| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2016 Subaru Outback repairs by problem area
Engine (10%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (6%)
Brakes and Traction Control (8%)
Suspension and Steering (12%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (41%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (13%)
Other (9%)
Chart based on 90 repairs.
2016 Subaru Outback repair cost distribution
$2500+ (0%)
$1000 - $2499 (2%)
$500 - $999 (3%)
$100 - $499 (31%)
< $100 (64%)
Chart based on 58 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2016 Subaru Outback 4dr Wagon
256-horsepower 3.6L H6 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| Subaru Outback in Texas, United States Jul 2015 - Dec 2017 | |||
| Dec 201716000 mi | Dead battery would not start, required jump start to make it to dealer. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Utah, United States Oct 2016 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Feb 201725000 mi | Car cranked but would not start. At the dealer, the problem could not be reproduced, no repair needed. Diagnosis was code: immobilizer key malfunction. No further issues. | ||
| Aug 2021110000 mi | Requested diagnosis of occasional brief "slipping" sensation in transmission while driving - momentary increase in rpm accompanied by short "chirp" sound. Was not reproduced during service visit, still occurs occasionally (not every drive). | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Mar 2016 - Sep 2017 | |||
| Dec 20163000 mi | There were several interior rattles (particularly the defroster strip against the windshield) and one exterior rattle (the engine under pan). | ||
| Subaru Outback in Maine, United States Jan 2016 - Nov 2018 | |||
| Sep 201712000 miUS $110 | The battery needed to be replaced. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Colorado, United States Aug 2015 - Oct 2021 | |||
| Nov 201726000 miUS $130 | Car required a jump start twice in the last 2 months. Dealer said that there was nothing wrong and wouldn't address it under warranty. Owner purchased new battery at his own expense. Subaru OEM batteries are junk | ||
| Mar 201945000 miUS $150 | Broken lumbar adjustment. Internal part of drivers seat needed to be replaced | ||
| Subaru Outback in Missouri, United States Nov 2015 - Oct 2021 | |||
| Aug 201728000 mi | Reset | ||
| Subaru Outback in Arizona, United States Mar 2016 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Dec 201716000 mi | popping noise from suspension when turning. Manufacturer had TSB and repair kit. | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Sep 2015 - Jul 2022 | |||
| Apr 20169500 mi | Rattling wind noise at the passenger side door especially evident during crosswinds. Resolved by a TSB where updated rubber trim was installed. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Pennsylvania, United States Dec 2015 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jan 2017US $400 | severe misalignment, likely due to manufacturing defect. Tires had to be replaced after on 12000 miles. | ||
| Feb 201832000 mi | Rear wheel bearing replaced due to failure. (warranty replacement) | ||
| Apr 202286000 miUS $250 | replace front brake pads | ||
| Subaru Outback in New York, United States Nov 2015 - Aug 2017 | |||
| Feb 20178000 miUS $138 | Eyesight calibration Replace cracked windshield System locking up then re booting several times while driving. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Ontario, Canada Sep 2015 - Oct 2017 | |||
| Aug 20166680 mi | Electric motor to raise tailgate was making clunking noises. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Missouri, United States Sep 2015 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Nov 201627200 mi | Battery when dead after one year of ownership. Took 2 trips to the dealer for the them to figure it out. First time, they had to charge it. Had to drop car off the day after so they could investigate. Battery had a bad cell. | ||
| Sep 201867000 miUS $134 | Battery was worn out, would no longer start, had to get jump started. Replaced the battery right away. | ||
| Oct 2021121000 miUS $680 | One of the radiator fans was dislodged and melted into the fan assembly. Both fans and fan assembly were replaced. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Oklahoma, United States Dec 2015 - Mar 2016 | |||
| Jan 2016 | when driving in crosswinds the noise was like gravel and leaves hitting the windows. dealer performed TSB 12-176-14R. The noise is better but still occurs. Left side outside mirrors reflection is wavy and distorted. Dealer replaced the glass in the mirror assembly, Its better but not by much. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Pennsylvania, United States Jul 2015 - Sep 2019 | |||
| May 201613000 mi | nav screen failing (partial display, software related) | ||
| Jul 201726000 mi | Defective wheel bearing, right rear. | ||
| Jan 201835000 mi | Loud starter, replaced. Radio replaced | ||
2016 Subaru Outback 4dr Wagon
175-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Mar 2016 - Feb 2022 | |||
| Feb 202261592 miUS $300 | Car was not starting consistently and needed to be driven for 30+ minutes to ensure it would start again after being driven. Battery was replaced. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Kentucky, United States Jul 2016 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Oct 201723000 mi | Mechanic cracked oil pan while doing oil change. R/R oil pan | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Jan 2021 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Feb 202255000 miUS $80 | Car would not start after just a few days idle in cold weather. Couldn’t find anything causing the drain, replaced battery with MAT type battery, only charged difference from previous battery they had replaced. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Michigan, United States Jan 2016 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Aug 201725000 mi | The SIM card that stores the maps for the NAV system was stuck in the radio unit. Unit had to be replaced (under warranty). | ||
| Subaru Outback in Washington, United States Sep 2015 - Oct 2019 | |||
| Oct 201715000 miUS $250 | Passenger window relay replaced under warranty. Shop charged for labor. I assume they had 2-3 people working in it sine it took approximately one hour | ||
| Subaru Outback in Maryland, United States Sep 2015 - Mar 2018 | |||
| Feb 201830000 miUS $245 | Poor acceleration and gas mileage. Mechanic cleaned fuel injectors. Also aligned wheels to correct poor tire wear GPS and Information Screen needed rebooting several times during a long trip. The reboot was accomplished by stopping in a safe area, turning off the engine and then restarting engine. This usually resulted in getting information systems back in working order. On one occasion, the car would not start again, resulting in need to call Subaru company. Repair person came to get car restarted, but since this recurring problem had been a frequent source of consternation, we traded the car | ||
| Mar 201833000 miUS $25 | Car would not start Subaru company sent help. Jump started car. Need battery and alternator. Traded car instead. | ||
| Subaru Outback in New York, United States Apr 2016 - Jan 2022 | |||
| Nov 202140000 miUS $1200 | full brake job, front and rear | ||
| Jan 202245000 miUS $125 | replace battery | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Jul 2015 - Jun 2022 | |||
| May 201814000 mi | Passenger front window control on driver side did not work. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Massachusetts, United States Mar 2017 - Sep 2023 | |||
| Apr 202024000 mi | Battery died in a parking lot--repaired under warranty | ||
| Mar 202237000 miUS $300 | pads and rotors (rear) replaced battery died | ||
| Oct 202245000 mi | Passenger window was acting erratically. Dealer replaced the slide mechanism under extended warranty. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Texas, United States Oct 2020 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Nov 202192200 miUS $120 | Front brakes squealing; replaced pads and rotors for both front wheels. | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Dec 2015 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jan 202267000 miUS $500 | Sun roof came off track. The track assembly needed to be replaced. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Ontario, Canada Jun 2016 - Nov 2018 | |||
| Oct 201830380 mi | battery not holding charge. Original battery too small. Put in larger battery under warranty | ||
| Subaru Outback in Ontario, Canada Mar 2016 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Sep 201716120 mi | Blind Spot Sensors stopped working. Replaced under warranty. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Texas, United States Nov 2015 - Jan 2022 | |||
| Oct 2021118000 miUS $350 | Replaced front brakes including pads and turn rotors | ||
| Subaru Outback in Arkansas, United States Dec 2016 - Jan 2019 | |||
| Jul 201832000 mi | Oil pan leak- replaced at no cost | ||
| Subaru Outback in Minnesota, United States Jul 2015 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jul 202198000 miUS $100 | wheel bearing rear | ||
| Subaru Outback in Illinois, United States Jan 2018 - Feb 2021 | |||
| Mar 201823000 mi | Bad rear wheel bearing | ||
| Subaru Outback in Georgia, United States Sep 2015 - Dec 2018 | |||
| Mar 201712000 mi | Replaced noisy wheel bearings on both front wheels. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Missouri, United States Mar 2016 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jun 20163000 mi | Roof racks had gaps where they contact the roof. Subaru had issues a TSB for this problem and the dealer replaced them under warranty. | ||
| Jul 20163300 mi | Audio/nav screen freeze, become unresponsive until vehicle is restarted. Dealer applied update to audio system per TSB. | ||
| Apr 20178958 mi | Replaced roof rack due to warping and gapping of trim. | ||
| Mar 201816000 mi | Infotainment system not responding to inputs at times. Software update to infotainment system. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Georgia, United States Mar 2016 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Oct 20168300 mi | audio amp stopped working, replaced, stopped working, replaced, stopped worked. Decided to replace head unit. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Massachusetts, United States Nov 2015 - Dec 2021 | |||
| Dec 201614000 mi | Noise coming from wheels | ||
| Subaru Outback in North Carolina, United States May 2016 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Dec 201610000 mi | Tire Pressure Monitor light came on. Outside temps had dropped to mid 30's F, I think. Checked four tires and they were only about two psi low. Checked the spare tire and it was 10 psi low. Pumped up all tires. Drove to dealer | ||
| Subaru Outback in Ontario, Canada Feb 2016 - Jan 2022 | |||
| Jan 20179800 mi | The front passenger seat belt was overly sensitive and would lock up too easily. Subaru diagnosed it as a defective seatbelt assembly. Replace under warranty at no cost. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Florida, United States Dec 2015 - Jun 2016 | |||
| Jan 2016 | Gas cap wouldn't open. Have to push button while a 2nd person pried open cap. They loosened spring. Now it usually works but occasionally still won't open. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Oregon, United States Jul 2015 - Aug 2016 | |||
| Feb 20169000 mi | Cam phase sensor replace under warranty. Took about 2 hours total. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Florida, United States Aug 2015 - Feb 2018 | |||
| May 20169000 mi | Finish rubbed off on steering wheel bezel. New bezel was ordered and installed. | ||
| May 201723800 miUS $125 | Original battery died | ||
| Jun 201724000 mi | Recall for sensor Electric liftgate replacement motor | ||
| Nov 201731000 mi | Driver side rear bearings needed replacement | ||
| Jan 201831000 mi | Complete transmission failure. Could smell rubber burning while driving, clunking noises during turns, erratic rpms, dashboard lights came on, almost all of them. Car remains at the dealership service department. Successful repair remains to be seen. New transmission had to be ordered. | ||
| Feb 201832000 mi | After returning from the January transmission replacement, the car just never drove the same. When performing a left or right U-turn the front wheels would shudder on acceleration. We lost confidence that it would ever drive as it should, so decided to trade the car in. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Alberta, Canada Aug 2015 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Dec 20168060 mi | Battery was dead after car not used for 5 weeks. Battery would not accept a charge. Towed to selling dealer at their request,for their "required" 4-hr diagnosis procedure. Battery replaced late the next day. | ||
| Mar 201815500 mi | Engine takes long time to reach normal operating temperature (~20 minutes of city driving when outside temperature is -10 Celcius). This was second trip for same problem. Dealer says everything is normal, no repair was performed. I'm not satisfied. Cold engine uses more fuel. Winter consumption is over 11 l/100km. Summer, consumption is about 8.5 l/100 km. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Illinois, United States Apr 2016 - Jan 2022 | |||
| Aug 20166300 mi | Squeaking drivers seat. Uncomfortably aggressive lumbar support. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Minnesota, United States Feb 2016 - Apr 2017 | |||
| Jan 2017 | Right rear passenger heated seat. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Illinois, United States Jun 2016 - Jun 2017 | |||
| Mar 201612000 mi | nav./radio | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Feb 2016 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jun 201714000 mi | Brake dust accumulated on rear brake pads. Complained about a creaking noise from the rear end of the car, when stopping or about to release brake. | ||
| Mar 201926213 mi | Life gate motor replacement | ||
| Subaru Outback in Pennsylvania, United States May 2016 - Oct 2020 | |||
| Sep 201737000 mi | Condensate line clogged Line was cleared | ||
| Apr 201977000 miUS $200 | Front pads | ||
| Subaru Outback in Oregon, United States Jul 2015 - Dec 2017 | |||
| Jul 20168200 mi | Both front axles were replaced to correct a drive line shudder while accelerating from a stop. | ||
| Sep 20169000 mi | Front speakers drop at times. Problem under investigation. | ||
| Dec 201611000 mi | Faulty audio unit replaced. | ||
| Nov 201718000 mi | Engine was replaced with new short block to solve internal noise. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Pennsylvania, United States May 2016 - Jun 2017 | |||
| May 201729000 mi | Seat frame on drivers side needed to be replaced. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Oregon, United States Apr 2016 - Aug 2018 | |||
| Apr 201713000 mi | Defective switch for power window. It just started working again after a few weeks, know another Subaru owner with the same experience... | ||
| Subaru Outback in Kansas, United States Dec 2015 - Mar 2018 | |||
| May 201727000 mi | Replace Tires before FL trip | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Jun 2017 - Jan 2019 | |||
| Aug 201736000 mi | Replaced defective roof rack, which was warping. Passenger window would regularly roll down on its own. Inspected and replaced guide channels for window, which acted as resistance and caused window to not roll up properly. | ||
| Dec 201747750 mi | Trunk/hatch fails to close fully, regularly. Dealer could not replicate, but lubed and checked parts. | ||
| Jun 201857600 mi | Hydraulic struts on tailgate found to be defective. Symptoms were rattling at speed and inconsistent tailgate operation. Replaced under Subaru extended warranty. | ||
| Sep 201863000 miUS $100 | Front control arms and tie-rod ends were failing, replaced under extended warranty. | ||
2016 Subaru Outback 4dr Wagon
173-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
| Subaru Outback in Ontario, Canada May 2016 - Dec 2017 | |||
| Mar 201713640 mi | Oil drain plug boss was leaking oil. A new oil pan, sealant and oil were replaced | ||
| Apr 201713640 mi | Wheel Alignment. The car had always steered to the passenger side and I noticed what I thought was abnormal tire wear and reported it. The Subaru service advisor said they would check it, but they did not. I did not argue since I have access to a relatively new Hunter Alignment system at my local Mazda dealer---I checked the alignment and found both front toe adjustment in the red and the drivers side rear was really in the red, so it was causing the car to steer into the curb. All three were adjusted to specification. | ||
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