2016 Subaru Outback Engine Problems
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2016 Subaru Outback, 8% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 40,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “pipe front epf” (9% of reports).
- 53engine complaints
- 40,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Pipe front epf: mentioned in 5 of 53 complaints (9%)
- Bellows cracking: mentioned in 5 of 53 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 19 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 53 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury.
Subaru Outback engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Outback | 5 | 6% | 13,000 |
| 2024 Outback | 7 | 7% | 7,000 |
| 2023 Outback | 1 | 1% | 12,800 |
| 2022 Outback | 23 | 5% | 20,000 |
| 2021 Outback | 21 | 7% | 18,250 |
| 2020 Outback | 49 | 5% | 7,250 |
| 2019 Outback | 39 | 4% | 9,300 |
| 2018 Outback | 37 | 5% | 6,000 |
| 2017 Outback | 43 | 5% | 31,952 |
| 2016 Outback | 53 | 8% | 40,000 |
| 2015 Outback | 47 | 9% | 44,000 |
| 2014 Outback | 35 | 17% | 31,733 |
| 2013 Outback | 67 | 23% | 48,000 |
| 2012 Outback | 50 | 17% | 114,500 |
| 2011 Outback | 85 | 13% | 104,000 |
| 2010 Outback | 44 | 12% | 112,000 |
| 2009 Outback | 15 | 14% | 112,500 |
| 2008 Outback | 14 | 6% | 100,450 |
| 2007 Outback | 15 | 12% | 90,000 |
| 2006 Outback | 43 | 16% | 104,000 |
| 2005 Outback | 10 | 4% | 117,000 |
| 2004 Outback | 2 | 2% | 137,000 |
| 2003 Outback | 5 | 5% | 123,400 |
| 2002 Outback | 5 | 3% | 135,000 |
| 2000 Outback | 3 | 1% | 120,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2016 Subaru Outback. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
There is a crack in the exhaust manifold and the exhaust smell is entering the cabin affecting driver and passengers' health. The problem has been confirmed by a Subaru dealer and an independent mechanic. There were no warning lights, I was made aware after routine maintenance by an independent…
leak in cam carrier gasket caused large ammounts of smoke to fill engine bay and enter cabin air system. Struggled to breath and vision to an extent was obstructed. when car was parked, smoke continued to fill the engine bay. problem was confirmed by an independent technitian, with the vehicle…
My 2016 Subaru Outback CVT transmission has exhibited an intermittent jerking and grabbing sensation when accelerating from a stop, worse when cold, since at least February 2023. This is a known defect covered under Subaru warranty extension bulletin 16-115-18. February 2023 â An authorized…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Subaru Outbacks have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 53 owner complaints about engine for the 2016 Subaru Outback (8% of the 643 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Subaru Outback engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 40,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2016 Subaru Outback?
The most frequent phrase is “pipe front epf”, in 5 of 53 complaints, followed by “bellows cracking” (5).
Other 2016 Subaru Outback problems
See all 2016 Subaru Outback problems or engine problems across all Outback years.