2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback transmission and drivetrain problems
58 of the 790 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 91 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls. 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 transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 58 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 10 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2026: 2
Half of the 41 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 8,000 and 50,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
790 complaints in all about the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback, 2 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Legacy/Outback transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
There was a recall for my 2016 Subaru Legacy transmission issue (CVT), I got a letter from Subaru on 9/23/2018 which extended warranty for 2016-2017 Legacy/Outback CVT from 5 years/60000 miles to 10 years/100000 miles, started from 9/30/2019.
I had a transmission failure on my 2016 Subaru Legacy and there were no warning signs before this incident occurred. I was on a road trip driving at highway speeds and suddenly without warning I heard a loud bang.
The contact owned a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, it suddenly accelerated crashing a small tree causing the contact to reverse the vehicle. When placed in reverse the vehicle accelerated and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the key would not release from the ignition switch. The contact had to move the shift lever back and forth to take the key out of the ignition switch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with a faulty shift lever plate that needed to be replaced.
When the car is stationary and shifted into park and ignition turned off, the key becomes stuck in the accessory position and key is not able to be removed. Exterior lighting and interior electronics remain on.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 15V794000 HighNov 24, 2015 · 3,251 vehicles
- 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.
- 15V502000 CriticalAug 10, 2015 · 2,893 vehicles
- 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.
91 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 16-156-25R Service bulletinAug 20, 2026
- 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.
- 16-156-25R Service bulletinJun 2, 2026
- This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
The 2 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
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
- engine problems 64 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 58 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (7% of everything owners filed about it), and 91 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls 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 transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 15V794000, 15V502000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 35,000 miles; half of them between 8,000 and 50,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.