CarBrief

Owners filed 790 complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Legacy/Outback, and electrical issues are the biggest group[1][2]. There are four recalls on file, including a steering column recall that told owners not to drive until the car was inspected[3][4][5][6].

790owner complaints[1]
4recalls[7]
22–29MPG combined (EPA)[8]
5★NHTSA overall rating[9]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 790 complaints for this model year[1]. They are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several components. The biggest groups are below.

Component group Complaints Median miles at failure
Electrical System[2] 360 42,000
Unknown or other[10] 165 35,800
Visibility/wiper[11] 100 38,000
Engine[12] 63 42,000
Power train[13] 58 35,000

We read a small sample of complaint texts in each group. Here is what owners describe in that sample.

Smaller groups matter too. Steering has 40 complaints[14]. Speed control has 31 complaints, with 7 crashes[15]. Brakes have 27 complaints, with 9 crashes[16]. Across all complaints, 31 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 16 injuries, and none report a death[1].

Recalls

NHTSA lists four recalls for this model year, newest first.

Ask a dealer whether the recalls above were done on the car you are looking at.

Fuel economy

The EPA lists four versions. All run on regular fuel and have all-wheel drive.

Version City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Legacy, 2.5L 4-cylinder[8] 26 / 35 / 29 $2,300
Legacy, 3.6L 6-cylinder[17] 20 / 28 / 23 $2,900
Outback, 2.5L 4-cylinder[18] 25 / 32 / 28 $2,400
Outback, 3.6L 6-cylinder[19] 20 / 27 / 22 $3,050

The EPA fuel cost uses current fuel prices, not prices from when the car was new.

Safety ratings

The Legacy 4-door AWD gets 5 stars overall from NHTSA[9]. It also gets 5 stars in frontal, side and rollover tests[9]. Its rollover risk is 10.1%[9]. The SUV AWD, listed under Outback, also gets 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal and side[20]. Its rollover rating is 4 stars and its rollover risk is 17.5%[20].

Engine and size

The EPA test list shows a 2.5L 4-cylinder rated at 175 hp[21] and a 3.6L 6-cylinder rated at 256 hp[22].

Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications for the Legacy sedan, and US cars can differ slightly.

2.5i AWD 3.6R AWD
Length[23][24] 189 in 189 in
Width[23][24] 72 in 72 in
Height[23][24] 59 in 59 in
Wheelbase[23][24] 108 in 108 in
Curb weight[23][24] 3,402 lb 3,697 lb

How 2016 compares with other years

1995: 184 complaints, 2 recalls19951996: 169 complaints, 3 recalls1997: 218 complaints, 5 recalls19971998: 241 complaints, 4 recalls1999: 205 complaints, 3 recalls19992000: 301 complaints, 3 recalls2001: 248 complaints, 7 recalls20012002: 197 complaints, 4 recalls2003: 153 complaints, 14 recalls20032004: 139 complaints, 10 recalls2005: 457 complaints, 9 recalls20052006: 364 complaints, 7 recalls2007: 162 complaints, 9 recalls20072008: 291 complaints, 9 recalls2009: 171 complaints, 13 recalls20092010: 510 complaints, 18 recalls2011: 819 complaints, 16 recalls20112012: 384 complaints, 16 recalls2013: 363 complaints, 12 recalls20132014: 261 complaints, 10 recalls2015: 670 complaints, 5 recalls20152016: 790 complaints, 4 recalls79020162017: 1,038 complaints, 4 recalls2017
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Legacy/Outback model year. The 2016 is highlighted[7].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19951842
19961693
19972185
19982414
19992053
20003013
20012487
20021974
200315314
200413910
20054579
20063647
20071629
20082919
200917113
201051018
201181916
201238416
201336312
201426110
20156705
20167904
20171,0384

Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The 2016 model year has 790 complaints and 4 recalls[7]. Only 2017 (1,038 complaints) and 2011 (819 complaints) have more complaints among the years listed[7]. The 4 recalls for 2016 are fewer than every year from 2003 through 2014, and the same as 2017[7].

Should you buy a used 2016 Legacy/Outback?

The ratings are strong, with 5 stars overall for both body styles[9][20]. The complaint count is high for this model, led by electrical reports[1][2]. Check that the recalls were done, especially the steering column one, which affected 48,819 vehicles[4]. Ask about the battery, the windshield and how the car shifts into drive when you test it. Owners in our sample describe these areas, though the sample is small[2][11][13].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Outback?
Electrical System is the largest group, with 360 of 790 complaints on file[1][2]. Visibility/wiper has 100 complaints, and in the sample we read owners describe windshield cracks[11].
Does the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback have recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists four recalls: air bag control module (19V910), steering column (16V292), rear differential (15V794) and propeller shaft seal (15V502)[3][4][5][6].
What gas mileage does the 2016 Subaru Outback get?
The EPA rates the 2.5L Outback at 28 MPG combined and the 3.6L at 22 MPG combined[18][19].
How many horsepower does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have?
The EPA test list shows 175 hp for the 2.5L 4-cylinder and 256 hp for the 3.6L 6-cylinder[21][22].
Is the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback safe?
NHTSA gives the Legacy 4-door AWD 5 stars overall[9]. The SUV AWD also gets 5 stars overall, with a 4-star rollover rating[20].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 790 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback (31 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 16 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 360 complaints name the electrical system component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 42,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Recall 19V910, filed December 19, 2019: Air Bags › Air Bag / Restraint Control Module. NHTSA recall database
  4. Recall 16V292, filed May 11, 2016: Steering › Column. NHTSA recall database
  5. Recall 15V794, filed November 24, 2015: Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit. NHTSA recall database
  6. Recall 15V502, filed August 10, 2015: Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft. NHTSA recall database
  7. Owner complaints and recalls for every Subaru Legacy/Outback model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  8. EPA rating for Legacy AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 35 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  9. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 10.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 165 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 35,800). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 100 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 38,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 63 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 2 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 42,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 58 complaints name the power train component group (3 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 35,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 40 complaints name the steering component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 12,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. 31 complaints name the speed control component group (7 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 9,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  16. 27 complaints name the brakes component group (9 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 10,550). NHTSA vehicle records
  17. EPA rating for Legacy AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. EPA rating for Outback AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 32 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for Outback AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.5%. NHTSA vehicle records
  21. EPA Test Car List, 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback with 2.5L 4-cylinder: rated 175 hp. www.epa.gov
  22. EPA Test Car List, 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback with 3.6L 6-cylinder: rated 256 hp. www.epa.gov
  23. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, LEGACY 4DR SEDAN 2.5i AWD: length 189 in, width 72 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 108 in, curb weight 3,402 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  24. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, LEGACY 4DR SEDAN 3.6R AWD: length 189 in, width 72 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 108 in, curb weight 3,697 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.