CarRecallWatchThe 2016 Subaru Legacy has 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 147 complaints with NHTSA, including 9 crashes, 3 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Electrical System (51 reports).
2016 Subaru Legacy recalls
Steering Column May Fail, Causing Loss of Steering Control
The steering column on certain vehicles may have been improperly machined.
Driveshaft May Detach and Puncture Fuel Tank
Certain vehicles may have securing nuts on the rear driveshaft that were not tightened properly during assembly.
Transmission Oil Leak Can Drip on Exhaust, Causing Fire Risk
Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
Most common 2016 Subaru Legacy problems
Problem areas named in the 147 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 51 |
| Unknown Or Other | 41 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 17 |
| Steering | 16 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Structure | 6 |
| Wheels | 3 |
What owners report
The infotainment screen would do random cycling through source, maps and other functions all without the driverâs input. Also the screen would just randomly freeze and become insensitive to touch inputs. The steering wheel controls for the infotainment randomly malfunctions. The most concerting thing is when placed in reverse, the camera display is very delayed or doesnât come on at all. These events happens quite often.
While traveling approximately 70 mph, my 2016 Subaru Legacy experienced a sudden drivetrain failure. The vehicle made a loud bang, immediately lost acceleration/power, and approximately five seconds later the front drivetrain locked, causing the tires to skid and leaving a long skid mark. The engine remained running. After stopping, the vehicle would not move forward and felt as if it was stuck in Park, but it could roll backward. This occurred without warning and created a dangerous highway situation
The factory touchscreen infotainment system is experiencing severe screen delamination (internal adhesive failure). This defect causes uncontrollable 'ghost touching,' where the screen registers phantom inputs. The system cycles through radio stations, changes audio sources, and changes navigation without driver input, causing an extreme, sudden driver distraction. Furthermore, the system frequently freezes and crashes, which completely disables the backup camera display. This prevents a clear view behind the vehicle and creates a severe safety hazard for pedestrians. The dealer confirmed the issue. Contacted Subaru of America and they are unwilling to assist at all with fixing the issue, l
Battery dies all the time. Parasitic drain from the Starlink program in the car. There is/was a lawsuit. It involves some DCW fuse or something. Ive had to prematurely replace my battery. It also seems to be affecting the radio. It switches stations randomly.
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.
2016 Subaru Legacy questions
Does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2016 Subaru Legacy: Steering Column May Fail, Causing Loss of Steering Control; Driveshaft May Detach and Puncture Fuel Tank; Transmission Oil Leak Can Drip on Exhaust, Causing Fire Risk. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
Based on 147 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (51), Unknown Or Other (41), Visibility/Wiper (17).
How do I check if a recall on my 2016 Subaru Legacy has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.