2016 Subaru Outback reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2016 Subaru Outback 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 complaints
- 769
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 302 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 38 reported crashes · 18 injuries · 6 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts 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
#605
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+587
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2014-2018
+472
median 298 complaints in 596 records
Top component share
39%
Electrical System: 302 complaints
What owners report fails — 2016 Subaru Outback
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 302
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 124
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 83
- ENGINE 52
- POWER TRAIN 42
4 recalls on record for the 2016 Subaru Outback
- NHTSA 19V910000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODU In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increas
- 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:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 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 Outback
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 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 Outback 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 Outback reliable?
NHTSA has 769 consumer complaints on record for the 2016 Subaru Outback and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (302 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2016 Subaru Outback units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Outback?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (302), unknown or other (124), visibility/wiper (83), engine (52). 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 Outback?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2016 Subaru Outback. 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.