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, Aug 9, 2021
I am having issues with my 2017 Subaru Outback on battery drain. 37,000 miles. I've had to replace the battery 2x (2019 and again today) and a failed battery right after getting it fixed by Subaru services. The battery drains much quicker than required.
Electrical system, Aug 3, 2021
The battery frequently goes dead, just a few days after the last drive. We don't believe any lights were left on, etc., but perhaps there is an unknown current drain. This happened at home, so it wasn't dangerous, except for the need to jumper to another vehicle. It could be dangerous if we were stranded away from home. Not reproduced by a dealer or service center. The battery was replaced once, already. No warning lights or symptoms before the failure.
Electrical system, Aug 2, 2021
I'm the 2nd owner of a 2016 Outback. I bought it with 28k miles on it in 2017. It now has 33k. However - I drive daily...just not far. There is zero excuse for my battery dying at 30k. I called Subaru - and they initially to me to 'buy the battery (Sunday) and we'll cover it. Upon meeting with Subaru mgnt - looking for my money back.....I'm then told "you're out of warranty last week". Something is very wrong with this electrical system and Subaru dealerships - as Subaru is walking away from it. I got stuck with the new battery bill - but Subaru is stuck with a major problem - one that'll come back to bite them hopefully!!! SHAME ON SUBARU.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 1, 2021
I drove my Outback for 10 minutes. I stopped to run an errand that took 30 minutes. I then tried to start the car and it wouldn't start. All the lights on the dash turned on. I then tried several more times. It still would not start. Then I waited several minutes and it started. I drove it home. I have since tried to start it several times and it has started. The car has slightly less than 20K miles on it. This has never happened before. It was a very hot day - nearly 100 degrees and I was quite panicky that it would not start. I was worried I would be stranded. There was never any indication before that something like this might happen. I am going to call the dealership tomorrow.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 28, 2021
The ignition key becomes stuck in the ignition upon stopping the vehicle and placing the gear shifter into "park" and turning the vehicle off. Intermittently the key is unable to be removed from the ignition even though the vehicle is in the "park" position and turned off. Usually after starting and stopping the vehicle and moving the gear shift a few times the key can be removed from the ignition. This problem does not occur every time the vehicle is driven, but lately it is happening more frequently.
Electrical system, Jul 22, 2021
Our 2017 Subaru Outback has had multiple incidents of “ Sudden Dead Battery “ in the Mornings. We have had the Car Checked out at CarMax where we purchased it and we’re told the Service Tech couldn’t determine the Cause and we should take it to a Subaru dealership which we did…. The Technician could not Identify the Cause either but suggested a New Battery which we chose not to do… No Service Representative acted ignorant to the facts that this is becoming a Known issue on a National Scale with Multiple Lawsuits being Filed for the Same problem… We now Carry a Battery Jumper and Always have the concerns that the Car will not start.. So far, the Battery continues to go Dead at various times after being parked overnight so I can jump start it from home… I read another complaint that mentioned the multiple lights/ warnings and Displays coming on the dashboard- We have experienced that same scenario… we see flashing lights and information that do not show during Normal Driving operation.
Electrical system, Jul 21, 2021
At 15,000 miles my battery died while on vacation (July 2019). We were far from the main road. We were lucky to see a motorist who helped us jump start the car. I replaced it with a new battery. The battery died two weeks ago at 37,000 miles. Something is draining the battery but Subaru will not acknowledge it. This defect can have serious consequences for people who get stranded in remote areas and far away from towns and population.
Electrical system, Jul 18, 2021
Battery keeps draining. The battery has now been dead three times for no apparent reason.
Electrical system, Jul 16, 2021
Battery was dead many times due to a parasitic draw. Dealer installed new batteries at no charge. Dealer with the help of Subaru Technical could not find the cause. Auto is available for inspection. Dealer could not duplicate problem but was able to inspect on each occasion. There were no warnings that the problem would occur. Last case is #68469384405 hat was communicated to Subaru Techline
Electrical system, Jul 16, 2021
Battery drain due to electrical issues. Two replaced batteries in under 2 years.
Electrical system, Jul 15, 2021
Car battery drains at an accelerated rate.
Electrical system, Jul 14, 2021
I purchased the car new on 28 February 2017. The car was started and driven to the front of the dealership for me to pickup after purchase. When I went to start the car, it did not start. The dealer said a light was probably left on and the dealer replaced the battery. On 29 January 2021 my car required a jump to start. I drove to the dealership and they said I needed to replace the battery. From the time of purchase I have noticed battery problems such as slow start or difficult starting. Also I required more than one attempt to start after the radio was used without the engine running for less than 10 minutes. On 26 March 2021 I notice the clock was not keeping correct time, the keyless entry stopped working and other electrical malfunctions. I took the car to the dealership and it took 7 days to troubleshoot the problem. The dealership said the problem was the driver side approach light was shorted. I have also have passenger side front window automatic closing problems. The window closes all the way then immediately opens half way.
Electrical system, Jul 13, 2021
car was left in garage for 8 days, did not start upon return. no lights or devices were left on during that time but battery was completely dead. needed a jump from roadside assistance; incident follows pattern history of battery issues ranging from trouble starting and lack of power to quick drain of power if the car idles too long. Original battery that came with the new vehicle has already been replaced under warranty once. Manufacturer is currently facing a class action lawsuit based on the electrical system's inability to fully power down even when the vehicle is completely turned off, which drains the battery if the car isn't operated frequently. service center told me I just needed to drive it for up to 30-40 miles of constant speed e.g. freeway driving on a regular basis. this is obviously not practical and should not be necessary for normal operation of the vehicle.
Electrical system, Jul 13, 2021
Random dead battery. Battery replaced. Random dead battery. Got a boost start battery for emergency. Random dead battery, etc. Car will not start you do not know when. No warning. Will contact dealer, again but they were dismissive of the issue last year.
Electrical system, Jul 13, 2021
Purchased 05/2017. Within 2 weeks battery dead. Towed to dealer. Told okay. July 2017 , dead battery. Charged, dead next day. New battery. 10/2018 new battery. 04/2021, new battery. Condenser for a/c was replaced 05/2021
Electrical system, Jul 13, 2021
The battery on this vehicle needs to be charged weekly, the battery tests fine, but something is drawing the charge.I have been charging the battery weekly for almost a year now.
Electrical system, Jul 13, 2021
On six separate occasions four times with out any battery drain and twice when I had charged my phone after turning off the engine the battery failed to start the car. It had to be jumped with a portable charger. The car has 62000 miles on it and no warning lights or any other indicators. On my last oil change 7/12/2021 it was tested and just crossed the line into the red and needs to be replaced.
Electrical system, Lane departure, Jul 12, 2021
received clean bill of health for battery after 10/24/19 service at dealership. AAA replaced battery on 10/31/19 when car would not start. Car would not start. Had to jump battery on 3/15/21. Car would not start. Had to jump battery on 6/20/21. Car would not start. Had to jump battery on 6/21/21. AAA replaced battery on 6/22/21 when car would not start. Blind spot monitoring turns itself off about 50% of the time. Repaired multiple times at dealership.
Electrical system, Jul 12, 2021
My car wouldn't turn on in April of 2020. When I opened the hood there was corrosion around the top of the battery. The battery was dead and had to be replaced. I bought the car new at the end of 2017 from a dealership.
Electrical system, Jul 12, 2021
We have had to get a third-party charge to the battery 3 times in the last 2 months. The car had been turned off so there should have been no battery drain.
Electrical system, Jul 7, 2021
Since I bought the 2017 Subaru Outback new from the dealer, I have experienced at least four instances when the car wouldn't start because of a dead battery. Once, (I assume) it was because the doors were open for a long time (a couple hours) while I cleaned the interior. The other three times were after I had driven it for a short trip, shut the car off, and returned to the car and it wouldn't start. There were no lights or auxiliary items left on. The most recent time (6-29-2021), it was parked for 20 minutes between trips and wouldn't start. I made a video of the engine compartment when I tried to jump start it and there is a loud noise coming from the engine. Something is running in the engine when the battery is too dead to start. It's loud.
Electrical system, Jul 1, 2021
In May 2020 my car battery was replaced. The battery would not hold a charge after a few days of sitting. The dealer found no issues at the time. Today I had a similar issue. The car was parked in my driveway for 5 days, I was unable to start the car, the battery was dead and needed to be jumped. The vehicle is back at the dealership. I was told that if the battery failed, I would be charged for the replacement, as they do not prorate batteries.
Electrical system, Jun 21, 2021
Purchased my 2017 Outback in 2016. I have had FOUR batteries in less than four years. We were stranded in the middle of the night on the freeway hours from home, for a problem that has been ongoing. Each time the dealer has given us a new battery instantaneously. Ironic, that they claim there are no problems, when this issue is well documented online. No warning, but each time different symptoms. Hatch beeping unexpectedly, car won't start after short trips, etc... First time was only 9 months after first purchase of vehicle, 2nd time was a year and a half later, 3rd time dealer downloaded software patch, and battery still didn't last past 22 months. Thankfully battery is warrantied 36 months. How many complaints does the NHTSA need for further action? Isn't two lawsuits enough?
Electrical system, Jun 11, 2021
The battery seems to die frequently. I am on the second battery after having purchased this car. I now carry a portable charger in the car just incase the car dies in transit. Just today, I ran a quick errand, got to my destination. Decided to repark my car and it would not start.
Electrical system, Jun 10, 2021
Battery drains all the time when car is off OR in accessory mode: This vehicle was purchased new. The battery has died quickly multiple times throughout the life of the vehicle. My husband and I realize that we have had the car jumped many, many times for things that should have not caused the battery to drain. We also looked on this nhtsa site, realized this is a problem with other similar vehicles and a class action suit is pending. For the past year we have learned to not keep any electrical on when the car is not running. The last two times: within the last month. I was waiting to pick up my child from an event, I turned the car totally off but left the key in the ignition. This, I found out later, caused the battery to drain in 10 minutes and I was stuck. Two weeks ago, I went to the drive in. When pulling in, I remembered that the car battery dies but I needed the radio to hear the movie - thankfully the movie theater had a jumper as my battery died in less than 30 minutes. No one else at the movie had this problem. I had three kids with me and that is the point, the car was specifically purchased because Subaru advertises that they make reliable vehicles, but this car is not as does not hold a charge. There is no warning that the battery will die. My liftgate also once stopped working. We googled it and had to jump the car to reset the computer to make the liftgate work again. I went to the dealership on 6/9/21, and asked them to do a diagnostic on the battery and alternator during the annual inspection. They said everything is fine and that they researched the problem. They explained that this a known fault and there is nothing that can be done and Subaru has no current plans to fix. They also said cars with FOBs drain too with just the FOB being nearby (I have a normal key). So I called Subrau national customer service and they told me there is nothing they can do and that I need to go through the dealership.