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Exterior lightingPart report

2016 Subaru Outback Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
1%of 643 total for the year
Median mileage
8,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2016 Subaru Outback, 1% of the 643 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 8,000 miles.

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.

“My car required 2 repairs 5 weeks apart of the wiring bundle controlling the fog lights and low oil level sensor due to a critter chewing the bundle while it was parked. I now have bounce laundry sheets stuffed around the engine compartment at the suggestion of the dealer; they see this often from cars out of the mountains.”

NHTSA complaint #10789134, filed 2015-11, 1,000 miles

“Complete draining of battery just sitting there for no reason... We see this is an enormous problem with outbacks, and we have one with great problems leaving us stranded !”

NHTSA complaint #11416687, filed 2021-05, 15,000 miles

“Purchased this vehicle 3/2019, started having problems with the battery dying in a few months, even having the hatch open during cleaning would drain the battery. We would jump it with another vehicle and the battery would drain in a few days whether we used the vehicle or not. I have been stranded alone in not a safe environment n more than one occasion. Took the battery in to be checked and they said it was fine. Purchased a battery tender and would leave it hooked up and then finally that no longer functioned. Had to purchase a new battery. …”

NHTSA complaint #11366512, filed 2020-10, 39,134 miles

“There is a glare on the info screen that makes it impossible to read most daylight times, needs to be recessed and/or hooded, the area below that says temp and time is plain unreadable -also very small. Have seen this problem on Subaru forum for years - seems time to address before someone has a crash with this vehicle they bought because it was so safe.”

NHTSA complaint #10885205, filed 2016-07, 250 miles

“My 2016 Subaru OUTBACK has experienced 6 separate incidents where my vehicle battery was inexplicably drained, and hence the entire electrical system was shut down. I was unable to start it without an external boost in each occasion. Fortunately these incidents posed no safety threat to me or others as the car was parked at my home, or in a parking lot. Unfortunately, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by my Subaru Dealer, Gillman, in Schertz, TX although extensive diagnostics were performed on 2 occasions by Gillman. …”

NHTSA complaint #11418552, filed 2021-05

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202534%
202433%
202367%
202231%
202141%
2020162%
2019111%
2018101%
201771%
201651%
201541%
201473%
201383%
2012186%
201111718%
20103510%
2009109%
2008157%
200765%
200641%
20053011%
200322%
200232%
200042%
199832%
199711%
199612%

Other parts of the 2016 Subaru Outback

Electrical system
309 complaints
Other or unknown
124 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
91 complaints
Engine
53 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
45 complaints
Steering
24 complaints
Vehicle speed control
22 complaints
Brakes
19 complaints
Body and structure
19 complaints
Fuel system
13 complaints
Air bags
10 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Subaru Outback

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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