This bulletin provides information on paint codes for vehicles in the 2026 line up.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Subaru Legacy body problems
severe 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 6 body complaints filed for the 2016 Subaru Legacy, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 9 model years of Subaru Legacy in our records for body problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) Quality Assurance has identified an increase in the number of cracked windshields on some 2015 and 2016MY Legacy and Outback models. SOA has now further extended the warranty to 8 years / unlimited miles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosing and repairing customer concerns of a âpoppingâ or âsnappingâ -type sound heard when opening the sunroof. The sound may occur when the rear portion of the glass lid weatherstrip contacts or catches the roof frame when the sunroof is opened.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information bulletin advises of a design change made to the rear body panel. This panel is located between the trunk and the rear glass and incorporates the package shelf. It has been re-designed with convex surfaces added to prevent items going into or out of the trunk from being scratched or caught by the rear edges of the reinforcement panels.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosing and repairing customer concerns of a "popping" or "snapping" -type sound heard when opening the sunroof. The sound may occur when the rear portion of the glass lid weatherstrip contacts or catches the roof frame when the sunroof is opened.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Child safety lock on rear passenger door got stuck upon activation for the first time. Unable to unlock it. The door can only be opened manually from outside. Goodyear tires eagle ls 2 225/50-18 are completely dry rotten . The ride is terrible and unsafe.
The child safety lock on the rear passenger's side will not disengage. It happened suddenly (unknown). You can't open the door from the inside, but you can open it from the outside. This is a safety issue because passengers could not get out of the door if an accident were to occur. The vehicle was stationary. The actuator needs to be replaced. After searching online recently there are a…
Had body trouble with your 2016 Subaru Legacy?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
It's a meaningful issue. 6 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 38,368 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Subaru/Legacy.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.