Subaru Legacy/Outback electrical problems, 2016–2017
783 of the 1,826 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Legacy/Outback 2016–2017 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). The loudest years: 2017 (422), 2016 (361). Filed under the same heading across these years: 5 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Subaru Legacy/Outback electrical problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the electrical system | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 in depth | 422 | 41% | 32k | 386 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 361 | 46% | 42k | 413 TSBs | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the electrical system. Nothing here is a rate.
When the electrical complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2015: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2017: 11 · 2018: 19 · 2019: 39 · 2020: 145 · 2021: 328 · 2022: 145 · 2023: 44 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 13
Across the model years, half of the 342 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 23,000 and 52,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Car keeps destroying cells in the battery. Car has died multiple times from sitting over night and has gone through 3 batteries in 3 years. Battery terminal has also corroded away. Car has failed to start many time. Seems to to be a battery drain issue with my car.
Repeated failure to start due to dead battery. Original battery replaced and replacement battery continued to die 2 or 3 more times. $250 electrical testing by Subaru specialty shop found nothing out of spec. Two American Automobile Association service calls found nothing out of spec.
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
What is on file about the electrical system, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications5 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Aug 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.
- Aug 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 Other 2017Aug 5, 2026
- Techtips newsletter locator index.
- Aug 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
- Jun 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.)
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Subaru Legacy/Outback
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Subaru Legacy/Outback problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Subaru Legacy/Outback years have the most electrical complaints?
2017, 422; 2016, 361. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2016 (46%).
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the Subaru Legacy/Outback?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the Subaru Legacy/Outback?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 35,500 miles across the model years; half of them between 23,000 and 52,000. 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.