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
642 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Feb 26, 2021
I BELIEVE I AM EXPERIENCING BATTERY DRAIN DUE TO SOME FLAW IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I'M ON MY 2ND. BATTERY AND JUST FOUND I COULDN'T START CAR AND NEEDED A JUMP.
Electrical system, Feb 20, 2021
THE CAR BATTERY STARTED DYING FREQUENTLY. IT WAS REPLACED TWICE, FUNCTIONED FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS, AND THEN DIED AGAIN. IT WAS JUMPED ONE DAY, DIED AGAIN 4 DAYS LATER, JUMPED AGAIN AND WAS DEAD AGAIN 5 HOURS LATER.
Electrical system, Feb 17, 2021
OUR SUBARU OUTBACK ORIGINALLY DIED AFTER MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE CAR LISTENING TO THE RADIO FOR 10 MINUTES. THE DEALER STATED THAT LISTENING TO THE RADIO WAS THE CAUSE AND CHARGED UP THE BATTERY. COUPLE WEEKS LATER AND THE CAR DIES AGAIN THIS TIME JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. WE INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY IN HOPES THE PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED. THE CAR HAS DIED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THE NEW BATTERY FROM SIMPLY SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. NO INTERIOR LIGHTS LEFT ON AND POWER LIGHT GATE CLOSED. AGAIN THE DEALER CHARGED THE BATTERY AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. WE CANNOT LEAVE THIS CAR SITTING ONE DAY WITHOUT THE BATTERY DRAINING. WE ARE NOW ON BATTERY NUMBER TWO.
Electrical system, Feb 17, 2021
BATTERY DRAINS CONSTANTLY. CAR CANNOT SIT FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS WITHOUT BATTERY BEING DEAD. SUBARU DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. CAR NEEDS TO BE DRIVEN 20 TO 30 MILES EVERY DAY AS A SOLUTION? PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MONTHS AND BATTERY IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD.
Other or unspecified, Feb 16, 2021
THE IGNITION KEY DOESN'T COME OUT WHEN IN PARK. THE GEARS CAN MANUALLY SLIP WHILE IN PARK (WHILE MOVING THE GEAR SHAFT). IT'S LIKE THE CAR DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE GEAR 'PARK', WHILE ALSO THE KEY GETS STUCK AND WILL NOT COME OUT. THIS HAPPENS NUMEROUS TIMES A DAY.
Power train, Engine, Feb 16, 2021
2.12 FEBRUARY 2021, VEHICLE MILAGE APPROACHING 42,000. TRAVELING FROM MAZAMA WA TO SEATTLE VIA WA HWY 20, US 97 AND I-90, TRAVELED +/- 200 MILES. TEMPERATURE RANGES FROM 10F TO 20F. TRAVELING WEST ON I-90 +/-50 MPH, LANES CLEAR, SNOW IN BETWEEN LANES. NEW MICHELIN TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS. HOLDING THE SPEED CONSTANT FOLLOWING 18-WHEEL RIG. SUBARU STARTED WOBBLING AS IF ONE OF THE TIRES WAS GOING FLAT. TRIED ACCELERATING AND SLOWING TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS FRONT OR BACK TIRE. DETERMINED IT MUST BE A REAR TIRE. NO LOW-PRESSURE INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT GAGES (I HAVE HAD TIRE WARNING DURING SUMMER DRIVING AND FOUND A NAIL IN TIRE). NEXT OFF RAMP CHECKED ALL 4 TIRES, ALL APPEARED TO BE THE SAME IN APPEARANCE. RESUMED TRAVEL. DURING ACCELERATION AND DE-ACCELERATING NO DIFFERENTIAL SWAY. WHEN CONSTANT SPEED MAINTAINED AROUND 50 MPH SWAYING OCCURRED UN TO WE REACHED THE WEST SIDE OF SNOQUALMIE PASS AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS INTO THE 30'S. LAST YEAR WHEN HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED, I TOLD THE SERVICE CHECK-IN PERSON & A SUPERVISOR THE CAR WAS STALLING OUT WHEN HARD ACCELERATION DURING MERGING LEFT INTO HIGHWAY WHERE SPEED LIMIT WAS 50 MPH. THE CAR STALLED AND I KICKED THE ACCELERATOR. LUCKILY, THE CAR RESPONDED THE SUPERVISORS RESPONSE WAS 'THERE'S NO WAY THIS CAN HAPPEN'.
Electrical system, Feb 15, 2021
2/15/21 DEAD BATTERY VEHICLE PARKED IN HOME GARAGE STATIONARY. BATTERY ONE MONTH OLD REPLACED ON 1/21/21 PLUS UPGRADED SOFTWARE. PREVIOUS BATTERY WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. 2/15/21 HAD TO GET CAR TOWED FROM HOME GARAGE. OUTBACK STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND WE PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM SUBARU. REMOVED BULB FROM HATCH BACK PER SERVICE MGR. AUTOMATIC STARTER ALSO UNRELIABLE AND WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. FACTORY INSTALLED. VEHICLE UNRELIABLE. SERVICE UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. NEED TO PURCHASE A LARGER STRONGER BATTERY FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON OWN TO SEE IF IT HELPS BATTERY PROBLEM. DEALER WILL ONLY GIVE 550 BATTERY.
Electrical system, Feb 9, 2021
I HAVE NOW HAD TWO COMPLETE BATTERY DISCHARGES REQUIRING JUMP STARTS WHEN THE HATCH IS OPENED AND CLOSED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED ON. OVER A PERIOD OF A FEW HOURS WHEN I OPENED AND CLOSED THE TRUNK WITH THE AUTOMATED OPEN/CLOSE ABOUT 4-5 TIMES THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DISCHARGED REQUIRED JUMP START. THE FIRST TIME I BOUGHT A MEW BATTERY FIGURING IT WAS BAD. THE SECOND TIME NOW I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE BATTERY/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BOTH TIMES.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 1, 2021
KEY GETS STUCK ON IGNITION SWITCH WHEN I TURN CAR OFF AND PUT IT IN PARK. KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES, SOME TIMES UP TO 20 MINUTES FOR THE KEY TO RELEASE FROM THE COLUMN. VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE STARTED AND TURNED OFF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE KEY RELEASES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW, VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS AS HAVING TO START AND STOP THE VEHICLE HAS DRAINED THE BATTERY TWICE NOW AND I HAVE HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE JUMP STARTED. HOPEFULLY THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE.....
Electrical system, Jan 31, 2021
I AM CONTINUING TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK WHERE IT STRUGGLES TO START ALMOST ALL THE TIME IN COLD TEMPERATURES AND THE BATTERY OFTEN DIES. MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP "FIXED" THE ISSUE LAST YEAR BY REPLACING THE BATTERY. NOW THAT COLD WEATHER IS BACK, THE PROBLEM IS BACK. JUMPING THE BATTERY ALWAYS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. NOTE THAT EVEN IN WARM TEMPERATURES THE START ALWAYS SOUNDS "ROUGH".
Electrical system, Jan 30, 2021
WE STARTED DRAINED BATTERIES AT 57,000 MILES (WE ARE AT 61,000 MILES NOW), WHICH WAS ABOUT NOVEMBER 2020. AS OF TODAY, THIS IS OUR 4TH TIME HAVING A DEAD BATTERY. WE HAD A SERVICE CHECK FROM VAN SUBARU KANSAS CITY, MO IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO. THEY TOLD US NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BATTERY, AND THAT WE LIKELY WEREN'T DRIVING IT ENOUGH. WE DRIVE IT DAILY, BUT NOT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, EXCEPT 2 DAYS A WEEK. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY JUMPED BY OUR ROAD SIDE SERVICE. WE WILL HAVE IT JUMPED MONDAY 2/1/21 AND GO BACK TO VAN SUBARU. WE READ OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. WE BELIEVE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. EACH TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN HE MORNING AFTER THE CAR SAT IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT.
Electrical system, Jan 30, 2021
REPLACED ORIGINAL BATTERY WITH SUBARU BATTERY 12/2019. NEEDED TWO JUMP STARTS AFTER VIRUS TRAVEL PROTOCOLS BEGAN (3/2020). CAR PARKED FOR 3 DAYS (1/28-30/2021) BATTERY WON'T START ENGINE.
Electrical system, Jan 29, 2021
I IF THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN STARTED AT LEAST EVERY 2 DAYS THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND WON'T START. YOU ALSO CAN'T LEAVE THE DOORS OPEN WHILE VACUUMING THE INSIDE OR THE BATTERY WILL DIE ON YOU. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHATTER ABOUT THIS MANY PLACES CALLING IT A PARASITIC DRAIN. THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH SUBARU FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WHICH NEVER SEEMS TO GET ADDRESSED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW.
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 29, 2021
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND ALL LIGHTS LIGHT UP ON DASH THEN VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. TRIED TO JUMP VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WILL START BUT TURNS OFF A FEW SECONDS LATER. SUBARU ADVISE IT WAS A DEFECTIVE BATTERY. SUBARU THEN REPLACE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY ON 11/05/2020. THE BATTERY WAS NOT EVEN 1 YEAR OLD WHEN IT WAS REPLACED. TODAY ON 01/29/2021 IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. LUCKY BOTH TIMES I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED LIKE ON A HEY. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ON THE SIDE STREET. NOW I'M WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP.
Electrical system, Jan 23, 2021
THE BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE. I HAD A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO AND FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS THE CAR WILL NOT START IF IT IS NOT DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO. I'VE HAD THE CAR JUMPED MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAD THE TERMINALS REPLACE LAST WEEK DUE TO CORROSION. AND TODAY, FOE THE THIRD TIME IN TWO WEEKS THE CAR WILL NOT START. RESEARCH ON THIS WEBSITE AND ON THE INTERNET IN GENERAL TELLS ME THIS IS A KNOWN AND ONGOING ISSUE WITH SUBARU ELECTRICAL AND THEY NEED TO FIGURE A FIX FOR IT ASAP.
Electrical system, Jan 22, 2021
WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THIS HAPPENED TWICE LAST YEAR AND I THEN REPLACED THE BATTERY. THIS NEW BATTERY IS ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD AND YESTERDAY IT WAS DEAD AGAIN. EACH TIME A FEW DAYS HAD PASSED SINCE THE CAR HAD LAST BEEN DRIVEN. IT SEEMS THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT IS DRAINING THE BATTERY. IN ADDITION, POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE DEAD BATTERY THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN WE FOUND THE BACK HATCH WIDE OPEN. THE BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD AFTER THIS HAPPENED.
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 19, 2021
I HAVE A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK PURCHASED SEPTEMBER 2019 LAST YEAR REPLACED THE BATTERY, YESTERDAY THE CAR WOULD NOT STRAT. JUMP IT GOT IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SHOWED THE BATTERY, & ALTERNATOR WERE GOOD. I SREACHED AND SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THE ARE THE SAME ON 2016 TO 2020. WE NEED A RECALL.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 19, 2021
I DROVE MY CAR TO SKI. I PARKED MY CAR. THE SNOW ACCUMULATED ON WINDSHIELD. AND THEN I FOUND THE WINDSHIELD HAS A LONG CRACK.
Electrical system, Jan 19, 2021
2016 OUTBACK HAS HAD BATTERY PROBLEMS SINCE IT WAS NEW, FIRST BATTERY REPLACED BY SUBARU IN LATE 2017. NOW NEEDED THIRD REPLACEMENT IN JAN 2021. SUBARU WILL PAY 50% WHICH IS $120 WHICH IS ROBBERY AS A NEW BATTERY IS ABOUT THAT MUCH. SUBARU SAYS USE THE CAR MORE, PLUG IN A BATTERY MINDER CHARGER, HI TECH CARS HAVE POWER USAGE EVEN WHEN NOT BEING DRIVEN, ETC. NONE OF MY OTHER CARS, HUNDAI, HONDA HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE EITHER THE OUTBACK DESIGN HAS PARASITIC POWER DRAINAGE, THE BATTERY IS UNDER POWERED OR THERE IS A FLAW IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN.
Electrical system, Jan 15, 2021
OUR CAR BATTERY HAS REPEATEDLY DIED, WITHOUT ANY EXTENDED USE (I.E., NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON, DOORS OPEN, ETC). WE WILL DRIVE IT AND THEN COME BACK OUT TO THE CAR AND THE BATTERY WILL BE DEAD. WE HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED AND WERE INFORMED IT WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
Electrical system, Jan 11, 2021
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY 4X IN 18 MONTHS. CURRENTLY HAVE ANOTHER DEAD BATTERY THREE DAYS AFTER REPLACING. CAR CANNOT SIT FOR MORE THAN 4-5 DAYS WITHOUT LOSING BATTER CHARGE. SUGGESTED FIX FROM SUBARU: PUT IT ON A TRICKLE CHARGER. MOST RECENT ISSUE: 1/9/2021.
Electrical system, Jan 9, 2021
PURCHASED JAN 2016. BATTERY DIED 3 TIMES WHILE ON TRIPS & CAR SAT FOR 2 WEEKS. REPLACED BATTERY DEC 2018. BATTERY DIED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE ON TRIPS WHEN CAR SAT FOR 2+ WEEKS. LAST TIME, CAR SAT FOR 3 WEEKS. CAR WAS STARTED WITH JUMP BUT DIDN'T HOLD CHARGE. REPLACED BATTERY 3RD TIME JAN 2021.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jan 7, 2021, crash
UPON SLOWING DOWN & PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, TO PARK MY CAR IN FRONT OF A BUSINESS, MY VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED FORWARD, UP OVER THE SIDEWALK. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED A 2ND TIME AS I TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE WALL OF THE BUILDING.
Electrical system, Jan 5, 2021
PURCHASED VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 2015. HAVE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AS FOLLOWS: *11/20/2018 (608805) *11/01/2019 (630860) *05/18/2020 (641572) AS OF 01/05/2021, THE VEHICLE BATTERY IS DEAD AGAIN AND AT MOORE SUBARU IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA FOR SERVICE. EACH TIME THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DEAD, IT HAS BEEN PARKED (DRIVEWAY OR WORK) AND WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE. THIS TIME (1/5/21) THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD (DOORS WOULDN'T OPEN, NO NOISES WHEN TRYING TO START). WHEN THE BATTERY DIED IN MAY OF 2020, MOORE SUBARU HAD THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS TO SEE IF THEY COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THEY ULTIMATELY FOUND NOTHING MORE THAN A POTENTIALLY BAD BATTERY.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 5, 2021
2016 SUBARU OUTBACK'S FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASONS