO ONE AROUND ME- HEARD A POP AND HAD AN L SHAPED CRACK APPEARED ON MY WINDHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANYTHING. AFTER MUCH NEGOTIATION WITH THE DEALER (THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY WITH ABOUT 10,000 MILES), SUBURU REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. THE SECOND CRACK APPEARED WHILE STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE. I LITERALLY WATCHED AS AN L SHAPED CRACK APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THAT YET. I DID NOT REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS. THE CRACK HAS SINCE SPIDERED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. TO DATE, I HAVE RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION FROM SUBURU. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER FIGHT WITH SUBURU.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 10, 2018
SUDDEN 6" CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING ON THE LOWER EDGE UNDER THE WIPERS. I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR HOME FOR LUNCH AND BACK TO WORK AT 1:15PM AND THE CRACK WAS NOT THERE. WHEN I GOT OFF WORK AT 4PM THE CRACK WAS THERE. DROVE CAR HOME AND PUT IT IN THE GARAGE. THE NEXT MORNING AT 7AM THE CRACK WAS APPROXIMATELY 12" LONG RUNNING AT A DIAGONAL TOWARDS THE OUTER EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 19, 2017
ON NOVEMBER 18 WE WERE DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE 10 WHEN A CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF A ROCK HITTING ALTHOUGH WE CAN'T SAY DEFINITELY WHETHER IT DID OR DID NOT
Visibility/wiper, Sep 23, 2017
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY EARLY IN THE MORNING, NO OTHER CARS AROUND, HEARD A LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY A LARGE UPSIDE DOWN "L" CRACK COMING FROM THE BOTTOM.
Electrical system, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Sep 19, 2017
I HAD DIFFICULTY SEVERAL TIMES REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY, BUT THE CAR DIED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY GAVE ME THE LOCAL TOWING COMPANY. NAPLETON SUBARU KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, OR GO TOO FAR FROM HOME.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 8, 2017
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE FROM THE ROAD OR OTHER SOURCES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY DOZENS OF OWNERS OF SUBARU OUTBACKS, ESPECIALLY ONES WITH THE SUBARU EYESIGHT SAFETY SYSTEM, WHICH MY VEHICLE HAS.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 6, 2017
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A FISSURE OVER 2 FEET LONG WITH NO KNOWN (VISIBLE OR AUDIBLE IMPACT) I SIMPLY NOTICED IT AS I WAS DRIVING HOME AND IT WAS NOT THERE WHEN I LEFT HOME. IT STARTS IN THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE BLACK PORTION AND RUNS HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 19, 2017
FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM TOP OF DRIVER SIDE DOWN BOTH SIDES WHILE SITTING IN HOME DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS ON CLEAR, 90 DEGREE DAY. NO IMPACTS NOTED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MILES EARLIER IN THE DAY, AND NO CHIP IN WINDSHIELD AT APPARENT IMPACT POINT. NOTHING FELL ON THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY OR EXERTED PRESSURE ON THE GLASS.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 20, 2017
WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN OPEN ROAD GOING ABOUT 45MPH WITH NO TREES AND NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND US, OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED. I SAY EXPLODED BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN SHOT. IT WAS A VERY LOUD POP AND THEN WE WERE INSTANTLY COVERED IN GLASS. LIKE ALMOST THE ENTIRE SUNROOF WAS NOW IN PIECES AND INSIDE THE CAR. I ACTUALLY GOOGLED "EXPLODING SUNROOF" BECAUSE WE KNEW WE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. THERE ARE LITERALLY PAGES OF ACCOUNTS OF THIS HAPPENING AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS MANUFACTURERS LISTED AS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. ANYWAY, SUBARU DID REPLACE IT AND WE DID NOT HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE BUT WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF WE WERE GOING ANY FASTER. THE PREVAILING THEORY IS THAT IN ORDER THE SAVE WEIGHT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE FRAME OF THE SUNROOF ISN'T RIGID ENOUGH ALLOWING THE GLASS TO MOVE TOO MUCH WHICH CAUSES THE SPONTANEOUS EXPLOSION.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2017
WINDSHIELD CRACK APPEARED SUDDENLY ORIGINATING NEAR THE HEATING ELEMENT AT THE BOTTOM .DO NOT SEE ANY VISIBLE ROCK HIT MARKS . DEALERSHIP DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AND I HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED USING MY INSURANCE .
Visibility/wiper, Oct 12, 2016
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON I-684. THERE WAS NO OBJECT THAT HIT THE GLASS OR SOUND OF ANYTHING HITTING. JUST A CRACK ORIGINATING FROM THE DEICER AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND UP AND TO THE RIGHT THAT APPEARED SUDDENLY. THERE WAS NO ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE CAR WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE DEFROSTER WAS ON AT THE TIME.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 8, 2016
REAR VIEW MIRROR BROKE LOOSE FROM WINDSHIELD WHILE BEING ADJUSTED. VEHICLE STATIONARY, VEHICLE OFF, PREPARING TO DRIVE AFTER BEING PARKED DURING THE WORK DAY. A CHUNK OF GLASS REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE BASE OF THE MIRROR. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 600 MILES ON IT AND THE MIRROR HAD NOT BEEN SUBJECTED TO ANY ABNORMAL FORCES. BALL SOCKETS ON MIRROR SUPPORT SEEM VERY TIGHT.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 6, 2016
WINDSHIELD CRACK ON A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED WITH EYESIGHT, PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2016 AND CURRENTLY HAS 2,200 MILES ON IT. WENT TO RUN A QUICK ERRAND, DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. ON THE WAY HOME WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM, I NOTICED A 6" CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK RUNS FROM THE EDGE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE, ABOUT 1/3 UP FROM THE BOTTOM AND ABOUT 4' IN TOWARD THE CENTER. THE CRACK HAS GROWN TO ABOUT 18 INCHES OVERNIGHT. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF A SMALL CHIP IN THE GLASS, BUT NOTHING I WOULD EXPECT TO CAUSE A CRACK AND I DON'T RECALL ANYTHING IMPACTING THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK ONLY AFFECTS THE OUTER GLASS AND DOES NOT PROPAGATE THROUGH THE LAMINATION INTO THE INNER GLASS. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF DELAMINATION OF THE GLASS IN THE AREA ADJACENT TO THE CRACK. THIS IS A WIDE CRACK. I MEASURED 0.009" IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE CHIP DAMAGE ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE OF THE GLASS WITH A STARRETT MODEL 66 THICKNESS GAGE. IT SEEMS THE OUTER GLASS MAY BE SUBJECT TO TENSION IN THE "AS INSTALLED" CONDITION AS EVIDENCED BY THE OPENING OF THIS CRACK. THIS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE APPARENT DAMAGE INTOLERANCE OF THE WINDSHIELD. PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE AND MEASUREMENT ARE ATTACHED.
Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2016
SECOND WINDSHIELD CRACK IN 10 DAYS. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN THE RAIN, I TURNED ON THE FRONT DE-FOGGER. APPROX 20 SECONDS LATER THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE CENTER BOTTOM UP AND TOWARD THE DRIVERS SIDE. CRACK CURRENTLY EXTENDS UP ABOUT 8 INCHES. AS BEFORE, THERE WAS NO STRIKE THAT CAUSED THIS AND PAVEMENT WAS CLEAN AND SMOOTH. THIS WAS A NEW SUBARU BRANDED WINDSHIELD THAT WAS INSTALLED LITERALLY 4 DAYS AGO. GOING BACK IN TO THE SERVICE DEPT FOR REPAIR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2016
CAR HAD 2578 MILES ON IT. WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT WINDSHIELD CRACKED STARTING AT PASSENGER SIDE AND EXTENDING APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES TOWARD DRIVER SIDE. WENT IMMEDIATELY TO THE LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE DEPT AND THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO NO EVIDENCE OF A STRIKE CAUSING IT. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED WITH SUBARU BRANDED PART 6 DAYS LATER THROUGH SUBARU BUT BY THEN THE CRACK HAD GROWN TO APPROX. 18INCHS.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 25, 2016
VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW 2/25/2016. 1990 MILEAGE. CRACKS DEVELOPED WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH. NO SOUNDS OF STONES HITTING GLASS AT ANY TIME DURING DRIVE. STOPPED TO WASH WINDSHIELD AT GAS STOP. DID NOT NOTICE CRACKS UNTIL LATER IN DRIVE. AC WAS TURNED ON & OFF DURING DRIVE, IF THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE. DRIVEN 500 MILES IN MODESTLY WARM SUNNY WEATHER IN 8 HRS THAT DAY,4/24/2016. CRACK PROGRESSED TO DRIVERS LINE OF SITE WITHIN ONE HOURS TIME. WAS INFORMED BY SUBARU DEALER NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. REPAIR IS MY EXPENSE.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 9, 2016
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING AREA. THERE WAS A SMALL CHIP IN THE DEICER AREA WHERE THE CRACK BEGAN. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THE STRIKE WAS MINOR AND WOULD HAVE BEEN EASILY REPAIRED BEFORE SPREADING. ALREADY HAD ONE CHIP REPAIRED FOR ANOTHER MINOR STRIKE. WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE EXCESSIVELY FRAGILE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. DEALER IS WILLING TO REPAIR, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF GLASS BEING USED IN THE SUBARU.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 4, 2016
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHIN FIRST 150 MILES/48 HOURS OF OWNERSHIP OF THE NEW CAR. A VERY SMALL PIECE OF GRAVEL HIT THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER BLADE. IT BARELY MADE ANY NOISE. ON ANY OTHER CAR I'VE OWNED, IT LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD AT ALL. IT LEFT A STAR ON THE OUTBACK, WHICH TURNED INTO A FOOT LONG CRACK WITHIN 30 SECONDS. SITTING OVERNIGHT THE CRACK DOUBLED IN SIZE. A WINDSHIELD WHICH FAILS UNDER TYPICAL DAY-TO-DAY CONDITIONS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.