2016 Subaru Legacy Complaints

BACK OVER PREVENTION — Filed 09/08/2026

The infotainment screen would do random cycling through source, maps and other functions all without the driver’s 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 doesn’t come on at all. These events happens quite often.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 08/01/2026

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION — Filed 06/02/2026

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, leaving the customer to pay full price to replace the screen. Does not seem like a fair business practice.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 06/04/2025

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 02/17/2026

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 09/12/2025

THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR! On Friday, September 12, 2025 at 3:32 p.m., I was driving slowly in a parking lot preparing to park. As I started to turn the car into the parking space, my car surged forward without my pressing on the gas pedal. I pressed on the brake, and the car came to a stop.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 08/30/2025

Unable to remove key when turning the engine off. Eventually works after several tries of turning the engine on and off.

ENGINE — Filed 07/16/2025

Sometimes when starting from a stop or slowing down to make a turn the engine revs up like I was pushing the gas pedal. When this happens ( 4 times in the last 6 months) luckily I was covering the break to slow down or going very slow from a stop. Each time I was turning left or right. I was able to push the shifter into neural. After applying the breaks the engine slows down

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 05/02/2025

Parking Brake harness is defaulty.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 06/16/2025

Car battery dies after the vehicle sits for longer periods (approximately 2 weeks or more?). Roadside assistance has tested battery twice after jumping the vehicle and stated the battery is still healthy. Various Subara owners report similar situations in online forums, and the culprit seems to be a design flaw where the DCM module is trying to connect with the obsolete 3G cellular network, causing a parasitic battery drain.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE — Filed 03/17/2025

purchased my 2016 legacy in 2022, I was offered the bronze warranty due to milage. My vehicle was bought back due to loud noises coming from the engine. Was told there was a peze recall and it was fixed. Brought it back to the dealership for the same sound and they found nothing wrong. A few weeks later leaving work, I noticed my muffler was hanging. I took it to a local muffler shop where the repaired it and repaired the heat shield which was loose and knocking up against the exhaust. Still taking my vehicle to the dealership for the warranty clear coat/ zetec and was told that I needed two-wheel bearings and that I was over milage, that it wouldn't be covered. I had both wheel bearing replaced and rear brakes within the first year of having the vehicle. Later part of 2024 my dashboard was lighting up, not allowing any of my safety features to work and I have no traction in the snow. I took the vehicle back to the dealership where I was told that it had a bad valve body, That the vehicle was over the milage for the extended warranty repair. I was sold a lemon, but there is nothing I can do about it.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 12/13/2019

I was driving on highway and engine failed light came on, along with low fuel sign. Engine shut off. Luckily I was able to safely pull over. The Dealer determined that the low fuel sensor failed thus shutoff the engine. Shutting engine off on a highway is dangerous and life threatening event. Need a different strategy to warn the driver with a time to safely pull over. It cost me over $1,500 to get the part repalce.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 01/04/2025

There is an active recall for Subaru vehicles. The recall is for emissions number WUB-87 for 2015-2018MY Legacy and Outback 2.5L. My car is a 2016 Subaru Legacy and it has the exact problem listed in the recall, but is not included. The front end exhaust is defective as described in the recall.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 12/10/2024

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact became aware that while the check engine light remained illuminated the horn failed to function as designed. The contact stated that after the check engine warning light issue was resolved the horn returned to normal functionality. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance; however, the manufacturer informed the contact that the failure was a known issue and advised the contact to stop driving the vehicle until the check engine warning light issue was resolved. The failure mileage was 184,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 11/05/2024

Slowing to pull into parking spot and car accelerates and hits what is in front of vehicle. Has happened at least four times. Last time 11/5/2024

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 06/06/2024

I went to the store with an intact and unblemished windshield. After returning to the vehicle, a crack in the passenger side of the windshield appeared with no chip or damage visible. After only a day, this cracked had tripled in length with weekly crackling sounds. This is a known issue with Subarus and the manufacturer is trying to be selective with repairs. My vehicle has the EyeSight system and will cost me $1100.00 to repair because it's $700.00 to calibrate the system after glass repair..

POWER TRAIN — Filed 04/18/2022

The contact owned a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, it suddenly accelerated crashing a small tree causing the contact to reverse the vehicle. When placed in reverse the vehicle accelerated and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There was damage done to both the tree and other vehicle. The vehicle was towed and deemed total. A police report was filed. The contact had received a bruise on their knee and sought out medical attention. The contact dealer was not made aware of the falure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 11/10/2021

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space and pressing the brake pedal the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and continued to drive forward causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a pole. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified. The failure mileage was 28,000.

STRUCTURE — Filed 01/19/2020

ON 1-19-2020 I DROVE HOME FROM THE STORE, CAME TO A STOP IN MY PARKING SPOT AND WHEN I WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS THOUGH I HAD HIT THE GAS. I QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKES 3 TIMES BUT GOT NO RESPONSE AND HIT MY FENCE BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP NONE OF MY SAFETY FEATURES (INCLUDING COLLISION AVOIDANCE) KICKED IN AND SUBARU SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ANY MALFUNCTION AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE INCIDENCE. FILED CLAIM WITH INSURANCE COMPANY AND GETTING FRONT DAMAGE REPAIRED, WONDER WHY THE COMPUTER DOES NOT SHOW THERE WAS A COLLISION...

TIRES,CHILD SEAT — Filed 03/26/2019

OUCH!! MARCH 20, 2019!!!

STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) — Filed 05/09/2017

MAY OF 2017 I WAS DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON 294. AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THE CURVE THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN BACK. I STOP AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD WITH NO INCIDENT. I CALLED SIS IT'S A D ASKED IF WAS A SAFETY RECALL. I WAS TOLD NO. I THEN HAD THEM TO THE CAR TO SUBARU OF AMERICA IN ORLAND PARK IL. WHEN THE CAR WAS FROSTED TOLD I WAS TOLD THE CAR WOULD BE FIX IT WAS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. SUBARU OF AMERICA THEN CONTACTED ME SAYING THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT SO IT WOULDN'T BE FIXED. ONCE THEY FOUND OUT I WAS BLACK. I FILED A BETTER BUSINESS REPORT SUBARU STILL DENIED THE CLAIM TELLING TO USE MY INSURANCE MY INSUWPULDNT PAY SAID IT DEFECT PART. SUBARU FAILED TO EXAMINE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM BEFORE DENYING THE CLAIM. SUBARU IMMEDIATELY BLAMED ME BUT NEVER CHECKING THE PROBLEM. ONCE I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK. IT WAS IN WORST CONDITION. THE CAR CANE BACK IN WORST CONDITIONS BUMPER PEELING FENDER SMASHED. I WAS TOLD THAT WAS MY FAULT THE CAR CAME BACK WORST. THAT INTERFERED WITH THE OTHER THINGS IN WARRANTY BEING REPAIRED L WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BIG C. IN 2017 NOW BACK TO OK HEALTH I CAN PROCEED WITH PROCESS. I RENTED CARS FOR A YEAR AND THEN EVENTUALLY BROUGHT ONE. I NEED SUBARU TO REPAIR THE CAR I WANT TO KEEP IT.

SEAT BELTS — Filed 11/15/2018

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON A MAIN TOWN ROAD. AND WAS REAR ENDED AT UNDER 20 MPH. MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THE SEAT BELT KEPT PROPERLY RESTRAINED ME.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/05/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH THE DRIVEWAY BARRIERS AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PANEL AND TRUNK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD TOW THE VEHICLE TO A SUBARU DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. *TT

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/29/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MILD CONCUSSION FROM THE IMPACT AND MODERATE HEAD PAIN, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BILL RAPP SUBARU (3446 BURNET AVE, SYRACUSE, NY) WHERE IT WAS DEEMED OPERABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG SENSORS DID NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH OF AN IMPACT TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 08/30/2017

I WAS GOING 40MPH WHEN I HAD TO BREAK FOR A YELLOW LIGHT WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP, AS I WAS HITTING THE BRAKES MY CAR BEGAN TO SKIP AND CONTINUE TO PRESS FORWARD AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL I HIT THE BACK OF SOMEONE'S VEHICLE. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND I WAS NOT GOING SO FAST THAT I COULDN'T HAVE HAD A SMOOTH STOP.