The Lemon Index2016 Subaru Legacy.
The 2016 Subaru Legacy is about average by owner complaints: 56 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 86, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about wipers & visibility, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 23 to 29 mpg combined. The best Subaru Legacy year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 147 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Subaru Legacy year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 14K to 56K miles on the car (81 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 35K–65K miles
Recalls 3
- steering 2016
The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
- transmission & drivetrain 2015
Due to the improper tightening of the securing nuts, the drive shaft may separate from the rear differential.
- transmission & drivetrain 2015
Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Subaru told dealers about
Subaru sent dealers 468 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Subaru of america, inc
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Eyesight packages adaptive cruise control with lane-departure and auto-braking doesn't work. Dealer refuses to fix.
2016 Subaru Legacy owner · NHTSA complaint 10789608
More owner reports
Unable to remove key from ignition when vehicle is in park-engine/car turns off except radio/lights. Have to restart car put into reverse, back into park, then turn off car.
NHTSA complaint 11287462
Key will not remove from ignition when turning off car. Progressively got more frequent. Only way to remove the key is to move the car or to shift back in forth from park to drive. Part had to be replaced
NHTSA complaint 11290031
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Subaru Legacy reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 86; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Subaru Legacy year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2016 Subaru Legacy problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (20%), steering (18%) and transmission & drivetrain (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have?
3 safety recalls (latest: steering). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Subaru Legacy get?
23 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Subaru Legacy safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Subaru Legacy problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 14,500 and 56,900 miles. The middle report was at 35,000 miles, from 81 complaints.
Does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 12% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Subaru Legacy cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Subaru Legacy year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2014 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works