2017 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 917 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 32 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 25 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleDec 19, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Outback vehicles. A replacement air bag control module may have been installed that is not compatible with the passenger air bag module, possibly affecting air bag deployment.
In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUX-09.
Campaign 19V910000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, columnOct 6, 2016
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 16V716000 on NHTSA.gov
SuspensionAug 3, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Outback vehicles manufactured June 20, 2016, to June 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may have improperly tightened attaching bolts for the front left and right brake calipers, wheel hubs, and the right stabilizer clamp.
If any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the related components would also become loose and may detach possibly making the vehicle unstable and reducing the braking capability. These conditions would increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the bolts for proper torque, and replace any loose bolts, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTE-66.
Campaign 16V576000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, columnDo not drive until repairedMay 11, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Campaign 16V292000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
391 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Nov 21, 2023
The battery goes completely dead I have gone thru three battery s I only have 18000 miles on this car and it has left me on the road more than once with dead battery.... the dealer has said nothing wrong OMG....I EVEN bought a $300 battery....and subaru will not fix this known problem I see on the internet that I am not alone with this problem. I am afraid this car will go dead while I am driving and cause a safety issue DO SOMETHING PLEASE..I see there is a class action lawsuit but have not received any notices and now all the time to respond has expired ....REALLY.. PLEASE HELP..this car was not cheap it was over $34,000...and subaru just lies and goes around the problem..
Electrical system, Oct 14, 2023
failure of battery within 24 months of last replacement, average battery life for this car is 24 months. Dealer claims that there is no maintenance bulletin related to premature battery failure. have found the following Subaru mc-10117535-9999 service bulletin but have no history of dealer utilizing this to resolve problem. Cannot leave car unattended for more than 3 days without having to jump start car in order to use.
Electrical system, Sep 22, 2023
My 2017 outback having problem removing the key from the ignition when turned off and in PARK. They changed the key cylinder and this didn't resolve the issue. When I went to pick up the car after the cylinder change the technician tried to show me that the problem was resolved and the KEY WAS STUCK. $648 spent with no resolution. There is a known warranty problem with the park switch BUT they cannot replace the switch unless the technician is able to have the diagnostics connected to the car while the problem occurs. With an intermittent problem, this is very unlikely. Dealer wants me to take car home but I want the problem resolved, cannot just leave the car in ACC when unable to remove key. They will periodically check the car with car jockeys and let me know when they find problem. I have their loaner vehicle.
Electrical system, Sep 6, 2023, crash
Vehicle battery needed to be charged over 27 times because it is stone dead. Was told over a year ago vehicle needed a DCM module but there were non a viable..As of 9/5/2023 this module is still unavailable vehicle has only 8,800 miles. Cannot drive vehicle anywhere and be assured it will start and get you back home.Dealership have replaced battery 3 times. This vehicle needs to be recalled.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 22, 2023
The automatic back hatch came down with out pushing button or key fob. The fob was in the ignition and nobody was around to push the button to make it go down. It caused damage to my spine and gave me a concussion. Capitol Subaru of Salem Oregon said it was a Glitch that happens sometimes when wires get crossed. After they inspected. Plus changed information on our documents without our knowledge. It did go to Subaru for almost a month the said they found nothing in the EDR report. So they feel I do not need to see it.
Electrical system, Jul 27, 2023
Vehicle has a chronic battery drain issue. I have replaced batteries repeatedly. If the vehicle sits undriven for a few days the vehicle will not start due to dead battery. It is unsafe to have a vehicle you cannot rely on to start. There is no warning when this occurs. This is happening every where for the 5th generation Subaru Outbacks, Foresters and was subject to a class action lawsuit. Subaru's response is to install a new battery, charging the customer a 'discounted' price without fixing the cause of the battery drain.
Electrical system, May 24, 2023
After I turn off the car the key will not come out of the ignition. Usually after I put the car in gear a few times it comes out. This seems like a common issue that gets worse over time based on my internet searches. This is a safety issue because I am stuck staying with my car in unsafe areas late at night. I think Subaru should recall the cars and repair the issue. I have not taken it to a shop yet but there seem to be many people that have and have had to replace the gear shift mechanism.
Electrical system, Mar 15, 2023
Battery - Subaru battery failed. Purchased a new aftermarket battery that failed after 5 months. No warning. Completely dead. Taking to dealership for "diagnostic" test on March 20, 2022. This is a known issue with a class action settlement. I was told I did not qualify for reimbursement of any kind. Subaru does not have any "fix" for this problem and numerous owners of these vehicles are having battery drain problems throughout the US and Canada.
Electrical system, Mar 6, 2023
Batteries have very short lives. 3 batteries in 18 months years. They drain while vehicle is parked and not being driven for a week.
Electrical system, Feb 26, 2023
I purchased my 2017 outback in 2018. Since owning the vehicle I have had to replace the battery 5 times in 5 years. It is about to be the 6th time as my battery is giving me problems already. I have been stranded twice because of the battery and both time were when I lived in a rural part of NV. I have brought this to the attention of Subaru in Henderson, NV and they said everything is fine. However, online there are a number of blogs and sites all with the same complaint and all say the same thing. Subaru does nothing.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 17, 2023
We have owned our previously owned Subaru Outback 2017 for 18 months and have replaced the battery 3 times. We are now on our 4th battery. That battery turnover seems rather excessive, doesn't it? My thoughts: 1. Phantom drain 2. Short (harness or wires cut by abrasion) 3. Programming (shut alternator off to increase mpg) 4. Faulty programming - see 3.
Electrical system, Feb 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The contact had the vehicle jump started. The contact replaced the battery, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The failure mileage was 25,000.
Electrical system, Feb 6, 2023
My 2017 Subaru Outback has a parasitic battery drain. The battery dies after one day of non-use. It has to be jump started. The battery is less than two years old and is the second battery since we purchased this car in 2019. Took it to a auto repair service to be checked and the technician found a parasitic draw that continually cycles between .05 mil amps to .14 mil amps. This may be the CAN system not going into sleep mode and draining the battery. This is a potentially hazardous situation and can leave me stranded in remote or dangerous locations. Subaru is well aware of this problem and yet has not addressed this problem.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 3, 2023, crash
I experienced 2 incidences of sudden unexpected acceleration (SUA), the second one led to an explosive collision. Subaru asked that I sign the EDR release but refused to give me (rightful owner) a copy. With significant effort I obtained a copy of the EDR for myself. It is near impossible for the consumer to obtain their rightful copy, significant because it stinks of poor transparency for Subaru to investigate Subaru (see below). Once I obtained my copy, I released the EDR to Subaru and my vehicle was inspected by SOA at our local dealership. For some untold reason, the vehicle would "not to be released to me" at the end of the day but was held for additional time at the dealership. Later Customer "Advocacy" informed me that the results of the investigation was that the throttle was active 1.5 seconds prior to impact and that it was a case of "pedal misapplication". Because I also had the data I was acutely aware of how SOA cherry picked data to match their own narrative. I know for a fact what happened considering all the data, together with the actual facts of this potentially fatal accident. I was pulling straight into the parking spot, yet the EDR MISTAKENLY "thinks" that the car is turning sharply to the right the entire time (EDR shows this and why PBS not active). The electronic sensors are being fed ERRONEOUS information. With the steering wheel 'supposedly' at full lock, the power steering pump is told to spin faster to maintain pressure. The computer tries to pick up speed for this and sends an electronic message to open the throttle. The rpms suddenly surge and the vehicle explodes forward leaving only a fraction of a second to react before impact (at which point EDR confirms brake was on). Intermittent failures in electronic sensors do in fact happen as experts know. Incredibly, SOA refused to hear me. I am concerned for the safety of other Subaru drivers as well as those in the path of a Subaru SUA incidence. Ignoring this can have fatal consequences.
Electrical system, Jan 30, 2023
ISSUE: Battery dies rather expectantly. Recently died in subzero temps here in Denver CO, on 1/30/2023. AAA was called, no issue with battery, rather there is a parasitic drain (0.46amps) occuring without any lights or visible signs of electrical on when the car is turned off. All signs lead to this being an issue with cars CPU draining the battery in a matter days. Becomes a major safey issue if you are stranded in cold weather as it sometimes the case here in the mountains of colorado after a day of skiing, for instance.
Electrical system, Jan 7, 2023
The battery on numerous occasions goes dead. Some thing causes the charge to drain. This has occurred while the car is parked overnight as well as when the car is on a long drive and stops at a rest stop.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 1, 2023
Upon turning off my 2017 Subaru Outback Touring, the engine turned off via the push start/stop button. However, when I went to use the vehicle later the same day, the car would not start (starter would not engage). I determined that the steering wheel was NOT locked. The transmission was in Park, and I could not move the shift lever out of Park. I attempted engage the steering wheel lock by moving the steering wheel back and forth, but without success. Vehicle now totally inoperative. Vehicle is available for inspection at my residence upon request. The safety of owner and others is compromised as follows: Because of living in a semi-rural area, I rely on this vehicle to safely transport me and my family members everywhere (grocery store, doctor appointments, emergency room visits, etc.); Failure of the vehicle to operate property could expose operator and/or passengers to extremely cold weather, such as that recently experienced in December 2022. This is the second occurrence of the same malfunction. First was in July 2022. Vehicle was serviced by Subaru of Georgetown who informed me that the problem (car would not start because steering wheel lock was not engaged) was "fixed", but that they could not duplicate. No other entity, other than the dealer, has examined the vehicle. No warning lights, messages or symptoms prior to either occurrence. Driving was normal, engine shutdown appeared normal, but subsequent restarts were not possible due to the steering wheel lock not engaging (which is what the dealer informed me was the problem at the first occurrence).
Electrical system, Dec 28, 2022
My 2017 Subaru Outback will not start after sitting all night I’ve had diagnostics ran on the battery and it shows 100% charge. After charging the battery it held until the next day it was drained again. It was snowing with winds 50 mph, and I had to jump my car to start it. The faun doesn’t work when the battery is dead and that causes the theft alarm to go off once the battery is charged. Now my check surroundings before backing up sensor stays on well after shifting into Drive and beeps incessantly while driving, the back up camera also stays on while in drive. Now I have to drive 2 hours to a dealer and pay $130 in diagnostics. I feel this is the same situation thousands of Subaru owners are experiencing and why they have filed a class action law suit. Subaru should be liable for my expenses to repair this known systemic issue in a product they manufacture that is not safe, it it leaves you stranded on the side of the road in the cold. Thank you
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 27, 2022
2 yo 2017 Subaru Outback was left untouched for 2 weeks. When trying to start, it had a dead battery. 2 years later, 2017 Subaru Outback was left untouched for 1 week. When trying to start, it had a dead battery. 2017 Subaru Outback was left untouched for 2 days. When trying to start, it had a dead battery with a 1 - and 8 month old battery. Basically, when this 2017 Subaru Outback hasn't been started every day, it will have a dead battery.
Electrical system, Dec 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact was able to jump start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the battery was replaced; however, the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the contact would be notified of what the manufacturer was responsible to cover. The failure mileage was 70,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 5, 2022
Despite a replacement and multiple visits from AAA, the battery in our 2017 Subaru Outback dies constantly and leaves us stranded. Mechanics insist the batteries (both the original and the replacement) are fine and there must be a greater issue with the car itself. We drive regularly, run the engine in the driveway otherwise, and still continue to wake up and find the car dead.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2022
Battery goes dead, known problem with unusual drain on battery due to electrical issue. If car sits unused for a few days, battery dies.
Electrical system, Nov 25, 2022
I have had the battery replaced 4 times in less than 6 years. There seems to be something wrong with the electrical systems ability to keep a battery charged, or something draining the battery constantly.
Electrical system, Nov 10, 2022
Battery dead and needing replaced within 2 months
Electrical system, Nov 6, 2022
I have had to replace the battery multiple times since purchasing the vehicle in 2017. Each time the battery was determined to be unusable by qualified service staff. Battery replacements occurred on (1) 2019-10-18 at 34,877 miles and on (2) 2022-02-24 at 67,339 miles. The first occurrence left me stranded at a hotel on a sub-freezing day. The second occurrence left me stranded in a parking lot. Both required me to obtain commercial service to get on the road. Both occurrences were subsequently diagnosed by a reputable service shop (Les Schwab) as a battery failure and replacement was recommended. The battery failures occurred without warning from the vehicle (no lamps).