2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport

No photo available — body style shown for reference.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Electrical

Electrical is the largest identified problem area: 14 of 75 complaints (19%) mention it. 19 complaints mention a component NHTSA leaves uncategorised. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more crash reports (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed fell from 77 in 2015 to 75 in 2016.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

Advertisement

Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 4 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 2016: 2 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category2014201520162017vs. 2016 Small Station Wagons
Annual fuel cost ($)2,100–4,1002,000–2,3002,000–2,3001,950–2,500
Combined MPG19–3027–3127–3125–32
City / Highway MPG17–27 / 23–3524–28 / 33–3624–28 / 33–3622–28 / 30–38
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)300–468289–326288–326282–351
Complaints filed1087775125Not compared
Recalls issued3217Not compared
Crash-involved complaints165710Not compared
Fire-involved complaints0003Not compared
Injuries reported6327Not compared
Deaths reported0000Not compared
Configurations compared4444

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport have?

1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport get?

EPA rates it 27–31 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport?

EPA estimates $2,000–$2,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

EPA-Rated Configurations (6)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Manual 5-spd42.0LAll-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars25 mpg33 mpg (low)28 mpg$2,250318 g/mi
Configuration 2Automatic (AV-S6)42.0LAll-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars28 mpg (high)36 mpg (high)31 mpg (high)$2,000 (low)288 g/mi (low)
Configuration 3Manual 5-spd42.0LAll-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons25 mpg33 mpg (low)28 mpg$2,250318 g/mi
Configuration 4Automatic (AV-S6)42.0LAll-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons28 mpg (high)36 mpg (high)31 mpg (high)$2,000 (low)288 g/mi (low)
Configuration 5Manual 5-spd42.0LAll-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons24 mpg (low)33 mpg (low)27 mpg (low)$2,300 (high)326 g/mi (high)
Configuration 6Automatic (AV-S6)42.0LAll-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons27 mpg35 mpg30 mpg$2,100294 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine30000
Transmission & Drivetrain131000
Fuel System21000
Electrical140000
Brakes72000
Steering51000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires41000
Airbags & Restraints93010
Driver Assistance & Speed Control94010
Body, Seats & Latches70000
Visibility & Lighting80000
Other190000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (1)

  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH · Campaign 19V149000 · Mar 1, 2019

    Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

    Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.