2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback engine problems
64 of the 790 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 128 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 engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 64 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 5 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 12 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2026: 4
Half of the 24 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 19,000 and 110,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
790 complaints in all about the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback, 4 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 “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Legacy/Outback engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Sometimes when starting from a stop or slowing down to make a turn the engine revs up like I was pushing the gas pedal. When this happens ( 4 times in the last 6 months) luckily I was covering the break to slow down or going very slow from a stop. Each time I was turning left or right. I was able to push the shifter into neural.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact became aware that while the check engine light remained illuminated the horn failed to function as designed.
Vehicle had significant amount of oil pooled in the battery case holder back approximately Jan 2022 or earlier. Contacted Subaru of Las Vegas and they offered to clean the vehicle believing it was a careless oil change. Next oil change Subaru said I had a minor oil leak.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with oil leaking from the driver's side front cam carrier, rocker cover, and head gasket.
Car battery has discharged on three occasions within the passed 6 months. There is no warning that the battery is failing, turn car off and go to turn on next day and it won’t start. The battery is one yr old and mechanic gave it passing mark when he checked it.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications128 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 02-195-26 Service bulletinJun 1, 2026
- This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) for certain vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines.
The 1 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 B1571 B1572 P0072 P0116 P0327 P0328 P0332
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- electrical problems 361 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 58 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 64 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (8% of everything owners filed about it), and 128 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 engine 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 engine problems show up on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 50,000 miles; half of them between 19,000 and 110,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.