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Your vehicleHome›Subaru›Legacy/Outback› 2016
Active NHTSA advisory: do not drive. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Subaru · Midsize Sedan

2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback

Gas
Midsize Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
62 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls2 critical 4
Complaints31 crash · 3 fire · 16 injured reported 790
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 29 mpg
20172016

The 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Legacy AWD, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 790 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Legacy AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263529$2,300
Outback AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl253228$2,400
Legacy AWDGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl202823$2,900
Outback AWDGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl202722$3,050

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36406, 36434, 36407, 36435.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Legacy AWD, Outback AWD5–6 / 10Bin 4 / Bin 5All 50 states (federal, all altitudes)SmartWay
Legacy AWD, Outback AWD5 / 10Bin 5All 50 states (federal, all altitudes)—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2.5 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Limited + MR + ES + NAVI, Limited + MR + NAVI, Premium + AWP, Premium + AWP + ES). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length189.0–189.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.4 in
Height59.1–66.1 in
Wheelbase108.3 in
Track, front61.8–62.2 in
Track, rear62.2–63.0 in
Curb weight3,402–3,845 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear57/43 to 59/41

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 4-door Sedan 2.5I AWD, 4-door Sedan 3.6R AWD, Outback 4-door Wagon AWD 2.5I, Outback 4-door Wagon AWD 3.6R. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2016 Legacy/Outback
Other years The 2017 Legacy/Outback Recalls Subaru recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

WUX-09
46 vehicles 80% reported repaired built Aug 29, 2015 – Jun 28, 2017
Problem 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. Risk In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V910000 reported Dec 19, 2019 Subaru of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Steering

WTD-65
Do not drive 48,819 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Feb 29, 2016 – May 6, 2016
Problem 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. 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.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V292000 reported May 11, 2016 Subaru of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

WQV-57
3,251 vehicles 98% reported repaired built Oct 24, 2015 – Nov 17, 2015
Problem 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. 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.
NHTSA campaign 15V794000 reported Nov 24, 2015 Subaru of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Power Train

WQU-56
2,893 vehicles 99% reported repaired built Jul 3, 2015 – Jul 27, 2015
Problem 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. 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.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 15V502000 reported Aug 10, 2015 Subaru of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

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 subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Legacy/Outback

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Subaru publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Subaru’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Legacy/Outback →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
790complaints filed

31 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 16 injuries · 0 deaths reported

37 per 10,000 built · Subaru reported 210,999 Legacy/Outback built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2015: 10 · 2016: 67 · 2017: 47 · 2018: 58 · 2019: 86 · 2020: 121 · 2021: 198 · 2022: 81 · 2023: 43 · 2024: 29 · 2025: 29 · 2026: 21

Most-cited components

Electrical System → 361
Unspecified 165
Visibility/Wiper 109
Power Train → 58
Engine → 56
Steering 40

In depth: electrical problems → · engine problems → · transmission and drivetrain problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

In the less than two years I have owned my vehicle, I have had to replace the windshield once (when it was less than a year old) and repaired cracks 3 times, the latest being today. All damages were done by gravel picked off the road, and not in construction zones.
Visibility/Wiper at 25,000 miles Oct 12, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11033064
In less than 36,000 miles it developed a grinding noise that can be felt above 50 MPH. Dealer found a problem with the auto transmission. It will being replaced under warranty. Strange, I thought Subaru is known for better transmission.
Electrical System at 35,500 miles Aug 29, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11020451
The transmission does not immediately engage, when shifting from reverse to drive or drive to reverse, with or without engaging the foot brake. The transmission goes into a significant neutral state before it engages, in either direction, allowing the vehicle to drift until the transmission engages with a lurch.
Power Train Aug 26, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11019864
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the power steering assist failed and the steering wheel was veering right and left. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided no diagnosis and no repair solution. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16v292000 (steering).
Steering May 13, 2016 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10864756
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
Service Brakes at 7,700 miles Aug 30, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11020685
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. On several occasions, whether the vehicle was placed in reverse or drive, it accelerated independently. The dealer diagnosed that the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 4,042
Vehicle Speed Control at 4,042 miles Feb 22, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10956370

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Subaru itself: 90 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 4 killed, 112 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 43 per 100,000 built. Every Legacy/Outback model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 35k

miles, typically

Half the 420 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 15,000 and 55,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 85
10k–20k 38
20k–30k 42
30k–40k 62
40k–50k 55
50k–60k 49
60k–70k 36
70k–80k 17
80k–90k 9
90k–100k 5
100k–150k 17
150k + 5

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Electrical System16342,0000.93×
Visibility/Wiper8136,0001.0×
Unspecified7837,000—
Power Train4135,0000.67×
Steering2418,0000.38×
Engine2450,0000.81×
Vehicle Speed Control239,0000.3×
Structure1824,6450.55×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: power train (0.67×), steering (0.38×), vehicle speed control (0.3×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 921
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-05
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 869 service bulletins, 52 others

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Power Train, Steering.

  • 11037943 Other
    2026-10-05 · Electrical System
  • This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
  • 13-109-26 Service bulletin
    2026-09-18 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
  • 18-244-26 Service bulletin
    2026-09-18 · Electrical System
  • "This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit"
  • 11037930 Other
    2026-09-15 · Unknown Or Other
  • This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
  • 15-333-25R Service bulletin
    2026-09-14 · Electrical System
  • This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
  • 15-304-22R Service bulletin
    2026-09-14 · Electrical System
  • This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
  • 16-156-25R Service bulletin
    2026-08-20 · Power Train
  • This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
  • 15-308-23R Service bulletin
    2026-08-20 · Electrical System
  • This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
B2A16
B2A16 on Subaru →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
P05A0
P05A0 on Subaru →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →6 bulletins
B2A20Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
C1956Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
C1957Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
P1C00Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
P2096
P2096 on Subaru →		After the catalyst, the mixture on bank 1 is reading lean.Engine4 bulletins
P2097
P2097 on Subaru →		After the catalyst, the mixture on bank 1 is reading rich.Engine4 bulletins
B1500Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →2 bulletins
B1571Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
B1572Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
C1531Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback failed the emissions check on 2.1% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.2% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).

New York inspections 2.1%

failed emissions

9,240 initial inspections of 9,025 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2016 Legacy/OutbackEvery 2016 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.1%4.2%9,220
Failed the safety inspection2.2%2.2%9,240
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.12%0.27%9,240
Miles driven a year10,54010,028odometer at inspection
Average odometer108,293103,109odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Legacy/Outback by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2017 D 4 1,038 Do not drive2016 this page D 4 790 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2016 Legacy/Outback

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 16V292000, covering Steering. There is an active do not drive advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (62/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback, the best EPA combined figure is 29 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?

Transport Canada measured it at 189.0–189.8 in long, 72.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 59.1–66.1 in tall, on a 108.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,402–3,845 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?

Owners have filed 790 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback, most often about electrical system, unspecified, visibility/wiper. Of those, 31 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 16 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 4, Bin 5 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?

The manufacturer has filed 921 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-10-05. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback failed the emissions check on 2.1% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.2% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations4 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates4 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints790NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins921NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA7 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2017 Legacy/Outback The Legacy/Outback model year with the cleanest record on file — grade D, 4 recalls.Recalls Every Subaru recall on file All campaigns filed against Subaru vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Legacy/Outback by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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