KnownCarProblems2016 Subaru Legacy Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 147 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Legacy, most often about the electrical (35% of complaints, typically around 51,000 miles). It is 5th of 26 Legacy model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2016 Subaru Legacy problems
Electrical
51 complaints · 35%Half of these problems showed up before 51,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
2016 Subaru Legacy will not release key from ignition even when car is in park. Will take several attempts and often requires forcefully putting gear shift in park for the key to release from the ignition. Problem is getting progressively worse and Subaru of america is claiming no responsibility.
Key intermittently gets stuck in ignition when car is in park and engine turned off (but electric is still on since key cannot be turned to "off"). If left unresolved, the battery will eventually die. Subaru has acknowledged the issue in service bulletin 16-112-18r: "this bulletin announces a design change to the CVT…
Other or unspecified
41 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles.
Was driving car along interstate at 75 MPH around 6 pm. Heard a pop on the windshield and soon after about a 6 inch crack appeared sideways just above the driver side wiper.
Need to replace goodyear eagle ls2 225/50r18 tires. 4 of them have dry rot on the inside of the tire closest to the rim. One has a bubble on the inside. Car just turned 37 thousand miles yesterday. This is a potential issue to continue driving on these tires. I am afraid of a blowout
Visibility and wipers
18 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield.
Windshield developed a cracked under passenger side windshield wiper and has now spread across the bottom of my windshield. Vehicle was stationary when I noticed it
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the windshield was cracked near the windshield wiper. Carter Subaru shoreline (17225 aurora ave n, seattle, wa 98133; ([phone]) was contacted and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle had not been repaired. The…
Steering
16 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 19,500 miles.
May of 2017 I was driving north bound on 294. As I was going through the curve the power steering light came on the car wouldn't turn back. I stop and was able to pull the car off the road with no incident. I called sis it's a d asked if was a safety recall. I was told no. I then had them to the car to Subaru of…
When resumed cruise control, it did not. Instead the steering wheel was uncontrollable and had no direction. Was on interstate 84west in ct. Put on break and then was able to stop the vehicle on side of road. Went to the dealer and told no issue. Also have had gear shifting problems. Was in touch less car wash where…
Transmission
13 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 14,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
When resumed cruise control, it did not. Instead the steering wheel was uncontrollable and had no direction. Was on interstate 84west in ct. Put on break and then was able to stop the vehicle on side of road. Went to the dealer and told no issue. Also have had gear shifting problems. Was in touch less car wash where…
The contact owned a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, it suddenly accelerated crashing a small tree causing the contact to reverse the vehicle. When placed in reverse the vehicle accelerated and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There was damage…
Speed control
9 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle accelerated at high-speed without warning, causing the vehicle to drive over a curb and into oncoming traffic. The contact desperately depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact was able to…
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. While reversing the vehicle, it suddenly accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to stop. As a result, the vehicle drove through the driveway barriers and crashed into a tree. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent…
Brakes
8 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 7,500 miles.
I was going 40mph when I had to break for a yellow light with plenty of time to stop, as I was hitting the brakes my car began to skip and continue to press forward and did not stop until I hit the back of someone's vehicle. The brakes did not work and I was not going so fast that I couldn't have had a smooth stop.
Following are two main issues, causality/correlation uncertain. After the "Subaru eyesight" failed for about two minutes while underway (dashboard cluster lit up in numerous places, too), the eyesight system reset while driving. Thereafter, the vehicle began to "buck (e.g. Lurch forward several inches with a lot of…
Engine
8 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 54,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with oil leaking from the driver's side front cam carrier, rocker cover, and head gasket. The dealer informed the contact…
Following are two main issues, causality/correlation uncertain. After the "Subaru eyesight" failed for about two minutes while underway (dashboard cluster lit up in numerous places, too), the eyesight system reset while driving. Thereafter, the vehicle began to "buck (e.g. Lurch forward several inches with a lot of…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Subaru Legacy recalls
Steering: column
Risk: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Transmission: differential unit
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Transmission: driveshaft
Risk: If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2016 Subaru Legacy
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (51 complaints, typically around 51,000 miles); other or unspecified (41 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles); visibility and wipers (18 complaints, typically around 40,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 11, 2016 (steering). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Subaru Legacy?
- It is 5th of 26 Legacy model years by number of complaints, with 147 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.