2016 Subaru Outback electrical system problems
308 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 2016 Subaru Outback — 48% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The reporting citizen was driving legally on [XXX] going forward towards the parking lot next to the round about when an uncrewed, autonomous commercial vehicle operated by Waymo suffered a catastrophic software/hardware failure. The 6,000-pound driverless robot taxi aggressively pursued and chased…”
filed Jul 1, 2026
“SUBJECT: Formal Safety Defect Complaint: 2016 Subaru Outback – Manufacturing Nondisclosure of Latent "Day 1" Design Flaw Causing Ignition Key Entrapment, Uncommanded Steering Column Lockout, and Severe Family Safety Risk I am writing to formally report a severe, unaddressed safety defect and a…”
filed Jun 9, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
16-156-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 2, 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
16-156-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 13, 2026
Electrical System problems in other Outback years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Outback | 9 | 13% |
| 2024 Outback | 16 | 17% |
| 2023 Outback | 17 | 20% |
| 2022 Outback | 49 | 11% |
| 2021 Outback | 73 | 25% |
| 2020 Outback | 257 | 29% |
| 2019 Outback | 362 | 35% |
| 2018 Outback | 265 | 33% |
| 2017 Outback | 391 | 43% |
| 2015 Outback | 126 | 25% |
| 2014 Outback | 32 | 15% |
| 2013 Outback | 23 | 8% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2016 Subaru Outback
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.