Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Subaru Outback owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while his wife was parking the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle accelerated forward going down a hill. The vines from the woods prevented the vehicle from going into a lake. The contact's wife later received medical attention for an injury to her left leg. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it remained. The vehicle was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and sent an investigator to remove the black box from the vehicle. The manufacturer later informed the contact that, through their investigation findings, the floor mat below the accelerator pedal and the EZ pass mounted on the front windshield caused the failure. The manufacturer provided the contact with a printout of the vehicle manual. …
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the was stationary at a traffic light, the vehicle accelerated independently while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the RPM's was elevated to 5,000. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle and was able to continue driving to his destination. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The consumer stated the vehicle was inspected and didn't find anything wrong with the vehicle.
At low rate of speed, while parking vehicle accelerated without warning and damaged 3 cars . This happened previously with separate family drivers without damage. This is a serious defect and could potentially cause serious injury or death. This was not driver error. the car lurched forward with absolutely no gas pedal involvement. The previous times it happened at a stoplight with enough room in front to hit the brake. Not this time.
UNKNOWN When pulling into a parking space at the [redacted] diner my 2016 OUTBACK suddenly accelerated while I was ready to shift from drive to park. It was as if I put the gas peddle to the floor. There was a car about 6feet in front of me which I hit.
The car accelerates on its own at times. I am not pressing the gas or going down a hill. It is flat road, sometimes even pulling into my driveway. There is also feeling like I am being bumped from the back and moving when I am idle. I am strict about oil changes and have it fully inspected when I take it every 3 months as I am a single mom and cannot afford for my children and I to be hurt in an accident or be without a car.
While driving on the highway at about 60mph my 2016 Outback suddenly accelerated much faster. The only way to avoid collision with another car or cars or end up in a ditch was to drive around them. The brake did not work! After a minute or more(?) I eventually was able to stop using the brake.
SUBJECT: Formal Safety Defect Complaint: 2016 Subaru Outback - Manufacturing Nondisclosure of Latent "Day 1" Design Flaw Causing Ignition Key Entrapment, Uncommanded Steering Column Lockout, and Severe Family Safety Risk I am writing to formally report a severe, unaddressed safety defect and a deceptive corporate practice by Subaru of America, Inc. affecting my 2016 Subaru Outback. This vehicle suffers from a "Day 1" latent engineering flaw that causes the physical ignition key to become permanently trapped in the ignition cylinder, triggering an uncommanded, rigid locking of the steering column assembly. Subaru has possessed documented knowledge of this failure for years, cataloging it under Technical Service Bulletin TSB 16-112-18R. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. While the vehicle was secured in park with the emergency brake engaged, the vehicle lunged forward independently when the brake was released. The contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The driver then shifted into reverse and the vehicle accelerated independently in reverse. The driver shifted into drive and the vehicle independently accelerated forward again and crashed into the side of a building. The vehicle jumped a curb and crashed into a tree coming to a stop. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer; however, a diagnostic test showed no fault codes. The approximate failure mileage was 1,100.
Tl* the contact owned a 2016 Subaru Outback. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a utility pole. The front end was severely damaged and the vehicle was destroyed; however, the air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The cause of the failure was not determined. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 4,000. Updated 08/09/17 updated 10/13/2017
Upon slowing down & pulling into a parking space, to park my car in front of a business, my vehicle spontaneously accelerated forward, up over the sidewalk. The vehicle accelerated a 2nd time as I tried to stop the vehicle with the brakes. The vehicle did not stop until it impacted the wall of the building.
Acceleration complaints in other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2016 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2016 Subaru Outback, 3% of the model year's 643 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Subaru Outback acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2016 Subaru Outback, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Subaru Outback acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 5,000 miles, and 75% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.