2016 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

52Engine complaints

8.1%Of all 639 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM302 · 47.3%

Unspecified / other124 · 19.4%

VISIBILITY/WIPER83 · 13%

ENGINE52 · 8.1%

POWER TRAIN42 · 6.6%

Share of the 639 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Subaru Outback overview page.

What owners report

“THE 3.6R ENGINE IMMEDIATELY AFTER COLD START DOES ABOUT 5 CYCLING SURGES OF ABOUT 300 RPM WITH TRANSMISSION IN FORWARD OR REVERSE WITH BRAKES APPLIED…”NHTSA complaint 11122836 — filed 08/27/2018

“MY WIFE WAS DRIVING CAR ON HIGHWAY AND WAS WAITING IN TRAFFIC TO TAKE A RAMP EXIT. OUR SUBARU OUTBACK'S ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. CAR HAD…”NHTSA complaint 11118683 — filed 08/09/2018

“AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN ON A CITY STREET, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THERE WAS A LONG HESITATION FOLLOWED BY A SURGE OF…”NHTSA complaint 11111266 — filed 07/13/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Subaru Outback have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Subaru Outback: 52 of 639 complaints on file (8.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Subaru Outback have in total?

639 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 21 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 13 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.