2016 Subaru Legacy Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 5%of 147 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 7,700miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the brakes of the 2016 Subaru Legacy, 5% of the 147 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 7,700 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was going 40mph when I had to break for a yellow light with plenty of time to stop, as I was hitting the brakes my car began to skip and continue to press forward and did not stop until I hit the back of someone's vehicle. The brakes did not work and I was not going so fast that I couldn't have had a smooth stop.”
NHTSA complaint #11020685, filed 2017-08, 7,700 miles“My vehical had the wrong brakes on it could not get inspected tech noticed pad were too big for rotor. 8 days later car still not returned to me if he haddened notice brake failure would occur”
NHTSA complaint #10948964, filed 2017-02, 140,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10875555, filed 2016-06, 2,000 miles“I been having issues with my brake When I’m driving out of know where my whole brake goes all the way down and it takes a minute to actually brake. As well when that happens my eyesight goes off. This is a big risk I’m taking when im driving. I took my car to the Subaru dealership and they couldn’t find the reason why my car is doing it.”
NHTSA complaint #11484521, filed 2022-09“The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. While reversing the vehicle, it suddenly accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to stop. As a result, the vehicle drove through the driveway barriers and crashed into a tree. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who repaired the rear driver side panel and trunk. The contact had not called the dealer. The manufacturer was notified and advised the contact that they would tow the vehicle to a Subaru dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was 37,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11110715, filed 2018-07, 37,000 milesRelated service bulletins
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Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 17% |
| 2024 | 1 | 6% |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 2 | 6% |
| 2020 | 2 | 2% |
| 2019 | 2 | 2% |
| 2018 | 6 | 5% |
| 2017 | 5 | 4% |
| 2016 | 8 | 5% |
| 2015 | 13 | 8% |
| 2014 | 2 | 4% |
| 2013 | 4 | 6% |
| 2012 | 7 | 8% |
| 2011 | 18 | 11% |
| 2010 | 13 | 9% |
| 2009 | 9 | 14% |
| 2008 | 13 | 20% |
| 2007 | 3 | 9% |
| 2006 | 10 | 11% |
| 2005 | 31 | 17% |
| 2004 | 3 | 6% |
| 2003 | 4 | 7% |
| 2002 | 7 | 13% |
| 2001 | 7 | 9% |
| 2000 | 7 | 7% |
| 1999 | 12 | 13% |
| 1998 | 14 | 12% |
| 1997 | 27 | 19% |
| 1996 | 18 | 15% |
| 1995 | 29 | 16% |
| 1994 | 6 | 10% |
| 1993 | 7 | 9% |
| 1992 | 1 | 2% |
| 1991 | 10 | 13% |
| 1990 | 4 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2016 Subaru Legacy
51 complaintsOther or unknown
42 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
18 complaintsSteering
16 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
13 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsWheels
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Subaru Legacy
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology