2016 Subaru Outback: Recalls and Reported Problems
Every NHTSA safety recall recorded for this model year, what owners report most often, and how to check whether one specific vehicle still has open work.
Two identical Outbacks can differ entirely: one may have had every recall repaired, the other none.
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2016 Subaru Outback, alongside 642 owner complaints filed with the agency, most often about electrical system. Eligible recall remedies are generally free through the manufacturer's approved repair process, even after the warranty ends; some software remedies are delivered remotely. Federal no-charge coverage has an age limit for vehicles first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. Check the specific VIN — a previous owner may already have had the work done.
2016 Subaru Outback at a glance
Buying a 2016 Subaru Outback? Enter its VIN.
Confirm this car’s identity free, then review the optional history report for returned title, mileage and auction records. Check open recalls separately through NHTSA’s free VIN lookup.
Title brands · Odometer records · Auction history, where reported
No subscription. No charge to check the VIN. Report contents vary by vehicle; applicable tax is shown at checkout.
See what the paid report includes →What owners report most
These are the vehicle systems named most often in complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Outback. A complaint is an unverified owner report: it does not establish a defect, and a high count can simply reflect a popular model. Use it to decide where an inspection should look hardest.
| Vehicle system | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 309 |
| Unknown Or Other | 124 |
| Visibility/wiper | 83 |
| Engine | 52 |
| Power Train | 45 |
| Steering | 24 |
Recall campaigns for the 2016 Subaru Outback
Each campaign below is an official NHTSA record. An eligible remedy is generally free through the manufacturer’s approved process, which may be an authorized service visit or remote software update. Federal no-charge coverage has a 15-year first-sale limit measured at the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. A campaign covers a production range, so only a VIN lookup confirms whether a particular vehicle is included and whether the work is still outstanding.
| Campaign | Component | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| 19V910000 | AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE | 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. |
| 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. 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 t… |
| 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. Due to the improper tightening of the securing nuts, the drive shaft may separate fro… |
| 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. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke. |
How to check one specific Outback
- Copy the 17-character VIN from the windshield or driver-door label — not from the listing.
- Run it through NHTSA’s free recall lookup to see open campaigns for that exact vehicle.
- Ask the seller for repair documentation on any campaign that shows as completed.
- Check title, odometer, and total-loss history separately; recalls say nothing about a vehicle’s past.
- Book an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the systems owners report most.
What this data cannot tell you
- Whether a specific vehicle is included in a campaign, or whether its recall work was completed — only a VIN lookup answers that.
- Whether a complaint is accurate. NHTSA publishes owner reports without verifying them.
- How reliable the model is overall: complaint volume tracks how many vehicles were sold as much as how they hold up.
- Anything about title brands, accident history, odometer records, or liens on an individual vehicle.
Primary sources behind this page
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
- Recalls Lookup by VINNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Vehicle recall remedy age limitNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA Recalls APINational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA Complaints DatabaseNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
2016 Subaru Outback questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Outback have?
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls covering the 2016 Subaru Outback as of 2026-09-15. Whether a specific vehicle is affected — and whether the repair was already done — depends on its VIN.
What are the most common 2016 Subaru Outback problems?
Owners most often report electrical system, unknown or other, visibility/wiper issues to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports and do not establish a defect, but they show where to focus an inspection.
Are Subaru recall repairs free?
Generally, yes for eligible vehicles, even after the warranty ends. Federal law limits the required no-charge remedy when a vehicle was first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; a manufacturer may still cover an older vehicle voluntarily. Check the VIN with the manufacturer for the approved remedy, which may be a dealer visit or a remote software update.
Can I check recalls on a specific 2016 Subaru Outback VIN?
Yes. NHTSA's free VIN lookup reports open recalls for an individual vehicle, including whether the repair is still outstanding. Model-level lists like this page cannot tell you that.