Subaru Legacy/Outback engine problems, 2016–2017
112 of the 1,826 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Legacy/Outback 2016–2017 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2016 (64), 2017 (48). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 manufacturer bulletin. 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 engine 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 engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 48 | 5% | 32k | 97 TSBs | the year → |
| 2016 in depth | 64 | 8% | 50k | 128 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 engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 19 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 15 · 2024: 9 · 2025: 16 · 2026: 6
Across the model years, half of the 48 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 14,000 and 55,000 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 engine, 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.
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.
When i brought car in for an oil change. cam carrier leak, was reported to me that there was a cam carrier leak. When i look online there are countless reports of this. Seems like there could be something faulty with the engine. Subaru offered to cover the repair as a 1 time curtesy.
I arrived at my destination. I turned the ignition OFF. The engine turned OFF. I opened the driver's door and the engine turned ON. I did not turn the ignition ON. I again turned the ignition OFF. This time the engine remained OFF
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications1 manufacturer bulletin filed under this heading, any model year
- Jun 1, 2026
- This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) for certain vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines.
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 engine complaints?
2016, 64; 2017, 48. 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 (8%).
Is there a recall for the engine 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 engine problems show up on the Subaru Legacy/Outback?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 36,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 14,000 and 55,000. 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.