Powertrain complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2016 Subaru Outback has 44 NHTSA powertrain complaints and 2 powertrain-related recalls.
44
Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 7, 2026
15V502000
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...
15V794000
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...
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | My 2016 Subaru Outback CVT transmission has exhibited an intermittent jerking and grabbing sensation... |
| Sep 12, 2024 | POWER TRAIN | I’m unable to remove the car key from the ignition when the vehicle shifter is in Park. |
| Aug 3, 2024 | POWER TRAIN | The "SELECT LEVER COMPLETE" or fear shift neutral park sensor switch stops working. Subaru has ackno... |
| Jun 27, 2023 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission went out at 72,000 miles. Was told it was not covered by warranty even though I purchas... |
| Feb 17, 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independ... |
| Feb 13, 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | Subaru dealer diagnosed oil leaks on the valve cover gaskets. I took the car to an independent repai... |
| Apr 10, 2022 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission, without warning, stopped functioning. |
| Nov 12, 2021 | POWER TRAIN | oil leak from power train |
| Nov 1, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Battery corrosion on terminal post and drained for no reason, failed battery test and had to be repl... |
| Aug 2, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Unable to turn key to off position when in neutral and unable to remove key from the ignition. In or... |
| Aug 1, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Parking shifter sensor is failing intermittently. This prevents removing the key from the ignition.... |
| Jul 26, 2021 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle inadver... |
| Mar 27, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE | COMPLETE DRAINING OF BATTERY JUST SITTING THERE FOR NO REASON... WE SEE THIS IS AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM ... |
| Feb 12, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | 2.12 FEBRUARY 2021, VEHICLE MILAGE APPROACHING 42,000. TRAVELING FROM MAZAMA WA TO SEATTLE VIA WA HW... |
| Sep 6, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK STARTED MAKING A LOUD GRIND... |
| Jul 24, 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | WE HAVE HAD 2 MAJOR ISSUES WITH THIS CAR: 1- MULTIPLE EPISODES OF BATTERY FAILURE REQUIRING A JUMP S... |
| Jul 15, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | FOR A FEW YEARS OFF AND ON WITH THE CAR STOPPED AND ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE PARKING, THE KEY WOULD NO... |
| Mar 11, 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AAA WAS C... |
| Dec 21, 2019 | POWER TRAIN | THE CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 79K MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING THE CAR TO VIOLENTLY STALL. WE BA... |
| Sep 27, 2019 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | NOTICING WHEN I PARK MY CAR THE KEY WON'T RELEASE FROM IGNITION SWITCH WHEN CAR LEVER IS SET IN "P" ... |