2016 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 34owner reports
- 35,042median miles
- $500median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Jun 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
393 of the 643 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 34 of those describe stalling.
Tick what matches of 34 reports
Stalling on other Outback 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: 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (25 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Due to the improper tightening of the securing nuts, the drive shaft may separate from the rear differential.
Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
All 4 recalls on the 2016 Subaru Outback, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
What owners paid
5 of the 34 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $250 to $853.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 20,000 and 58,200 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“2016 3.6 Subaru Outback has required battery replacement 4 times. If the battery dies while operating the car a dangerous shutdown of various electrical systems. This has happened twice, one instance no power steering, the next time the braking systems engaged. In both instances I was fortunately at a stop. If this happens while the car is moving especially at a high rate of speed, the results would be catastrophic.”
Filed Sep 8, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 34 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Battery dies or the car will not start 238 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 84 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 25 reports