2016 Subaru Legacy · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 28owner reports
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 3, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
51 of the 147 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 28 of those describe dead battery, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Legacy.
Tick what matches of 28 reports
Dead battery on other Legacy years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020.
What this problem usually is
These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (28 reports) and the alternator (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the electrical system covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Legacy
Electrical system. Closed may 31, 2000, led to recall 00I-002.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 10 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Subaru Legacy that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised ...
Subaru has extended the Data Communication Module (DCM) warranty from 3 years 36,000mi to 8 years or 100,000mi. In rare cases, customers may experience a dead battery as a result of the DCM continually trying to access the 3G network.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is extending the Data Communication Module (DCM) warranty from three years (36 months or 36K miles) to eight years (96 months or 100K miles), whichever comes first.
Subaru Battery Drain Product Liability Litigation.
6 more on the 2016 Subaru Legacy page.
What owners wrote
“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.”
Filed Jan 20, 2023
“Battery drains completely and will not start if not driven for a day. Have had the battery rep,aced twice and electrical system checked, yet batteries continue to discharge and are dead if the vehicle is not driven for one day.”
Filed Oct 11, 2022
“Start up issues, often need to jump vehicle with a relatively new battery. Power window issues”
Filed Sep 26, 2022
“Battery is draining and needing replaced far more often than is typical. Constant corrosion build up on the battery.”
Filed Jan 11, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 28 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found