2016 Subaru Legacy problems
Owners have filed 194 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Legacy. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 26% of complaints. After that come wipers, windshield & visibility (9%) and steering (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 194 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 26% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 12 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 35,000 miles 113 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 34 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 33 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 25 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 11 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 113 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 35,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 51,000 miles (18 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 12 complaints mention a crash; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2016 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Subaru Legacy with enough data (146 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 subaru legacy. While driving 30 MPH, the contact's vehicle was involved in a side impact collision. The side impact air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact received a mild concussion from the impact and moderate head pain, which required medical assistance. The vehicle was towed to bill rapp subaru (3446 burnet ave, syracuse, ny) where it was deemed operable. The dealer stated that the side air bag sensors did not receive enough of an impact to deploy.
I was driving straight in stop and go traffic on a main town road. And was rear ended at under 20 MPH. My head hit the steering wheel and I was wearing my seat belt. I do not feel that the seat belt kept properly restrained me.
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. There was damage done to both the tree and other vehicle. The vehicle was towed and deemed total. A police report was filed. The contact had received a bruise on their knee and sought out medical attention.
On 1-19-2020 I drove home from the store, came to a stop in my parking spot and when I went to put the car in park it suddenly accelerated as though I had hit the gas. I quickly hit the brakes 3 times but got no response and hit my fence before the car came to a stop none of my safety features (including collision avoidance) kicked in and subaru said there was no record of any malfunction and they could not recreate the incidence.
The windshield cracked about 1inch for no reason, driving off of the lot after purchasing my used subaru legacy. The next day, another crack appeared while driving slow speeds on a flat roadway. The second crack is located in a new location, and spans about 2-2.5 ft'about 3/4 the length of the entire windshield. After researching, I came across a lawsuit currently filed against subaru america for this very issue'easily cracked windshields for these years and models.