2016 Subaru Outback: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 757 complaints
757
Total Complaints
34,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
37
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

11,325 25th Percentile
34,000 Median Mileage
53,516 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
298
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
123
VISIBILITY/WIPER
82
ENGINE
51
POWER TRAIN
40
STEERING
23
STRUCTURE:BODY
19
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
18
SERVICE BRAKES
17
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
13

Severity Assessment

37
Crashes
6
Fires
18
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I JUST PURCHASED A 2016 OB 2.5I PREMIUM. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND A HALF. ON FRIDAY I DECIDED TO WASH MY CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. I STARTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, RAISED THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER, WENT AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND RAISED THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER. I THEN WASHED AROUND THE CAR. ..."
"NON COLLISION OR OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. A CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO OWNER WEBSITE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF WHICH SUBARU IS AWARE FOR THE 2015 AND 2016 MODEL YEARS. THEY OCCASIONALLY COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING THEY DO..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28