Recall 16V716 affects 54 2017 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles for an improperly attached knee guard bracket. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.
Subaru is recalling 54 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles because the knee guard bracket was not properly attached to the steering beam assembly. In a crash, that bracket can fail to restrain a driver who is not wearing a seatbelt, which raises injury risk; Subaru dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The knee guard bracket on the 2017 Subaru Legacy and Outback is part of the knee bolster area under the dashboard, near the steering column. In normal operation, that bracket is attached to the steering beam assembly, the support structure that helps hold the steering column and lower dash in position.
On affected vehicles, the bracket was not properly attached during manufacturing. Subaru traced the problem to an inappropriate supplier manufacturing process after misaligned welding was found in production. That leaves the knee guard bracket unsecured from the steering beam assembly, instead of tied into the lower dash structure as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. Owners should not expect a light, sound, vibration, or steering feel change to identify this defect before the vehicle is inspected.
Who's affected?
Both Legacy and Outback scopes include the air bag system and steering column.
| 2017 Subaru Legacy | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2017 Subaru Legacy | steering column |
| 2017 Subaru Outback | air bag system |
| 2017 Subaru Outback | steering column |
| Units affected | 54 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
An improperly attached knee guard is less able to restrain the driver's lower body in a crash when the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, increasing injury risk. There is no warning sign for this attachment problem. Wear the seatbelt on every trip and schedule the inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017 Subaru Legacy or Outback is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Subaru dealer to schedule the free steering-beam inspection and knee-guard bracket repair that checks whether the bracket is attached correctly.
- Bring the recall notice if Subaru mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V716 when you call.
- Wear your seatbelt on every trip until the inspection and any needed repair are complete.
- Call Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 with questions and reference Subaru recall WTL-72.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Subaru technician inspects the knee guard welding on the steering beam. If the knee guard bracket is not properly attached, the technician replaces the steering beam assembly. The recall repair, including parts and labor, is free. Subaru has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related steering beam or knee guard repair before the recall repair. Bring repair invoices and payment records to the Subaru service desk or contact Subaru customer service to ask how to submit them.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| September 29, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| October 6, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
| November 14, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V716?
Recall 16V716 covers 54 2017 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles with a knee guard bracket that was not properly attached to the steering beam assembly. Subaru dealers inspect the knee guard weld and replace the steering beam as needed for free.
What should I do if my 2017 Subaru Legacy or Outback is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V716. If it is, contact a franchised Subaru dealer to schedule the knee guard welding inspection. Reference Subaru recall number WTL-72 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. Subaru dealers inspect the knee guard welding on the steering beam and replace the beam as needed free of charge.
Is it safe to drive with recall 16V716 open?
Subaru did not issue a do-not-drive instruction for recall 16V716. The safety risk applies in a crash if the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, because the knee guard cannot properly restrain the driver's lower body. Schedule the free inspection as soon as the dealer has an appointment.
What if I bought my Subaru Legacy or Outback used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2017 Subaru Legacy or Outback is included, then call a franchised Subaru dealer and reference recall WTL-72.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V716000 |
|---|---|
| Subaru customer service | 1-800-782-2783 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V716 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V716000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →