Reliable Auto DB

2016 Subaru Outback reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 642 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Outback over 11 years — 48 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Outback years here — under the median of the other years, which is 69. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Air bag control module, Column, and Driveshaft.

2012 Subaru Outback
Photo by Vauxford, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

642

Per year

48

Recalls

4

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (309 of 642), then Visibility and wipers (83) and Engine (52). Those filings include 22 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 Outback has 509 complaints, 73 per year, and the 2017 has 917 complaints, 64 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2016 Subaru Outback. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall air bags, air bag control module 2019-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 19V910000
Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Outback vehicles. A replacement air bag control module may have been installed that is not compatible with the passenger air bag module, possibly affecting air bag deployment.
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. Subaru's number for this recall is WUX-09.
Recall steering, column 2016-05-11 · NHTSA campaign 16V292000
Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
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. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Recall Driveshaft 2015-11-24 · NHTSA campaign 15V794000
Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016 Legacy vehicles manufactured October 24, 2015, to November 16, 2015, and Outback vehicles manufactured October 24, 2015, to November 17, 2015. Due to the improper tightening of the securing nuts, the drive shaft may separate from the rear differential.
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 contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is WQV-57.
Recall Driveshaft 2015-08-10 · NHTSA campaign 15V502000
Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
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 is WQU-56.

Complaints by component (642 total)

Electrical system
309
Visibility and wipers
83
Engine
52
Powertrain
45
Steering
24
Speed control
22
Structure
19
Service brakes
18
Fuel and propulsion system
12
Air bags
10
Visibility
8
Forward collision avoidance
7
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
Exterior lighting
5
Seat belts
5
Lane departure
4
Back-over prevention
3
Engine and engine cooling
3
Wheels
3
Equipment
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Seats
1
Suspension
1
Show 15 more Show less
Crash-flagged

22

Fire-flagged

3

Injury reports

8

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

7201556201632201750201867201910120201712021662022312023242024212025162026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale, but the contact…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-08-20
  • "The car accelerates on its own at times. I am not pressing the gas or going down a hill. It is flat road, sometimes even pulling into my driveway. There is also feeling like I am being bumped from the back and moving…"
    Speed control, Service brakes · filed 2026-08-18
  • "UNKNOWN When pulling into a parking space at the [XXX] diner my 2016 OUTBACK suddenly accelerated while I was ready to shift from drive to park. It was as if I put the gas peddle to the floor. There was a car about…"
    Speed control · filed 2026-08-10
  • "There is a crack in the exhaust manifold and the exhaust smell is entering the cabin affecting driver and passengers' health. The problem has been confirmed by a Subaru dealer and an independent mechanic. There were no…"
    Engine · filed 2026-07-20
  • "The reporting citizen was driving legally on [XXX] going forward towards the parking lot next to the round about when an uncrewed, autonomous commercial vehicle operated by Waymo suffered a catastrophic…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-07-01

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 Subaru Outback SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Outback all-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) All-wheel drive 25 32 28 MPG $2300
Outback all-wheel drive 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) All-wheel drive 20 27 22 MPG $2950

Specs and fitment

5th generation (BS), 2015–2019
Body styles Wagon
Oil 0W-20 synthetic (2.5L FB25; 5W-30 if 0W-20 unavailable) , 5.1 qt capacity
Tire size 225/65R17 (base), 225/60R18 (Limited/Touring)
Towing capacity 2,700 lbs

Known issues for this generation

Safety recall 20V-218 (Subaru WRD-20) covers certain 2019 Outback, Legacy, Impreza, and Ascent vehicles whose low-pressure fuel pump may become inoperative; if the pump fails, the engine may stall without restart capability. Dealers replace the low-pressure fuel pump free of charge. The campaign unit total covers those models together, not Outback alone. Safety recall 19V-493 (Subaru WUH-93) covers a small build run of 2019 Legacy and Outback vehicles whose spot welds on the duct below the cowl panel may have been improperly applied, reducing body strength in a crash; dealers inspect and repair or repurchase as needed. Safety recall 18V-935 (Subaru WTZ-85) covers certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles when audio-display software can leave the backup camera blank, failing FMVSS 111; dealers reprogram the display.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Subaru Outback Next year 2017 Subaru Outback See every Subaru Outback model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Subaru Outback reliable?

Owners have filed 642 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Outback over 11 years — 48 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Outback years here — under the median of the other years, which is 69. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Air bag control module, Column, and Driveshaft.

What are common problems with a 2016 Subaru Outback?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (309 of 642), then Visibility and wipers (83) and Engine (52). Those filings include 22 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.

Is the 2016 Subaru Outback more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 Outback has 509 complaints, 73 per year, and the 2017 has 917 complaints, 64 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Subaru Outback been recalled?

The 2016 Subaru Outback has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 Subaru Outback?

Owners have filed 642 complaints about the 2016 Subaru Outback with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Subaru Outback get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Subaru Outback is 25 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Subaru Outback use?

US manuals specify 0W-20 synthetic for recent FB and turbo engines, with temporary 5W-30 only when 0W-20 is unavailable.

What does NHTSA recall 19V-008 cover on the Subaru Outback?

Recall 19V-008 covers certain 2010-2014 Subaru Outback and Legacy vehicles (among other Subaru models) sold or ever registered in listed Zone B states: the front passenger air bag inflator may explode during deployment and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin.

What generation is the 2013 Subaru Outback?

4th generation (BR) (2012-2014).