SUBARU LEGACY · model year

2016 SUBARU LEGACY

188 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2016SUBARULEGACY carries 188 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 5/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2016 LEGACY is electrical system with 47 filings, followed by unknown or other (39) and visibility/wiper (17). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2016 LEGACY. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

188
Complaints
12
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
2016 SUBARU LEGACY - NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2016 SUBARU LEGACY. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 5.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

188 filings

Crashes Reported

12 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 - Top NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 5/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM47
UNKNOWN OR OTHER39
VISIBILITY/WIPER17
STEERING16
POWER TRAIN12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL9
SERVICE BRAKES8
ENGINE7
STRUCTURE:BODY6
WHEELS3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
SEATS2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2
SUSPENSION2
AIR BAGS2

Recalls (3)

15V79400024/11/2015

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

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

16V29200011/05/2016

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 th

15V50200010/08/2015

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.

Recent Complaints

20260218ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Battery continuously dies, likely due to a parasitic drain, and it is extremely hard-taking up to 15 to 20 minutes to open the car door using the the wierd key you slide out of the key fob. As a woman, it is very dangerous when my battery dies and I am in a dark parking lot and I can't even get inside the car and lock the door for safety. Been happening for years lastest time was today 02/17/2026. For some reason, the class action suit said I was not a class member for the same problem.

20250912VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR! On Friday, September 12, 2025 at 3:32 p.m., I was driving slowly in a parking lot preparing to park. As I started to turn the car into the parking space, my car surged forward without my pressing on the gas pedal. I pressed on the brake, and the car came to a stop.

20250912UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR! On Friday, September 12, 2025 at 3:32 p.m., I was driving slowly in a parking lot preparing to park. As I started to turn the car into the parking space, my car surged forward without my pressing on the gas pedal. I pressed on the brake, and the car came to a stop.

20250831UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Unable to remove key when turning the engine off. Eventually works after several tries of turning the engine on and off.

20250831ENGINE

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. After applying the breaks the engine slows down

20250804SERVICE BRAKES

Parking Brake harness is defaulty.

20250717ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Car battery dies after the vehicle sits for longer periods (approximately 2 weeks or more?). Roadside assistance has tested battery twice after jumping the vehicle and stated the battery is still healthy. Various Subara owners report similar situations in online forums, and the culprit seems to be a design flaw where the DCM module is trying to connect with the obsolete 3G cellular network, causing a parasitic battery drain.

20250317FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

purchased my 2016 legacy in 2022, I was offered the bronze warranty due to milage. My vehicle was bought back due to loud noises coming from the engine. Was told there was a peze recall and it was fixed. Brought it back to the dealership for the same sound and they found nothing wrong. A few weeks later leaving work, I noticed my muffler was hanging. I took it to a local muffler shop where the repaired it and repaired the heat shield which was loose and knocking up against the exhaust. Still taking my vehicle to the dealership for the warranty clear coat/ zetec and was told that I needed two-wheel bearings and that I was over milage, that it wouldn't be covered. I had both wheel bearing replaced and rear brakes within the first year of having the vehicle. Later part of 2024 my dashboard was lighting up, not allowing any of my safety features to work and I have no traction in the snow. I took the vehicle back to the dealership where I was told that it had a bad valve body, That the vehi

20250317FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

purchased my 2016 legacy in 2022, I was offered the bronze warranty due to milage. My vehicle was bought back due to loud noises coming from the engine. Was told there was a peze recall and it was fixed. Brought it back to the dealership for the same sound and they found nothing wrong. A few weeks later leaving work, I noticed my muffler was hanging. I took it to a local muffler shop where the repaired it and repaired the heat shield which was loose and knocking up against the exhaust. Still taking my vehicle to the dealership for the warranty clear coat/ zetec and was told that I needed two-wheel bearings and that I was over milage, that it wouldn't be covered. I had both wheel bearing replaced and rear brakes within the first year of having the vehicle. Later part of 2024 my dashboard was lighting up, not allowing any of my safety features to work and I have no traction in the snow. I took the vehicle back to the dealership where I was told that it had a bad valve body, That the vehi

20250317LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

purchased my 2016 legacy in 2022, I was offered the bronze warranty due to milage. My vehicle was bought back due to loud noises coming from the engine. Was told there was a peze recall and it was fixed. Brought it back to the dealership for the same sound and they found nothing wrong. A few weeks later leaving work, I noticed my muffler was hanging. I took it to a local muffler shop where the repaired it and repaired the heat shield which was loose and knocking up against the exhaust. Still taking my vehicle to the dealership for the warranty clear coat/ zetec and was told that I needed two-wheel bearings and that I was over milage, that it wouldn't be covered. I had both wheel bearing replaced and rear brakes within the first year of having the vehicle. Later part of 2024 my dashboard was lighting up, not allowing any of my safety features to work and I have no traction in the snow. I took the vehicle back to the dealership where I was told that it had a bad valve body, That the vehi

20250312FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I was driving on highway and engine failed light came on, along with low fuel sign. Engine shut off. Luckily I was able to safely pull over. The Dealer determined that the low fuel sensor failed thus shutoff the engine. Shutting engine off on a highway is dangerous and life threatening event. Need a different strategy to warn the driver with a time to safely pull over. It cost me over $1,500 to get the part repalce.

20250105UNKNOWN OR OTHER

There is an active recall for Subaru vehicles. The recall is for emissions number WUB-87 for 2015-2018MY Legacy and Outback 2.5L. My car is a 2016 Subaru Legacy and it has the exact problem listed in the recall, but is not included. The front end exhaust is defective as described in the recall.

20241211ENGINE

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. The contact stated that after the check engine warning light issue was resolved the horn returned to normal functionality. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance; however, the manufacturer informed the contact that the failure was a known issue and advised the contact to stop driving the vehicle until the check engine warning light issue was resolved. The failure mileage was 184,000.

Mileage: 184,000

20241211ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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. The contact stated that after the check engine warning light issue was resolved the horn returned to normal functionality. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance; however, the manufacturer informed the contact that the failure was a known issue and advised the contact to stop driving the vehicle until the check engine warning light issue was resolved. The failure mileage was 184,000.

Mileage: 184,000

20241106SERVICE BRAKES

Slowing to pull into parking spot and car accelerates and hits what is in front of vehicle. Has happened at least four times. Last time 11/5/2024

20241106FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Slowing to pull into parking spot and car accelerates and hits what is in front of vehicle. Has happened at least four times. Last time 11/5/2024

20241106UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Slowing to pull into parking spot and car accelerates and hits what is in front of vehicle. Has happened at least four times. Last time 11/5/2024

20240725VISIBILITY/WIPER

I went to the store with an intact and unblemished windshield. After returning to the vehicle, a crack in the passenger side of the windshield appeared with no chip or damage visible. After only a day, this cracked had tripled in length with weekly crackling sounds. This is a known issue with Subarus and the manufacturer is trying to be selective with repairs. My vehicle has the EyeSight system and will cost me $1100.00 to repair because it's $700.00 to calibrate the system after glass repair..

20240427ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Battery dies really fast and ended up doing a replacement right after moving from Idaho to utah and losing a bolt and had to use a wrench from my late husbands toolbag in the trunk to keep it on the positive terminal I do believe after just having left the emergency room and was quite ill. The battery acid started to corrode the cables and everything along with it. Including the back seat, that had a seatbelt that got ripped accidentally when removing a babyseat from the car,

20231116ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Battery has failed twice in a matter of a year. Both batteries were top of the line and no reason can be seen for failure. I see that there are a great deal of the same sort of complaints listed here and Subaru should be well aware of this issue.

Compare 2016SUBARULEGACY to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2016 SUBARU LEGACY have?
The 2016 SUBARU LEGACY has 188 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 SUBARU LEGACY?
The 2016 SUBARU LEGACY received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 5/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 SUBARU LEGACY?
Yes, the 2016 SUBARU LEGACY has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 SUBARU LEGACY?
The most-complained component for the 2016 SUBARU LEGACY is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 47 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and VISIBILITY/WIPER.
Is the 2016 SUBARU LEGACY safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2016 SUBARU LEGACY has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.