Subaru / Outback / 2016

2016 Subaru Outback problems

Owners have filed 774 complaints about the 2016 Subaru Outback with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 39.9% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of visibility/wiper at 10.7%. A further 16.0% were filed without a specific system named.

Complaints774

Crashes39

Fires6

Injuries18

Deaths0

What owners report breaking

Electrical system 39.9% · 309

Unknown or other 16.0% · 124

Visibility/wiper 10.7% · 83

Engine 6.8% · 53

Power train 5.8% · 45

Steering 3.1% · 24

Vehicle speed control 2.8% · 22

Structure 2.5% · 19

Severity

Of those complaints, 39 describe a crash, 6 describe a fire and 18 report an injury.

Reading the numbers

Across the 28 model years of the Subaru Outback in this data, 2016 sits 6th by complaint volume. 2019 draws the most.

Filings have fallen off, 84 in the last three years against 323 in the three before. The issues here may already have been addressed.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 33,938 miles.

In owners' own words

Once parking the vehicle and placing it in park, the key stays locked in the ignition. This isn't related to the steering wheel being locked in place, the key is stuck. Shifting in/out of park needs to happen multiple times. Looking into this online, there are multiple reports of this happening. This is a safety issue because we are unable to get out of the car with our kids because the key is stuck in the ignition. Electrical system · reported at 15,000 miles

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

I was driving in the city and it just turned off on me. Very quickly too. No time to pull over. Just died in middle of the road. I was not using the eye sight and it was a clear day. But the dash said eye sight off. I tried to turn the car back on but it said I have to put in park first. So I put in park and it started back up no problem and worked all the way home. This is dangerous. I could of been rear ended. Electrical system · reported at 55,300 miles

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other Subaru Outback years

2013 408 complaints · 16.4% engine 2014 276 complaints · 14.9% air bags 2015 648 complaints · 20.1% visibility/wiper 2017 1,106 complaints · 35.4% electrical system 2018 991 complaints · 26.9% electrical system 2019 1,288 complaints · 28.3% electrical system

Compare all 28 model years →