2016 Subaru Legacy Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 17 engine complaints for the 2016 Subaru Legacy, 12% of its 147 total complaints that year. The median mileage at failure was 36,000 miles, and NHTSA shows no related recall for this engine area.
- Engine complaints
- 17
- 12% of 147 complaints
- All complaints this year
- 147
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 36,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while shifting into reverse or drive, sometimes ending in a crash into an object.
- Some describe the 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine surging or idling high after a cold start, causing the car to lurch forward without the accelerator being touched.
- Others report oil leaking from the front cam carrier, rocker cover, and head gasket, triggering the oil warning light and requiring head gasket replacement.
- A few owners describe sudden loss of engine power while driving at highway speed with a low fuel level, with no warning before the stall.
- One owner reported repeated unexplained battery discharge with no warning signs before the car failed to start.
When 2016 Subaru Legacy engine complaints were filed
First complaint May 1, 2016, latest Sep 12, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2016 Subaru Legacy
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Legacy model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have?
- NHTSA lists 17 engine complaints for the 2016 Legacy, which is 12% of the 147 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 Subaru Legacy engine?
- NHTSA's data shows no related recalls tied to this engine complaint area for the 2016 Legacy.
- At what mileage do 2016 Legacy engine problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure among reported engine complaints is 36,000 miles.
- Did engine problems cause any crashes in the 2016 Legacy?
- NHTSA data shows 2 crashes linked to engine-area complaints for the 2016 Legacy, with no reported fires or injuries.
- What kind of engine issues do 2016 Legacy owners report?
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration, cold-start surging and lurching, oil leaks from the head gasket area, sudden power loss at highway speed, and unexplained battery discharge.