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2016 Subaru Legacy reliability record

NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2016 Subaru Legacy from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.

NHTSA source snapshot · 2026Consumer reports are not verified defects Official source
NHTSA complaints
192
Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
Top problem area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
49 complaints
Recalls on record
3
see below
Reported harm
12 reported crashes · 3 injuries

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.

Complaint rank

#2,671

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Subaru median

+10

median 182 across 97 Subaru records

Vs 2014-2018

-105

median 298 complaints in 596 records

Top component share

26%

Electrical System: 49 complaints

What owners report fails — 2016 Subaru Legacy

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 49
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER 40
  • VISIBILITY/WIPER 17
  • STEERING 16
  • POWER TRAIN 12

3 recalls on record for the 2016 Subaru Legacy

  • NHTSA 16V292000 · 2016 · STEERING:COLUMN The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
  • NHTSA 15V794000 · 2015 · POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT If the drive shaft detaches from the rear differential, it may strike the fuel tank and result in a fuel leak, increasin
  • NHTSA 15V502000 · 2015 · POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2016 Subaru Legacy

Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.

Open TCO calculator

These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2016 Subaru Legacy units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Subaru Legacy reliable?

NHTSA has 192 consumer complaints on record for the 2016 Subaru Legacy and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (49 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2016 Subaru Legacy units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Legacy?

Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (49), unknown or other (40), visibility/wiper (17), steering (16). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2016 Subaru Legacy?

This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2016 Subaru Legacy. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.

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