2016 Subaru Outback: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
642 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Outback's record is quiet through the fourth and fifth generations apart from the FB25 engine's oil-consumption complaints on 2013–2014 cars, which Subaru settled with a class action. The sixth generation launched for 2020 on a new platform with a new infotainment system and a turbocharged 2.4-litre option, and the 2019–2020 years carry the highest counts in the Outback's history: the Starlink touchscreen freezing and rebooting, the battery draining, the windscreen cracking. Read the full note on the model page. 2016 specifically: a year the record favours — 642 complaints, score 74/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Subaru Outback and Forester: oil consumption, then Starlink, then a clean run, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 642 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 64.2
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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 discovered the seller was associated with a car dealer. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 87,059. After obtaining a Carfax report, the contact became aware that the mileage was 207,000.
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 when I am idle. I am strict about oil changes and have it fully inspected when I take it every 3 months as I am a single mom and cannot afford for my children and I to be hurt in an accident or be withou…
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 6feet in front of me which I hit. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Recalls: 4 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 15V502000 | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 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. |
| 16V292000 | Steering:Column | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. |
| 19V910000 | Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Outback vehicles. |
| 15V794000 | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 28 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,200
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System309 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other124 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Visibility/Wiper83 complaints · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
- Engine52 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train45 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Steering24 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
Other Subaru Outback years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Subaru Outback?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (309 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Subaru Outback a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 74/100, computed from 642 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Subaru Outback's most common problem?
309 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Subaru Outback sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2016 Subaru Outback cost to run per year?
About $5,489 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $27,448 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2016 Subaru Outback have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Subaru Outback, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 10/08/2015. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2016 Subaru Outback really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 642 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 642 NHTSA complaints on record (64.2/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (64.2/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems