This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Subaru Outback electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Subaru Outback have filed 293 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 42,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
293
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Outback | 32 |
| 2013 Outback | 20 |
| 2014 Outback | 30 |
| 2015 Outback | 123 |
| 2016 Outback (this page) | 293 |
| 2017 Outback | 381 |
| 2018 Outback | 254 |
| 2019 Outback | 358 |
| 2020 Outback | 245 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 293 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 Subaru Outback, 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
Electrical accounts for 46% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 293 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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.
This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) for certain vehicles equipped with 3.6L engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin contains information to help when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Battery drain dominates 2016 Outback electrical complaints. Owners describe parasitic discharge leaving cars dead after days parked, with tests showing the battery itself and alternator charging at spec—pointing to the car itself as the culprit. Many experienced multiple battery replacements (some four, five, or more) within a few years despite normal driving and no accessories left on. Some describe the battery depleting within minutes once the key is turned off; others found it drained after a few days of sitting idle. One owner's dealer identified the DCM (Data Communication Module/Starlink telematics unit) as failed and causing continuous drain. A few owners upgraded to higher-CCA batteries (from 360 to 640 CCA) and reported improvement.
Eyesight and infotainment system failures appear secondary but recurring. The driver-assistance feature cuts out randomly during highway driving, disabling cruise control and lane warnings. The Starlink infotainment system froze with the clock stuck, navigation nonfunctional, and radio unresponsive to controls. Window motors won't fully close at random. One incident involved complete electrical shutdown—the driver couldn't remove the key from ignition, engage park, or open windows. Dashboard lights flash or go dark intermittently, sometimes for seconds. Shift-lever issues prevent key removal (separate technical service bulletin exists). One crash allegation describes unexpected hard braking while driving 45 mph, attributed to Eyesight activation.
Dealers consistently report no findings during diagnostics despite complaints. Subaru sent a technical service bulletin (TSB) about the problem as early as 2017 but provided no solution. Owners note a known class-action lawsuit and widespread reports online, suggesting Subaru was aware of these issues.
Same Subaru Outback electrical reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Parasitic battery drain / chronic battery discharge
Electrical system draws power while vehicle is off, causing rapid battery depletion. Batteries test good; alternators charge within spec. Owners report multiple replacements (up to 6–7 in some cases) without resolution. One dealer-confirmed case identified the DCM (Starlink telematics module) as failed, causing continuous parasitic drain.
When: 2017–present (complaint cluster spans 2015–2025 model years); multiple owners experienced initial failures within 1–2 years of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dead after 3–10 days of parking with no accessories left on; Battery depletes within minutes after car is turned off (extreme cases); No warning lights or messages before failure; Vehicle requires jump-start to start; same drain repeats hours or days later; Slow cranking for ~1 week before complete no-start; Car stranded in unsafe situations (gas pump, ferry, parking lot, airport)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple battery replacements at owner or dealer cost. One owner paid $173 for higher-CCA battery (640 vs. 360 CCA OEM) and reported resolution. Dealer removal of aftermarket corrosion-protection device on one vehicle. DCM module replacement identified as necessary in at least one case but cost ~$958 per owner report. Software updates (ECM/battery charging updates) performed by some dealers with no lasting resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued TSB alerting dealers to 'potential electrical problem' as early as 2017; no solution provided. Subaru of America advised reboot of Starlink/infotainment in some cases. Dealers blamed owner driving habits, climate, battery age, or claimed 'no abnormal draw found' despite technical service records. Some dealers replaced batteries at no cost after repeated failures. Warranty extension on DCM noted in one service record. Class-action lawsuit referenced by multiple owners as known to Subaru.
Eyesight (pre-collision system) random dropout
Driver-assistance system disables without warning during driving, particularly highway operation. Owners report the system 'goes dark' or becomes inoperable, requiring vehicle restart to restore function. One incident involves sudden unexpected hard braking at highway speed.
When: Recurring throughout vehicle ownership; some owners report 300–400 off/on cycles per year
Symptoms owners cite: Eyesight system randomly inactivates while driving; Cruise control and lane-departure warnings disable when Eyesight fails; System resumes after car is turned off and restarted, or after several hours; No dashboard warning light indicates the failure (in most cases); One instance of sudden hard braking while driving 45 mph (attributed to Eyesight activation rather than failure); Harrowing during highway driving because driver cannot predict loss of lane/cruise warnings
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce failures on diagnostic visits. No repairs documented. One owner noted the DCM reset occurred in parallel with improvement in Eyesight dropout frequency but did not fully resolve it.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers performed multiple diagnostics without finding cause. No TSBs or recalls cited by owners for Eyesight dropout.
Starlink infotainment system freeze and loss of function
Multi-touch infotainment system loses responsiveness; clock freezes, GPS nonfunctional, audio controls unresponsive. System enters involuntary split-screen mode and will not exit; radio refuses to turn off. Button presses fail to respond after 20–30 seconds.
When: Reported in early 2016 on fully loaded 3.6L model purchased December 2015
Symptoms owners cite: Clock frozen at 10:37 AM; Navigation (GPS) not displaying map; voice commands nonfunctional; Multi-touch interface loses all functionality across board; Audio button press triggers automatic split-screen with navigation; cannot exit split-screen; Radio button press does not shut down system; system displays 'AUDIO OFF - TOUCH HERE' but won't respond; Message display between tach and speedometer affected; Touch-screen options disappear from display
Repairs/costs cited: None documented. Subaru of America recommended reboot (turning vehicle off), which temporarily resolved GPS freeze but not other symptoms in that case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America acknowledged one other vehicle with identical symptoms. Several TSBs exist for radio but did not apply to reported symptoms. Dealer stated expectation of more complaints about Starlink technology.
Window regulator / motor failure – windows will not fully close
Passenger front window and moonroof fail to close completely at random times. Issue intermittent and difficult to diagnose.
When: Reported in 2019–2020 model year vehicle beginning within first year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Windows will not go up to fully closed position at random times; Moonroof affected same way; Rendering windows 'useless to use'; Issue resolves itself at other times; intermittent nature
Shift-lever locking / key-removal failure
Key becomes stuck in ignition; will not turn to final 'click' for removal. Shift lever does not fully lock into park position. Radio remains on and battery stays engaged. Workaround requires restarting car, shifting into drive, and attempting shutdown again; sometimes requires 20–30 attempts.
When: First reported ~4 weeks prior to filing; also documented in 2018–2019 complaints
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not turn fully to remove from ignition; Steering wheel does not lock into secured position; Radio remains on while key is stuck, draining battery; Requires multiple restart-and-shift cycles to unlock key (up to 20–30 times); Occurs on both level and inclined parking surfaces
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru Service Bulletin #16-112-18R (issued 03/15/18, revised 11/06/18) describes problem and prescribes replacement of 'Shift Lever Complete' assembly. Owner reports indicate repair cost ~$500–$600 at dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued TSB #16-112-18R for shift lever but has not issued a recall despite acknowledging the defect is a 'faulty parts problem.' Subaru refuses to cover under recall.
Dashboard lights flashing / loss of all instrument cluster display
Intermittent complete loss of dashboard illumination and display. All lights and gauges go dark for seconds, then return. Also reported as random flashing dashboard lights that resolve after days.
When: Recurring from 2020 onward in some vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard lights go out for 2–3 seconds, then return on; Speedometer, turn signals, Eyesight, radio, gauges all disappear during outage; Loss occurs during driving, often triggered by hitting pothole (in one case); Lights and instruments come back on without intervention; Happens every few weeks; unpredictable; Random flashing lights reported in early complaints (2020), resolving after days
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to recreate problem during diagnostics. Dealer suggests 'bring it in while it's happening.'
Sudden unexpected vehicle motion (hard braking or lurching forward)
Two separate incidents: (1) sudden hard braking while driving 45 mph, attributed to Eyesight pre-collision system activation; (2) vehicle lurched forward into concrete patio while owner was placing car in park with foot on brake.
When: July 2022 (patio incident); December 2018 (hard-braking incident, attributed to Eyesight)
Symptoms owners cite: Eyesight pre-collision brake assist activated suddenly while driving 45 mph on local road; vehicle came to complete stop; brakes released shortly after; Vehicle lurched forward into structure while shifting into park from braking position; no warning prior to incident; No warning lights, messages, or symptoms before either event
Repairs/costs cited: Neither incident reproduced during dealer diagnostics. Patio-incident vehicle had no issues found after dealer inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer service manager on Eyesight incident escalated failure to manufacturer; no follow-up documented. Patio-incident dealer unable to find cause and could not reproduce.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) false warnings
TPMS activates repeatedly despite all tires at correct pressure per manual (35 PSI). Beeping and warning screen displayed on dashboard. Light does not persist as it should for true low-pressure condition per manual.
When: Started January 25, 2016 on vehicle with only 2,200 miles; 17 activations by complaint filing
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS beep and warning screen with exclamation mark and TPMS symbol appears; Screen says 'CHECK OWNER'S MANUAL'; Usually occurs in morning while backing out of garage; All tires confirmed at 35 PSI per manual specification; Light does not behave as manual describes—should stay on until pressure corrected, but disappears on its own
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer performed five service visits totaling 14 days; states now 'this is a normal condition for my vehicle and there is nothing else that can be done.'
Synthesized from 293 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
I purchased a replacement battery in 2023. In August of 2025, the battery died, requiring a jump start. A local auto parts store checked the battery and it tested within acceptable limits, showing around 513 amps. A private shop confirmed this, and cleaned the battery terminals and cables. The battery functioned well until around November 2025, when it again died requiring a jump start. The…
The battery has gone dead at least 3 times, even after fresh replacement. The first time was due to rear inside light being switched on (according to the Subaru service technician). The second time was while out running errands. The third time was after being parked for two days. The battery is less than a year old and should not be drained from power like this.
Have had to replace the battery 2 times in the last 4 years. And currently have an app that shows the strength of the battery in addition to its cells. If the car is not driven in two to three days then the battery depletes energy. There has to be something going on from the numerous times that this has occurred in the last few years. It is not only a very huge risk when this can happen in…
Replacement battery in under 35,000 mile Subaru discharged while sitting in garage for several weeks. There have been zero earlier problems with electrical system other than the original battery dying after about three years. When jump started the charging system seemed to work and the car started after sitting overnight. We are in a very cold northern environment and if the vehicle will not…
Battery dies when parked for a few days or not driven enough. Needs to be jumped several times per week.
Electronic parking brake engaged automatically due to switch assembly module failure while car was in motion at between 25-30mph. Car stopped instantly, passengers thrown forward, all-power died. Cars in rear stopped short. Failed to restart after initial attempts (10 min). Weather clear, about 45 degrees f. 2.5 year old car, ~40,000 miles.
At about 71,000 miles, there is an intermittent problem with removing the ignition key from the lock. The vehicle is always stationary when this problem is noticed.
Battery drain issue when the vehicle sits for more than three days will have a weak start. Battery will drain if radio is on with car not running in between 15-30 minutes. My second battery is ready for replacement in 4 years. Two year battery life is unacceptable. Attaching picture of when this happened to two Subaru outback at the same time. Upon research many Subaru owners have this…
Car repeatedly stopped working because of dead battery. Car was purchased new in 2016. First instance was when lift gate was left open over night in garage, 2 years after purchase. Second instance was when overhead lamp was left on overnight in garage. Third the same as second in a parking lot. Last instance was today when I drove a few miles, parked car for an hour and the battery was dead after…
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 Subaru Outback?
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 electrical problem on the 2016 Subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 293 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 135 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 28,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 42,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 28,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/Outback.
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.