NHTSA campaign 16V716000 · Subaru campaign WTL-72
Subaru Recall 16V-716: Improperly Aligned Knee Guard Bracket
NHTSA recall 16V716000 (Subaru campaign WTL-72) was reported by Subaru of America, Inc. on October 6, 2016, with 54 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback for the 2017 model year. Owners were notified on November 14, 2016, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 16V716000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Subaru VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 16V716000 (also written 16V-716 or 16V716)
- Filed by
- Subaru of America, Inc.
- Subaru campaign number
- WTL-72
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 54 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Steering — Column
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 100% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 16V716000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Subaru
Subaru Legacy
- 2017 · Vehicles built September 21, 2016 – September 23, 2016 (per NHTSA)
Subaru Outback
- 2017 · Vehicles built September 21, 2016 – September 23, 2016 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 16V716000.
Defect description
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.
Safety consequence
If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTL-72.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 16V716000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.