2016 Subaru Legacy: Problems & Reliability
YEAR TO AVOIDThe 2016 Subaru Legacy has 147 NHTSA owner complaints, 454 manufacturer service bulletins, and 3 recall campaigns on federal record, led by electrical system and unknown or other issues. Among the 12 Subaru Legacy model years with federal records, it ranks 3rd by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid.
Sources: NHTSA complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-11-05 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
147
NHTSA complaints
454
Service bulletins
3
Recall campaigns
—
Avg. buyer-paid
Most-reported problem areas on the 2016 Subaru Legacy
Electrical System — 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Unknown Or Other — 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Visibility/Wiper — 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
How the 2016 compares to adjacent years
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Subaru Legacy years to avoid.
Know what to pay for the right 2016 Subaru Legacy — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
- DealDrive AI negotiator reads any dealer quote and writes your counteroffer
- Comparable real deals near you, from verified transactions
Found a 2016 Subaru Legacy for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
The CarWhere Used Car Report checks salvage records, salvage-auction listings, stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail, and full market history for one VIN — $16.99, one time.
FAQ
Is the 2016 Subaru Legacy reliable?
The 2016 Subaru Legacy has 147 NHTSA owner complaints, 454 manufacturer service bulletins, and 3 recall campaigns on federal record, led by electrical system and unknown or other issues. Among the 12 Subaru Legacy model years with federal records, it ranks 3rd by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
The most-reported problem areas for the 2016 Subaru Legacy in NHTSA owner complaints are electrical system, unknown or other, visibility/wiper. Service bulletins (454 on file) show what the manufacturer issued repair guidance for.
Does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have recalls?
Yes — 3 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016 Subaru Legacy. Recall completion is VIN-specific: run the exact VIN to see whether the work was actually done on the car you're considering.
Is the 2016 Subaru Legacy a good year to buy?
The 2016 is one of the Subaru Legacy years to avoid by complaint and bulletin volume — the 2025 and 2024 model years show cleaner records. If the price reflects the risk and the specific car checks out by VIN, informed buyers still do fine; just don't pay clean-year money for it.
How do I check a specific 2016 Subaru Legacy before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.