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#BS-2016-SUBLEG-2517

2016 Subaru LegacyProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 194 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
194
Crashes
12
Fires
0
Recalls
3
TSBs
468
🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 194 complaints, 12 crashes, 0 fires, and 3 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

battery constantly drains requiring jumps

3 complaints • Severity 8.7/10

$X,XXX
2

brake noise

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

can not remove key

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
4

battery failure

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
5

battery light comes on and off all safety options go out

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the ElectricalHIGH

49 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 35K miles.

!Inspect the VisibilityMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

43
0–30K
49
30–60K
14
60–90K
1
90–120K
2
120–150K
4
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (49 reports) • Median: 35K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Electrical (49 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Electrical49 (25%)
Other41 (21%)
Visibility17 (9%)
Steering16 (8%)
Drivetrain12 (6%)
Speed Control9 (5%)
Brakes8 (4%)
Engine7 (4%)

2016 Subaru Legacy: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 25% of all reports filed for the 2016 Subaru Legacy, with 49 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 35,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 35K-mile mark.

Visibility Issues

Visibility complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2016 Subaru Legacy, with 17 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to visibility-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2016 Subaru Legacy, with 16 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2016 Subaru Legacy, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

6
15
16
16
21
17
12
18
26
19
26
20
30
21
16
22
16
23
7
24
11
25
7
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2016 Subaru Legacy. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (3 recalls)

15V502000Aug 2015

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

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.

15V794000Dec 2015

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

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.

16V292000Do Not DriveMay 2016

STEERING:COLUMN

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2016 Subaru Legacy NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

EA21002OpenOpened Sep 2021

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

The worst model year for the Subaru Legacy is the 2013 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 194 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Subaru Legacy Model Years

202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990
View all Subaru Legacy years →

2016 Subaru Legacy: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2016 Subaru Legacy is related to the electrical, with 49 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2016 Subaru Legacy reliable?
The 2016 Subaru Legacy has 194 complaints, 12 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How safe is the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA rates the 2016 Subaru Legacy 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 5 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2016 Subaru Legacy problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?
Yes, the 2016 Subaru Legacy has 3 recalls on record. At least one is a critical “Do Not Drive” recall. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Subaru Legacy problems start?
Based on 113 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 35,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2016 Subaru Legacy data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 13, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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