2016 Subaru Legacy reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2016 Subaru Legacy — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 192
- 74 in the last 5 years
- 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 ratesComplaint 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.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2016 Subaru Legacy
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese 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. Data as of 2026. 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?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.