NHTSA (USA)CriticalDo Not Drive
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 5 recalls, 143 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Subaru Legacy.
23–29 mpg combined
8.1–10.2 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2016 Legacy centers on the electrical system, which draws more reports than any other area by a wide margin. Owners most commonly describe the battery dying after the vehicle sits for even a short period, two weeks or less in several accounts, despite testing that shows the battery itself is healthy, pointing to a suspected parasitic drain. A recurring frustration tied to this is difficulty entering the vehicle when the battery is dead, since the keyless entry stops working and the physical key process is described as slow and cumbersome. Visibility and wipers make up the second-largest complaint group, though the reports are less specific in pattern. In the powertrain category, a smaller number of owners describe unexpected engine revving or unintended acceleration at low speeds, typically during turns or from a stop, sometimes requiring a shift to neutral to bring the engine back down.
143
Total Complaints
9
Crash-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Subaru Legacy has 5 recalls, with the most serious being two distinct hazards: a steering column that can fail to transfer input from the wheel to the front wheels, leaving the driver unable to steer, and a driveshaft that can separate from the rear differential and puncture the fuel tank, creating a fire risk.
The steering issue affects certain vehicles where the steering column components may not engage correctly, meaning turning the wheel has no effect on the direction the car actually travels. This represents a complete and sudden loss of directional control with no warning to the driver.
On the drivetrain and fuel system side, two related concerns involve the rear driveshaft. On some vehicles, the nuts holding the driveshaft to the rear differential can come loose over time, eventually allowing the shaft to detach and strike the fuel tank below it. A punctured fuel tank can leak onto hot exhaust components and raise the risk of fire. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve this issue across all affected production windows, which is why multiple filings address the same underlying hazard. There is also a separate fire risk from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke, which can allow transmission fluid to leak and drip onto the exhaust pipe, where it can ignite.
At a glance
What can fail
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
The steering column may have been improperly machined, causing the steering wheel to have no effect on wheel direction when turned.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the steering column lot number and replace it if necessary, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Steering column parts may not be made to specification and fail to engage properly, potentially causing loss of steering control and crash risk.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect your steering column and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The securing nuts that attach the drive shaft to the rear differential may not be tight enough, which could cause the drive shaft to separate from the differential.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten or replace the fastening nuts as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The nuts connecting the propeller shaft to the rear differential may not have been tightened enough at the factory and could loosen over time, causing the shaft to separate. This could damage the fuel tank and cause a fuel leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten or replace the nuts and bolts securing the propeller shaft to the rear differential.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke may be deformed, allowing transmission oil to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the propeller shaft at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
