2016 Subaru Outback: doors won't lock, open or latch

5 of the 644 complaints about the 2016 Subaru Outback describe doors won't lock, open or latch.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 1%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 3 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Doors won't lock, open or latch by model year

2025
1
2024
1
2021
2
2020
6
2019
2
2018
4
2017
6
2016
5
2015
2
2013
1
2012
1
2011
1
2010
2
2009
1
2007
2
2005
1
2004
1
2002
1
1998
1

What owners say

Filed Oct 31, 2023 · NY

Right rear door will not open from inside, child door lock will not shift although child lock not engaged. InCase of crash or fire cannot exit vehicle. confirmed by repair shop. No insurance inspection. No warning lights associated with this visible

Filed Jan 5, 2021 · Electrical · 49,998 miles · VA

Purchased vehicle in august of 2015. Have had the battery replaced multiple times as follows: *11/20/2018 (608805) *11/01/2019 (630860) *05/18/2020 (641572) as of 01/05/2021, the vehicle battery is dead again and at moore subaru in richmond, virginia for service. Each time the battery has been dead, it has been parked (driveway or work) and when trying to start the vehicle, it would make a clicking noise. This time (1/5/21) the battery was completely dead (doors wouldn't open, no noises when trying to start). When the battery died in may of 2020, moore subaru had the vehicle for approximately 5 days to see if they could determine the problem. They ultimately found nothing more than a potentially bad battery.

Filed Sep 4, 2019 · Body · 35,500 miles · AE

While stationary, my daughter attempted to exit the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The door would not open from inside the vehicle. Discovered that the rear passenger side door child safety lock switch on the inside edge of the door was engaged. Tried to disengage the child safety lock; however, the switch was seized in the engaged position. Cannot open the door from inside the vehicle. Took it to the only subaru dealer in halifax, nova scotia, canada. Though the vehicle had less than 36,000 miles and should have been covered under warranty, they said it was a corrosion issue caused by lack of use; therefore, it was not covered by the warranty. We have never used the child safety lock.

Filed Oct 30, 2017 · Body · 24,645 miles · NV

On 09/19/2017 I have brought our vehicle to lithia reno subaru for service on the front passenger door panel. When the door handle was pulled on while closing the door, the door panel pulled in excessively. Lithia reno subaru determined that three screws were missing on inner door panel. I believe this defect existed from the time the vehicle was first assembled at the factory. This defect was not covered by manufacturer warranty.

Filed Mar 4, 2017 · Body · NY

Driver's side door cracked-open unexpectedly when vehicle was in motion (door was caught by latch, preventing it from swinging open fully). Issue first occurred at around 4000mi in early october 2016 when traveling on i278 eastbound at 50mph. Driver thought something was stuck in doorjamb. Issue reoccurred at 4500mi in mid october 2016 on rt17 southbound with 4 people in tow, traveling at 65mph. Local service center was made aware of the two occurrences at 4573mi on 22 oct. 16. Door latch mechanism was inspected and determined working as designed. Issue reoccurred 500mi after door latch mechanism was last inspected on i278 westbound, traveling at 20mph. Issue was addressed at 5071mi on 15 nov. 16. Door latch assembly was replaced and no issue encountered since repair. Observed conditions at time of door latch failure were: humid, 60-74f temperatures, smooth roads, no potholes, vehicle was turning twice left and once right.