The 2016 Subaru Outback has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 55,009 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 770 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS19V9100002019-12-1946 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUX-09.
STEERING16V2920002016-05-1148,819 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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…
POWER TRAIN15V7940002015-11-243,251 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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.
POWER TRAIN15V5020002015-08-102,893 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Remedy
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
302
2crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
124
2crashes3fires2injuries
VISIBILITY/WIPER
83
1crashes
ENGINE
52
2crashes2fires5injuries
POWER TRAIN
42
2crashes1fires
STEERING
24
3crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
19
2crashes1injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
19
4crashes
SERVICE BRAKES
18
7crashes3injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
13
3crashes2injuries
Total complaints770
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“On 05/08/2026 the brakes failed while in a queue at a drive-up restaurant. The car was steered away to a flat part of the parking lot. After a restart the brakes returned to operation and the car was taken to the dealership where the brake line were flushed and the brake fluid replaced. On…”
“Subject: formal safety defect complaint: 2016 subaru outback – manufacturing nondisclosure of latent "day 1" design flaw causing ignition key entrapment, uncommanded steering column lockout, and severe family safety risk I am writing to formally report a severe, unaddressed safety defect and a…”
“Subject: formal safety defect complaint: 2016 subaru outback – manufacturing nondisclosure of latent "day 1" design flaw causing ignition key entrapment, uncommanded steering column lockout, and severe family safety risk I am writing to formally report a severe, unaddressed safety defect and a…”
“Subject: formal safety defect complaint: 2016 subaru outback – manufacturing nondisclosure of latent "day 1" design flaw causing ignition key entrapment, uncommanded steering column lockout, and severe family safety risk I am writing to formally report a severe, unaddressed safety defect and a…”
“While driving the 2016 subaru outback, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic failure of the continuously variable transmission (cvt). The transmission completely failed, resulting in an immediate and dangerous loss of propulsion while operating the vehicle. This created an immediate…”
“The reporting citizen was driving legally on [xxx] going forward towards the parking lot next to the round about when an uncrewed, autonomous commercial vehicle operated by waymo suffered a catastrophic software/hardware failure. The 6,000-pound driverless robot taxi aggressively pursued and…”
“Leak in cam carrier gasket caused large ammounts of smoke to fill engine bay and enter cabin air system. Struggled to breath and vision to an extent was obstructed. When car was parked, smoke continued to fill the engine bay. Problem was confirmed by an independent technitian, with the vehicle…”
“My 2016 subaru outback cvt transmission has exhibited an intermittent jerking and grabbing sensation when accelerating from a stop, worse when cold, since at least february 2023. This is a known defect covered under subaru warranty extension bulletin 16-115-18. February 2023 — an authorized…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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…
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2016 Subaru Outback as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.