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: engine
43 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Mar 16, 2021
BATTERY DRAINS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. LEAVES PEOPLE STRANDED.
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 27, 2021
REPEATED PROBLEM OF BATTERY DRAINING, USUALLY WHEN HATCHBACK IS OPENED FOR APPROX. 20 MINUTES, LOADING OR UNLOADING CAMPING GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ALMOST HALF DOZEN TIMES, AND IT IS BOTH FRUSTRATING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, AS I GENERALLY CAMP BY MYSELF. NOW I HAVE TO LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN I PUT IN OR TAKE ANYTHING OUT OF THE HATCHBACK MORE THAN GROCERIES.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 29, 2020
TL* THE CONTRACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS FATHER WHO OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER HILL SUBARU (4710 MILLER TRUNK HWY, DULUTH, MN 55811) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY BATTERY, REMOTE STARTER, SENSOR AND REAR LIFTGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Service brakes, Engine, Oct 17, 2020, crash
PULLING INTO OUR GARAGE (AS WE HAVE DONE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR), OUR 2017 OUTBACK ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL INTO THE BACK WALL OF OUR GARAGE. CAR HAD BEEN STOPPED AT THE PARKING POSITION IN THE GARAGE AND WAS BEING SHIFTED INTO PARK WHEN THE ACCELERATION OCCURRED. GAS PEDAL WAS NOT TOUCHED (CAR ALWAYS COASTS INTO GARAGE UNDER IT'S OWN POWER, AND FOOT IS ONLY ON THE BRAKE ALWAYS). EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CAR AND GARAGE. BOTH SUBARU AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAVE BEEN ALERTED.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 16, 2020
BATTERY DRAINED
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, May 16, 2020
OUTBACK ACCELERATES BY ITSELF RANDOMLY. I NOTICE MOST WHEN APPROACHING STOP SIGN AND SWITCH FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE. *TR
Engine, Oct 30, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. DURING COLD WEATHER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON APRIL 15, 2017. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPITAL SUBARU (920 CAPITAL EXPRESSWAY AUTO MALL, SAN JOSE, CA 95136) ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,718.
Engine, Sep 8, 2019
THE COOLANT LOOSE AND HAS COOLANT SMELL AFTER DRIVE A CAR. I HAD SEVERAL SAME REASON SERVICE. THEY NOTHING WRONG THEY FILL UP COOLANT THAT'S IT. NOW ALMOST EMPTY RESERVOIR. AND IT'S OVER LIMITED WARRANTY. IT'S 36059 MILES.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 19, 2019
YESTERDAY MORNING, I STOPPED MY SUBARU IN ORDER TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS CHANGING GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, THE ENGINE STARTED ACCELERATING FULL-THROTTLE. I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM GOING DOWN THE HILLSIDE BEHIND THE PARKING LOT. I PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE REVVING FULL-THROTTLE AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY ' UNTIL TODAY. TODAY, MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF MY GARAGE. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE ' UNTIL, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE. AGAIN THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED FULL-THROTTLE. AS I WAS MOVING THE GEAR SHIFTER FROM PARK TO REVERSE TO NEUTRAL TO DRIVE, I AGAIN HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM BACKING INTO MY GARAGE DOOR. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY SUBARU DEALER BUT COULD NOT REACH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER 10-12 RINGS I GOT A MESSAGE INSTRUCTING ME TO LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THEM TO CALL ME BACK SINCE THEY WERE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HEAVY CALL VOLUME DUE TO AN INCREASE IN RECALL ISSUES. I CALLED BACK AND GOT THROUGH TO SOMEONE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. THEY SAID THEY WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM ON SUBARU OUTBACKS.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 31, 2019
CANNOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHEN IN PARK. MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS ONLINE, AND THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING ME TO CHECK WHAT THE ISSUE IS. WHEN IN PARK, STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT, NOT ON A SLOPE, THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. CAN TURN IT OFF, BUT CAN'T REMOVE THE KEY. SOMETIMES JIGGLING, SOMETIMES STARTING AND TURNING BACK OFF, AND SOMETIMES STARTING, PUTTING IN DRIVE, AND SLAMMING THE SHIFTER INTO PARK AGAIN SOLVES THE ISSUE, BUT SOMETIMES NOT. SPENT OVER 20 MINUTES TODAY TRYING TO GET IT OUT, DROVE TO THE DEALER, AND IT CAME OUT WITHOUT AN ISSUE. NO CONSISTENCY TO THE ISSUE.
Power train, Engine, May 18, 2019
IN TWO SEPARATE EVENTS THE CAR LOST POWER WHILE ACCELLORATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STAND STILL. THE GAS PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND THE TRANMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT THE ENGINE STALLED, AND IN THE SECOND IT SPUTTERED AND ALMOST DIED DURING A HEAVY MERGE ON AN ON RAMP. NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE THROWN, SO THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT THE CAR WAS LEAVING THE TOLL PLAZE ON THE DULLES GREENWAY HEAD TOWARD LEESBURG, VA. UNDER FULL ACELLERATION LEAVING THE TOLL PLAZA AND EFFECTIVELY DRIVING STRAIGHT, THE CAR STARTED SHUFTING ERRATICALLY, AND EVENTUALLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT, ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, THE CAR WAS ON A DECLINE ON-RAMP MERGING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC ON RT-270N HEADING TOWARD FREDERICK, MD. THE CAR AGAIN STARTED TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY, THEN BEGAN TO STALL, BUT I WAS ABKE TO USE THE PADDLE SHIFTERS TO SHIFT THE 'GEAR' OF THE CVT AND PREVENT STALLING. AFGER ABOUT 30 SECONDS THE CAR WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. AGAIN, THE DEALER HAS NOT FOUND ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODES, AND INDICATES THERE IS NITHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.
Steering, Engine, Mar 14, 2019
NOT ABLE TO TAKE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, KEY IS BEING STUCK 50% OF THE TIME. SECOND ISSUE IS THE ENGINE IS MAKING BIRD CHIRPING NOISE, IT COMES AND GOES BUT IT GETS LOUDE!! TOOK IT TO DEALER A YEAR AGO BY THE TIME I GOT THERE THE NOISE STOPPED SO THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE, TOOK IN THE SECOND TIME ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO THE SERVICE TECH HEARD IT AND BOOKED ME FOR AN APPOINTMENT. BY THE TIME MECHANIC GOT TO IT NEXT DAY IT STOPPED. THIS WAS ALL UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAVE NO SUPPORT FROM A LOCAL DEALER FROM WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUES AND THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THIS AND SUBARU IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 24, 2018
SIMILAR TO COMPLAIN DATED 12/09/2016 BY SOMEONE ELSE. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I WAS AT A LIGHT WAITING TO TURN LEFT, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND I HAD TO SWITCH TO NEUTRAL TO RETURN TO IDLE SPEED. I NOTIFIED A SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE ON THE INTERNET. THIS MONTH I HAD 4 OCCASIONS THAT I HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE IN A SHOPPING MALL TRYING TO TURN RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPACE. THIS FRIDAY I TRIED TO PARK IN MY GARAGE AFTER 5 MILES DRIVE, AND MY WIFE WAS A PASSENGER, I TURNED THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT WHEN THE ENGINE REVVED UP FROM IDLE OF 600 TO 2000 RPM AND THEN WENT TO 4000 RPM. I WAS USING THE BRAKE AND I FELT A SKID OF A TIRE. SWITCHED TO NEUTRAL AND PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. MY WIFE WAS SCARED AND WOULD NOT RIDE IN MY CAR. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY WAKEFIELD SUBARU DEALER ON 09/25/18, I DID NOT DRIVE MY CAR SINCE THE LAST EPISODE. MY ODOMETER IS 14241 MILES. I AM POSITIVE I DID NOT STEP ON THE GAS, ONLY THE BRAKE.
Electrical system, Engine, Oct 15, 2017
OPEN LETTER TO SUBARU AND SUBARU OWNERS. I HAVE A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE REASON I PURCHASED THE CAR WAS THE HIGH SAFETY RATINGS. I CAME HOME YESTERDAY, DROVE INTO THE GARAGE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF I THOUGHT. I APPARENTLY DID NOT PUSH THE START AND KILL BUTTON HARD ENOUGH. I AM HARD OF HEARING SO DID NOT NOTICE THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE A REMOTE START. MY GARAGE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSES AFTER A PRESET TIME. I HAPPENED OUT TO THE GARAGE 3 HOURS LATTER TO FIND THE CAR ENGINE STILL RUNNING. I CAN NOT THE IMAGINE THE CARS COMPUTER ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO CONTINUE TO RUN FOR THREE HOURS WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT WAS WELL OVER 100 DEGREES IN THE GARAGE PLUS THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL WAS OUTRAGEOUS. IF THERE IS COMPUTER SETTING TO STOP THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. RICHARD
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 19, 2017
DRIVING BACK TO MICHIGAN FROM FLORIDA, MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK (6000 MILES) STALLED TWICE UNEXPECTEDLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON I75. THE VEHICLE WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHEN IT STALLED. I COASTED TO THE MEDIAN, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. (BOTH TIMES) THE CONDITION HAS NOT REPEATED ITSELF SINCE, NOW HAS (7800 MILES). SUBARU DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE CANNOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
Engine, Apr 19, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 13, 2017
THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON A WEEK AGO AND THE ENGINE BECAME SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO MARIN SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. RESULT IS THAT A RODENT MUST HAVE CHEWED THROUGH THE SOY-BASED HARNESS COVERING THE SENSOR WIRE. REPAIR BILL = $1,400, SUBARU SAYS ITS NOT COVERED BY THE NEW CAR WARRANTY. THEY ARE TELLING US NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW AS IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. INSURANCE SAYS IT DOES NOT COVER THIS EITHER. SUBARU AND THE OTHER MFTRS HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME APPARENTLY BUT CONTINUE TO USE MATERIAL THEY KNOW ATTRACTS RODENTS.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Oct 19, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THE ALL THE WINDOWS FAILED TO FUNCTION EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT UPDATED 06/07/17*LJ CONSUMER DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF WINDOW FAILURE AND IT WAS FIXED. (STILL MAKING SAME LOUD NOISE (12-3-16). UPDATED 7/9/18*JB *TR