2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback electrical problems
361 of the 790 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 413 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 361 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 22 · 2020: 71 · 2021: 156 · 2022: 49 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 8
Half of the 163 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 28,000 and 60,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
790 complaints in all about the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback, 8 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Legacy/Outback electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
After placing vehicle in park, roughly 30% of times this is done, key cannot be turned back far enough to remove it. So far the only way to get it out is to restart car, shift through all the gears, and place it back in park. Sometimes this must be done 2-3 times. This started happening around 62,000 miles
Key cannot be removed from ignition after placing car in park. Literally have to either slam car into park or start car and immediately shut it down. Problem started right after hitting 60000 miles
Key can not be removed from the ignition. It does not help turning the steering wheel to unlock it. Shifting in and out of drive/neutral/park several times will eventually unlock it. Has been happening intermittently for about 2 months and happens now every time
The key gets stuck in the ignition. Put car in park and can not get the ignition cylinder to turn all the back to remove the key
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
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications413 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 15-308-23R Service bulletinAug 20, 2026
- 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.
- 15-304-22R Service bulletinAug 13, 2026
- 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.)
- Article Locator OtherAug 5, 2026
- Techtips newsletter locator index.
- 15-333-25R Service bulletinAug 1, 2026
- 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
The 4 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B2A16 P05A0 B2A20 P1C00 P2096 P2097 C1531 C1741
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback
Source: the same files- engine problems 64 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 58 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 361 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (46% of everything owners filed about it), and 413 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 4 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 42,000 miles; half of them between 28,000 and 60,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.