Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Sometimes when starting from a stop or slowing down to make a turn the engine revs up like I was pushing the gas pedal. When this happens ( 4 times in the last 6 months) luckily I was covering the break to slow down or going very slow from a stop. Each time I was turning left or right. I was able to push the shifter into neural. After applying the breaks the engine slows down
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact became aware that while the check engine light remained illuminated the horn failed to function as designed. The contact stated that after the check engine warning light issue was resolved the horn returned to normal functionality. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance; however, the manufacturer informed the contact that the failure was a known issue and advised the contact to stop driving the vehicle until the check engine warning light issue was resolved. The failure mileage was 184,000.
Vehicle had significant amount of oil pooled in the battery case holder back approximately Jan 2022 or earlier. Contacted Subaru of Las Vegas and they offered to clean the vehicle believing it was a careless oil change. Next oil change Subaru said I had a minor oil leak. Took it to an outside vendor to have them look at it and they said I didn't have an oil leak. Every oil change after that subaru continued to say I had a leak. But, my oil levels never changed enough to show low oil. Took it to the same vendor again and again they said no oil leak. Took it to another vendor and they changed the gasket cover and leak, but mentioned there was a leak with the cam carrier that needed to be revealed. They recommended taking it to their neighbor vendor that specializes in Subaru and they looked at it and confirmed, but mentioned to contact Subaru and that it should be a covered repair as it is a known issue with Subaru and that they were currently working on one with the same issue. While recently driving it, I noticed what smelled like burning oil. When I looked online I can see numerous years and models of owners reporting the same issue with their Subaru. Contacted my dealer and they said it wasn't covered. Contacted Subaru of America and they are currently investigating it. If your camshaft seal is leaking oil, you need to get it replaced right away. The leak can lead to a fire, and your engine could seize up. It can also damage your timing belt which can cause bent valves, cylinder head damage or camshaft damage. Prior to this, I actually have already repaired the timing belt. I want to ensure that no injury or damage comes to another Subaru vehicle owner having the same issue. I have also just had to repair both axles and my Subaru is a 2016 with 90,000 miles on it.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with oil leaking from the driver's side front cam carrier, rocker cover, and head gasket. The dealer informed the contact that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,514.
Car battery has discharged on three occasions within the passed 6 months. There is no warning that the battery is failing, turn car off and go to turn on next day and it won’t start. The battery is one yr old and mechanic gave it passing mark when he checked it. When I researched internet to gather more info I found the class action lawsuit describing my problem on other Subarus and felt it should be documented.
WHILE DRIVING, EXHAUST ODOR DETECTED IN CABIN CAUSING HEADACHES/NAUSEA AND EXHAUST BECAME MUCH LOUDER STARTING AT ROUGHLY 185,000 MILES. DISCOVERED SUBARU SERVICE PROGRAM BULLETIN WUJ-95 WHICH IDENTIFIES CRACKS FORMING IN THE BELLOWS SECTION OF THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE AND ITS REPLACEMENT WITH AN UPDATED FRONT EXHAUST. CONTACTED SUBARU AND REQUESTED IT BE COVERED UNDER THE WUJ-95. THIS REQUEST WAS DENIED AS MY VEHICLE "ALREADY HAD THE UPDATED EXHAUST PIPE". PURCHASED AND INSTALLED THE KIT CALLED-OUT IN WUJ-95 MYSELF. UPON REMOVAL OF THE EXHAUST PIPE, I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM VISUALLY THAT CRACKS HAD FORMED IN THE EXACT LOCATION IDENTIFIED IN WUJ-95. THE "UPDATED" EXHAUST PIPE THAT MY VEHICLE HAD FAILED. CONTACTED SUBARU SEVERAL MORE TIMES REQUESTING THIS BE COVERED . COVERAGE WAS DENIED. THE "UPDATED" EXHAUST PIPE IS NOT A TRUE FIX FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE.*DT*JB
FOLLOWING ARE TWO MAIN ISSUES, CAUSALITY/CORRELATION UNCERTAIN. AFTER THE "SUBARU EYESIGHT" FAILED FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES WHILE UNDERWAY (DASHBOARD CLUSTER LIT UP IN NUMEROUS PLACES, TOO), THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM RESET WHILE DRIVING. THEREAFTER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO "BUCK (E.G. LURCH FORWARD SEVERAL INCHES WITH A LOT OF FORCE)" WHEN THE VEHICLE'S CVT WAS IN "DRIVE" AND I WAS STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED AT NORMAL PRESSURE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT SIX TIMES IN THE LAST FOUR DAYS, AND I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED. THE "BUCK" IS SO SEVERE THAT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I FELT LIKE I WAS REAR-ENDED. THE MOST RECENT TIME THAT IT OCCURRED, MY BEST FRIEND COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED WHEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AS HE WAS STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE RUNNING VEHICLE, GATHERING THINGS FROM THE FRONT SEAT (E.G. FOOT OR LEG RUN OVER HAD HE BEEN TAKING GROCERIES OUT OF THE BACK SEAT). AT THIS POINT, THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP IS BEING COY ABOUT SITUATION RESOLUTION. WHAT IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING IS THAT THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO "KILL" ACCELERATION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, AND AN OBJECT FORWARD OF THE CAR IS DETECTED. YET, THE VEHICLE TRIED TO PROCEED FORWARD WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC?
3.6 LITER 6-CYL ENGINE SURGES AFTER A COLD START. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, THE IDLE SPEED IS HIGH. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO GEAR, AS THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED AND THE CAR BEGINS TO MOVE, THE IDLE SPEED DROPS. IF THE CAR IS BROUGHT TO A STOP OR A VERY LOW (CREEPING) SPEED, THE IDLE SPEED INCREASES, CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH. FOOT NEVER TOUCHES ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT ALL. THIS BEHAVIOR CAUSES THE CAR TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER IT IS BROUGHT TO A STOP BY THE BRAKES. IT ALSO MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE CAR AT CREEPING SPEED - EASING OFF THE BRAKES, AS THE CAR STARTS TO MOVE, THE IDLE SPEED DROPS, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR. AFTER A SECOND, AS THE CAR COMES TO A STOP, THE ENGINE SPEED KICKS UP AGAIN. THIS MAKES THE CAR LURCH INTO MOTION AGAIN. OPERATOR MUST QUICKLY INCREASE BRAKE PRESSURE, BUT SIMULTANEOUSLY THE ENGINE IDLE SPEED DROPS DUE TO THE INCREASED SPEED. THEREFORE THE CAR SLOWS AGAIN AND THE CYCLE REPEATS. THE DESCRIBED BEHAVIOR HAPPENS EQUALLY IN FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR. THE DESCRIBED BEHAVIOR IS ONLY AN ISSUE ON A COLD START. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH A WARM ENGINE. I EXPERIENCE THIS ON A DAILY BASIS. IT HAS AFFECTED CONTROL OF MY CAR IN THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS: BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY; ENTERING AN INTERSECTION; IN A PARKING LOT.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .