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2016 Subaru Outback repairs by problem area
Chart based on 90 repairs.
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 2017 16000 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 2017 25000 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 2021 110000 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 2016 3000 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 2017 12000 mi US $110 |
The battery needed to be replaced. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Colorado, United States Aug 2015 - Oct 2021 | |||
| Nov 2017 26000 mi US $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 2019 45000 mi US $150 |
Broken lumbar adjustment. Internal part of drivers seat needed to be replaced | ||
| Subaru Outback in Missouri, United States Nov 2015 - Oct 2021 | |||
| Aug 2017 28000 mi |
Reset | ||
| Subaru Outback in Arizona, United States Mar 2016 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Dec 2017 16000 mi |
popping noise from suspension when turning. Manufacturer had TSB and repair kit. | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Sep 2015 - Jul 2022 | |||
| Apr 2016 9500 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 2017 US $400 |
severe misalignment, likely due to manufacturing defect. Tires had to be replaced after on 12000 miles. | ||
| Feb 2018 32000 mi |
Rear wheel bearing replaced due to failure. (warranty replacement) | ||
| Apr 2022 86000 mi US $250 |
replace front brake pads | ||
| Subaru Outback in New York, United States Nov 2015 - Aug 2017 | |||
| Feb 2017 8000 mi US $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 2016 6680 mi |
Electric motor to raise tailgate was making clunking noises. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Missouri, United States Sep 2015 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Nov 2016 27200 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 2018 67000 mi US $134 |
Battery was worn out, would no longer start, had to get jump started. Replaced the battery right away. | ||
| Oct 2021 121000 mi US $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 2016 13000 mi |
nav screen failing (partial display, software related) | ||
| Jul 2017 26000 mi |
Defective wheel bearing, right rear. | ||
| Jan 2018 35000 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 2022 61592 mi US $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 2017 23000 mi |
Mechanic cracked oil pan while doing oil change. R/R oil pan | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Jan 2021 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Feb 2022 55000 mi US $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 2017 25000 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 2017 15000 mi US $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 2018 30000 mi US $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 2018 33000 mi US $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 2021 40000 mi US $1200 |
full brake job, front and rear | ||
| Jan 2022 45000 mi US $125 |
replace battery | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Jul 2015 - Jun 2022 | |||
| May 2018 14000 mi |
Passenger front window control on driver side did not work. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Massachusetts, United States Mar 2017 - Sep 2023 | |||
| Apr 2020 24000 mi |
Battery died in a parking lot--repaired under warranty | ||
| Mar 2022 37000 mi US $300 |
pads and rotors (rear) replaced battery died | ||
| Oct 2022 45000 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 2021 92200 mi US $120 |
Front brakes squealing; replaced pads and rotors for both front wheels. | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Dec 2015 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jan 2022 67000 mi US $500 |
Sun roof came off track. The track assembly needed to be replaced. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Ontario, Canada Jun 2016 - Nov 2018 | |||
| Oct 2018 30380 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 2017 16120 mi |
Blind Spot Sensors stopped working. Replaced under warranty. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Texas, United States Nov 2015 - Jan 2022 | |||
| Oct 2021 118000 mi US $350 |
Replaced front brakes including pads and turn rotors | ||
| Subaru Outback in Arkansas, United States Dec 2016 - Jan 2019 | |||
| Jul 2018 32000 mi |
Oil pan leak- replaced at no cost | ||
| Subaru Outback in Minnesota, United States Jul 2015 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jul 2021 98000 mi US $100 |
wheel bearing rear | ||
| Subaru Outback in Illinois, United States Jan 2018 - Feb 2021 | |||
| Mar 2018 23000 mi |
Bad rear wheel bearing | ||
| Subaru Outback in Georgia, United States Sep 2015 - Dec 2018 | |||
| Mar 2017 12000 mi |
Replaced noisy wheel bearings on both front wheels. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Missouri, United States Mar 2016 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jun 2016 3000 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 2016 3300 mi |
Audio/nav screen freeze, become unresponsive until vehicle is restarted. Dealer applied update to audio system per TSB. | ||
| Apr 2017 8958 mi |
Replaced roof rack due to warping and gapping of trim. | ||
| Mar 2018 16000 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 2016 8300 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 2016 14000 mi |
Noise coming from wheels | ||
| Subaru Outback in North Carolina, United States May 2016 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Dec 2016 10000 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 2017 9800 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 2016 9000 mi |
Cam phase sensor replace under warranty. Took about 2 hours total. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Florida, United States Aug 2015 - Feb 2018 | |||
| May 2016 9000 mi |
Finish rubbed off on steering wheel bezel. New bezel was ordered and installed. | ||
| May 2017 23800 mi US $125 |
Original battery died | ||
| Jun 2017 24000 mi |
Recall for sensor Electric liftgate replacement motor | ||
| Nov 2017 31000 mi |
Driver side rear bearings needed replacement | ||
| Jan 2018 31000 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 2018 32000 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 2016 8060 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 2018 15500 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 2016 6300 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 2016 12000 mi |
nav./radio | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Feb 2016 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jun 2017 14000 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 2019 26213 mi |
Life gate motor replacement | ||
| Subaru Outback in Pennsylvania, United States May 2016 - Oct 2020 | |||
| Sep 2017 37000 mi |
Condensate line clogged Line was cleared | ||
| Apr 2019 77000 mi US $200 |
Front pads | ||
| Subaru Outback in Oregon, United States Jul 2015 - Dec 2017 | |||
| Jul 2016 8200 mi |
Both front axles were replaced to correct a drive line shudder while accelerating from a stop. | ||
| Sep 2016 9000 mi |
Front speakers drop at times. Problem under investigation. | ||
| Dec 2016 11000 mi |
Faulty audio unit replaced. | ||
| Nov 2017 18000 mi |
Engine was replaced with new short block to solve internal noise. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Pennsylvania, United States May 2016 - Jun 2017 | |||
| May 2017 29000 mi |
Seat frame on drivers side needed to be replaced. | ||
| Subaru Outback in Oregon, United States Apr 2016 - Aug 2018 | |||
| Apr 2017 13000 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 2017 27000 mi |
Replace Tires before FL trip | ||
| Subaru Outback in California, United States Jun 2017 - Jan 2019 | |||
| Aug 2017 36000 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 2017 47750 mi |
Trunk/hatch fails to close fully, regularly. Dealer could not replicate, but lubed and checked parts. | ||
| Jun 2018 57600 mi |
Hydraulic struts on tailgate found to be defective. Symptoms were rattling at speed and inconsistent tailgate operation. Replaced under Subaru extended warranty. | ||
| Sep 2018 63000 mi US $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 2017 13640 mi |
Oil drain plug boss was leaking oil. A new oil pan, sealant and oil were replaced | ||
| Apr 2017 13640 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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