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2016 Subaru Outback Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 642 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
36/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Subaru Outback

The 2016 Subaru Outback shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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4
NHTSA Recalls
4 recalls on record
642
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
22
Crash Reports
3 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Subaru Outback (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614….
NHTSA #19V910000
🔧 Steering: Column
The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016….
NHTSA #16V292000
🔧 Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft
If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall…
NHTSA #15V502000
🔧 Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft
If the drive shaft detaches from the rear differential, it may strike the fuel tank and result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the fastening nuts, and tighten or replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 10, 2015. Owners may…
NHTSA #15V794000
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Subaru Outback

Based on 642 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
294
Unknown Or Other
89
Visibility/wiper
76
Power Train
45
Engine
30
Steering
24
Vehicle Speed Control
17
Structure
17
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Subaru Outback — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.

2010 360 complaints 2011 652 complaints 2012 294 complaints 2013 297 complaints 2014 208 complaints 2015 509 complaints 2016 642 complaints 2017 919 complaints 2018 816 complaints 2019 1,036 complaints 2020 901 complaints

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✅ Best model years: 2012, 2013, 2014 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Subaru Outback

Is the 2016 Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Subaru Outback has 4 recall campaigns and 642 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Outback have?
The 2016 Subaru Outback has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Outback?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Subaru Outback are: Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Visibility/wiper, Power Train. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Subaru Outback safe to buy?
The 2016 Subaru Outback has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Outback should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Outback are: 2012, 2013, 2014. These show the lowest complaint rates.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.