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: other or unspecified
177 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 5, 2021
I BELIEVE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: DEC.31, 2020: CAR HESITATES TO START. IT NEVER TURNS OVER SO IT DOES NOT EVER START. WE INSTALL NEW BATTERY & CAR STARTS. MID-JAN.2021: CAR WON'T START FROM PUSH START, BUT DOES START WHEN I USE MY REMOTE START KEY FOB. AFTER THAT, CAR STARTS WITH PUSH START. FEB.-APRIL 2021: CAR HAS A SEVERAL TIMES WHEN IT HESTITATES TO START, BUT ULTIMATELY IT DOES START. MAY 1-3 2021: CAR HESITATES TO START, BUT ULTIMATELY STARTS. MAY 4-5 2021: CAR NOT ONLY HESITATES TO START, BUT NOW I HAVE ALL KINDS OF LIGHTS LIT UP ON MY DASH, INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE, EYESIGHT, X-MODE LIGHT IS FLASHING, AND SEVERAL OTHERS THAT I CANNOT GET TO TURN OFF. IN ALL INSTANCES, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND TURNED OFF. I HAVE PHOTOS & VIDEO BUT CAN'T SEEM TO REDUCE FILE SIZE TO REQUIRED 5MB. SIDE NOTE: UNLESS I AM AT WORK OR RUNNING ERRANDS, MY CAR IS ALWAYS IN THE GARAGE.
Electrical system, Seats, Other or unspecified, Apr 25, 2021
THE BATTERY KEEPS FAILING. IT'S MY 4TH BATTERY CHANGE AND I CAN FEEL THAT I WILL NEED TO CHANGE THE 4TH ONE SOON.
Other or unspecified, Apr 14, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN THREE MONTHS ONCE 2-20-19 AND 5-6-2019.
Other or unspecified, Apr 14, 2021
2017 OUTBACK. UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. ONCE IN PARK TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH DOESN'T HELP TO RELEASE THE KEY. MOVED GEAR SHIFT MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS UNTIL EVENTUALLY THE KEY WAS REMOVED. THE KEY ISN'T PARTICULARLY WORN.
Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2021
VEHICLE DESIGN SAFETY DEFECT: AFTER LOCKING DOORS WHILE SEATED IN VEHICLE MUST SELECT UNLOCK TO EXIT VEHICLE. IN AN EMERGENCY SAFETY DICTATES THAT PULLING DOOR OPEN LEVER WOULD OPEN DOOR IN ONE ACTION.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 1, 2021
BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED KEY SENSOR ALSO ALWAYS GOES OFF THAT KEY IS NOT IN CAR WHEN DRIVING
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 27, 2021
I RECENTLY STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH REMOVING MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I COULD REMOVE IT MOST OF THE TIME AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AND MESSING WITH THE SHIFTER AND STEERING WHEEL ETC. BUT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE TIME THAT I HAD AN APPOINTMENT AND COULD NOT AFTER 10 MINUTES, REMOVE THE KEY. I HAD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WITH THE CAR IN THE PARTIALLY "ON" SETTING. I TOOK THIS INTO SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED ON 25MAR2021. I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT THAT SUBARU DECIDED IT WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD TO PAY ABOUT $500 TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. I BEG TO DIFFER THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. LEAVING THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION BECAUSE I COULD NOT REMOVE THEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE 1) AN UN-LICENSED DRIVER OR YOUNGSTER COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN THE CAR AND STARTED DRIVING IT; OR 2) A CRIMINAL COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN THE CAR AND WAITED FOR ME TO RETURN WITH MALICIOUS INTENTIONS AND 3) OR THE CAR COULD HAVE SIMPLY BEEN STOLEN. I ALSO CONTACTED MY INSURANCE REP AND FOUND OUT THAT IF A CAR IS STOLEN WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THAT THIS WOULD BE A NON COVERED CLAIM. EVEN IF IT WAS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO REMOVE THE KEYS.
Other or unspecified, Mar 16, 2021
BATTERY DRAIN. BATTERY NEEDED REPLACEMENT 11/14/2019.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2021
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE BATTERY IN OUR SUBARU OUTBACK. THIS LAST ONE ONLY LASTED 2-3 MONTHS.
Other or unspecified, Mar 3, 2021
MY CAR WINDSHIELD ALL OF SUDDEN STARTED CRACKING 2 WEEKS AGO AROUND FEBRUARY 17TH.2021. MY CAR ALWAYS PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY. CALLED LOCAL DEALER WAS TOLD IT'S GOING TO COST US $1200 TO GET IT REPLACED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 27, 2021
VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE WORKING ONLY PART OF THE TIME . THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DRAINED MORE THAN ONCE AFTER DRIVING THE PREVIOUS DAY . IT'S ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING HAS BEEN LEFT ON ,DRAINING THE BATTERY WHEN I KNOW EVERY THING HAS TURNED OFF . IS THERE SOMETHING THAT STAYS ON AFTER YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF LONG ENOUGH TO DRAIN THE BATTERY ?
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Feb 19, 2021
ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2018 AND WENT OUT TO MY VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED (STATIONARY) IN MY ENCLOSED COVERED GARAGE TO FIND A GIANT CRACK THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD WITH NO DISCERNABLE CAUSE.
Other or unspecified, Feb 8, 2021
VEHICLE WILL NOT START. BATTERY GOES DEAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 20 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR.
Other or unspecified, Feb 4, 2021
WINDSHIELD KEEPS BREAKING CRACKS COME UP FROM THE BOTTOM NOT FROM ROCK CHIP. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT IN THE TWO YEARS WE HAVE OWNED IT.
Other or unspecified, Jan 31, 2021
SUDDEN BATTERY POWER LOSS MULTIPLE TIMES
Other or unspecified, Jan 24, 2021
BATTERY WON'T START FROM PARKING LOT, FOR A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW EVEN WHEN IT WAS ON IT'S FIRST YEAR. WE HAVE TO JUMP START AND ALSO REPLACED IT COUPLE OF TIMES NOW BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD ON SUBARU OUTBACK 2017 WAS CRACKED ALL OF A SUDDEN.
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD ON THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2017 WAS CRACKED 2 TIMES AND BOTH THE TIME I HAD TO PAY FROM MY POCKET TO GET IT REPLACED.
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2021
CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. I DID NOT SEE OR HEAR THE WINDSHIELD BEING HIT BY ROCK, ETC. UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN HIT BY A SMALL ROCK.
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2021
THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. WHEN THE AT SELECT LEVER (SHIFT LEVER) IS PUT INTO PARK THE KEY ONLY ROTATES INTO ACC AND NOT INTO LOCK. THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED LIKE THIS. THE VEHICLE HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT.
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2021
I HAD TO REPLACE ORIGINAL BATTERY ON MY 2017 OUTBACK AT 12,079 MILES JAN 2019 AND THEN AGAIN ON 12/2020 AT 24,431 MILES. I WAS TOLD BATTERIES ONLY LAST 2 TO 4 YEARS IN ARIZONA. I RECENTLY READ OF THE BATTERY LAWSUIT REGARDING ELECTRICAL CHARGE ISSUES WITH 2017 OUTBACK'S.
Other or unspecified, Dec 2, 2020
MY CAR'S WINDSHIELD HAS GOT HAIRLINE CRACK OF ABOUT ONE AND HALF FEET. IT HAPPENED WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT. THERE WAS NO STONE HIT. IT HAPPENED NATURALLY.
Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2020
WHILE PARKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED ABOUT 4 INCHES ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW FROM FROM THE CENTER OF THE STEERINGWHEEL, TWO FEET TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SEAT.
Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM UNKNOWN ORIGIN IN FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I HAD A $500 COMPREHENSIVE DEDUCTIBLE AND HAD TO PAY THAT IN FULL TO GET A NEW WINDSHIELD.
Other or unspecified, Nov 5, 2020
THE CAR BATTERY WAS FOUND TO BE DEAD AFTER SITTING FOR AT LEAST 2 DAYS, ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BEFORE BEING REPLACED ON 1/8/2020. AFTER BEING REPLACED THE SAME PROBLEM KEPT HAPPENING. THE NEW BATTERY WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE WHERE IT WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. SINCE BEING REPLACED THE SAME CONDITION KEEPS HAPPENING, AT LEAST 4 MORE TIME , MOST RECENT AS 11/3/2020. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE SAT IN OUR DRIVEWAY FOR 2 TO 3 DAYS NOT BEING USED