2016 Subaru Legacy Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Subaru Legacy.

20152017
Complaints
188
per 10K Sold
28.8
US Sales
65,306
Crashes
12
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2016 Subaru Legacy Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#147 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:53,609 mi
#217 complaints

Wipers & Visibility

Avg mileage:43,679 mi
#316 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:30,017 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Subaru Legacy.

Electrical Faults
47
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,609
Wipers & Visibility
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
43,679
Steering Defects
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
30,017
Transmission / Drivetrain
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
20,106
Unintended Acceleration
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
39,006
Brakes
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
37,342
Engine Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
92,775
Body Structure
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
38,368
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Child Seat
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication:Seals/Gaskets
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Warning
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Windshield
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Subaru Legacy. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2016 Subaru Legacy

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~54,963 vehicles.

16V292000Steering:column
~48,819 affected

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.

15V794000Power Train:driveline:differential Unit · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
~3,251 affected

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.

15V502000Power Train:driveline:driveshaft · Automatic Transmission
~2,893 affected

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.

Other Subaru Legacy Years

2016 Subaru Legacy — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2016 Subaru Legacy reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2016 Subaru Legacy has 188 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 47 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (47 complaints, avg 53,609 mi); Wipers & Visibility (17 complaints, avg 43,679 mi); Steering Defects (16 complaints, avg 30,017 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 45,190 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Subaru Legacy include 12 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 54,963 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2016 Subaru Legacy?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Subaru Legacy reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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