2016 Subaru Legacy electrical system problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Jun 8, 2026PADriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

   The factory touchscreen infotainment system is experiencing severe screen delamination (internal adhesive failure). This defect causes uncontrollable 'ghost touching,' where the screen registers phantom inputs. The system cycles through radio stations, changes audio sources, and changes navigation without driver input, causing an extreme, sudden driver distraction. Furthermore, the system frequently freezes and crashes, which completely disables the backup camera display.…

   NHTSA complaint #11742852 · source
2. Filed Jun 3, 2026NYElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   Battery dies all the time. Parasitic drain from the Starlink program in the car. There is/was a lawsuit. It involves some DCW fuse or something. Ive had to prematurely replace my battery. It also seems to be affecting the radio. It switches stations randomly.

   NHTSA complaint #11741718 · source
3. Filed Feb 18, 2026CAElectrical System

   Battery continuously dies, likely due to a parasitic drain, and it is extremely hard-taking up to 15 to 20 minutes to open the car door using the the wierd key you slide out of the key fob. As a woman, it is very dangerous when my battery dies and I am in a dark parking lot and I can't even get inside the car and lock the door for safety. Been happening for years lastest time was today 02/17/2026. For some reason, the class action suit said I was not a class member for the…

   NHTSA complaint #11718682 · source
4. Filed Jul 17, 2025CAElectrical System

   Car battery dies after the vehicle sits for longer periods (approximately 2 weeks or more?). Roadside assistance has tested battery twice after jumping the vehicle and stated the battery is still healthy. Various Subara owners report similar situations in online forums, and the culprit seems to be a design flaw where the DCM module is trying to connect with the obsolete 3G cellular network, causing a parasitic battery drain.

   NHTSA complaint #11674386 · source
5. Filed Dec 11, 2024184,000 miKSElectrical SystemEngine

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11630170 · source
6. Filed Apr 27, 2024UTElectrical System

   Battery dies really fast and ended up doing a replacement right after moving from Idaho to utah and losing a bolt and had to use a wrench from my late husbands toolbag in the trunk to keep it on the positive terminal I do believe after just having left the emergency room and was quite ill. The battery acid started to corrode the cables and everything along with it. Including the back seat, that had a seatbelt that got ripped accidentally when removing a babyseat from the car,

   NHTSA complaint #11585553 · source
7. Filed Nov 16, 2023ORElectrical System

   Battery has failed twice in a matter of a year. Both batteries were top of the line and no reason can be seen for failure. I see that there are a great deal of the same sort of complaints listed here and Subaru should be well aware of this issue.

   NHTSA complaint #11555483 · source
8. Filed Jul 8, 2023WAElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   I've own a 2016 Subaru Legacy Limited 3.6, for coming on 2 years. In the last 3 months I've had to replace my battery twice. The last being a red top battery costing $300+ and only lasted 2 days. The first incident that was most disruptive was, driving home in rush hour traffic when I lost all power, radio cut out, all lights on dash go out, my car begins to sputter and there is no power steering. Once traffic rolled to a stop it dies and wouldn't turn back over, couldn't…

   NHTSA complaint #11531013 · source
9. Filed May 31, 2023MSElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   Replaced battery but still all dash lights come on I lose power and it dies. I can jump start it and it stay but all lights stay on. New starter, new alternator, I just don't know what it is. Only code that comes up is P0420

   NHTSA complaint #11524713 · source
10. Filed May 29, 2023TXElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

    My 2016 Subaru Legacy 4 -Door Sedan has Power Windows. When my vehicle was under it's Extended Warranty I had an issue with the Passenger Side Window. When trying to roll the window down, it would roll down and then quickly roll back up. Over and over again. I had to wait and possibly even turn off the vehicle to finally get the Passenger Window to close. But needless to say, it made me very nervous. I took my vehicle to the Subaru Dealership in Grapevine, Texas for repair.…

    NHTSA complaint #11524309 · source
11. Filed Jan 20, 2023KYElectrical System

    Consistent problems with parasitic battery drain. If the car is ever left to sit for more than two weeks, the battery will have died. I have to be careful because the battery does not recoup the energy required to start the vehicle in city driving. The second battery I installed in the car (7/2021) has failed prematurely and again requires replacement.

    NHTSA complaint #11502835 · source
12. Filed Jan 3, 2023NYElectrical System

    Battery drainage issue: Battery failed in my 2016 Subaru legacy in 2019, replaced with a new battery and died again in 2020, 2021, and 2022. This should be a recall not a class action lawsuit. Leaving someone stranded is a safety issue. No warning was given when the battery died. It was fine one day and dead the next day. Had to tow the vehicle at my expense to the Subaru dealership and was told that they needed to replace the battery, which I had to pay for and they…

    NHTSA complaint #11499975 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology