2016 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Car won't start
- 38owner reports
- 28,000median miles
- $200median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Apr 7, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
38 of the 238 reports of dead battery on the 2016 Outback describe won't start.
Part of Battery dies or the car will not start (238 reports)
Tick what matches of 38 reports
Won't start 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, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (38 reports) and the module (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the electrical system covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
10 of the 38 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $167 to $300.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 20,000 and 39,000 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Subaru Outback 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 ...
IF YOU RECEIVE A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF A NO CRANK / NO START CONDITION DURING VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, THE IG1, IG2, ACC1, ACC2 AND/OR THE EGI MAIN RELAYS MAY BE THE ROOT CAUSE AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.
What owners wrote
“Car failed to start five times. No cranking. No lights. No nothing. Four times required roadside assistance, jumper, from State Farm Insurance. One time, after a five-minute rest, it started with no problem. Three times battery was replaced. 12/21/18 @ $144.12----3/8/22 @ $167.38----9/16/22 @ $172.78”
Filed Sep 23, 2022
“Battery discharges too quickly, leaving me with a car that won't start. I've already replaced the battery once - to the tune of over $300 because I needed roadside assistance - and I'm looking at having to do it again. I've been stranded multiple times and have had to find someone to jump start my car. I just ordered a $200 car jumper so I don't get stranded again.”
Filed Aug 16, 2022
“Car will repeatedly will not start. This has happened many times. New battery and with in weeks would not start again. Had battery checked and alternator both work fine. This is a safety issue if you need your vehicle for and emergency and it will not start.”
Filed Apr 7, 2022
“after having the 2916 Subaru outback detailed, the car wouldn't start, apparently if a door is left open for 10 minutes or more the battery drains, Jump started the vehicle and it starts right up”
Filed Jul 12, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 38 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
Other problems on this car
- Windshield cracks or distorts 84 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 34 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 25 reports