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
Other or unspecified, Feb 3, 2020
WHEN GOING TO PARK, I SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE BUT THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I'VE DRIVEN FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO COME OUT IS TO TURN IT BACK ON AND TRYING SHIFTING INTO PARK AGAIN, OCCASIONALLY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT RECOGNIZES THAT IT'S IN PARK AND WILL RELEASE THE KEY.
Other or unspecified, Jan 21, 2020
CANNOT REMOVE IGNITION KEY WHEN DONE DRIVING. NOT ALWAYS, BUT RANDOMLY.
Other or unspecified, Dec 23, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD ON THE CAR CRACKED. I DON'T THINK IT WAS HIT BY ANYTHING. IF IT WAS, IT MUST'VE BEEN A VERY SMALL OBJECT. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WENT OUT TO THE CAR ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. I HAD SOMEONE COME OUT AND REPAIR IT AS BEST THEY COULD, SO THERE IS A MARK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CRACK WHERE THEY DRILLED TO STOP IT FROM GETTING WORSE.
Other or unspecified, Dec 15, 2019
IN FEBRUARY 2019, A CRACK APPEARED STARTING AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THROUGHOUT THE DAY IT GREW TO GO ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. SUBARU SAID I HAD TO FIX IT THERE DUE TO EYESIGHT. IN DECEMBER 2018, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR. NOTHING HIT IT. THROUGHOUT THE DAY THE CRACK SPREAD ABOUT TWO FEET. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN LESS THAN A YEAR. I DO NOT THINK A CRACK OCCURRED FROM BEING HIT BY ANYTHING. I THINK IT'S A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BOTH TIMES THAT I SAW THE INITIAL CRACK.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Dec 1, 2019
KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR DRIVES, TURNS OFF, AND TURNS ON LIKE NORMAL HOWEVER, WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO PARK, TURNED OFF, AND THE THE KEY IS ATTEMPTED TO BE REMOVED THE KEY DOES NOT COME OUT. IT ONLY COMES OUT AFTER SOMETIMES AN HOUR OR MORE OF PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND THEN INTO PARK AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE KEY.
Other or unspecified, Nov 18, 2019
KEYS GET LOCKED INTO IGNITION WHEN IN PARK AND READY TO LEAVE CAR AND ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE.
Other or unspecified, Nov 15, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED INSIDE GARAGE. CRACK WAS SIGNIFICANT AND APPEARED FOR NO REASON. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ON 2/13/19 AND EYESIGHT HAD TO BE RECALIBRATED. IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LAWSUIT RE: 2017-19 OUTBACK WINDSHIELD CRACKS.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 14, 2019
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS (WHEN STARTING IN DRIVEWAY - STOPPED, WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOT - 5 MPH, DRIVING IN TOWN - 25 MPH, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY - 60 MPH) ALL ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES ARE DISABLED INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) EYE SIGHT (FAB - FORWARD AUTO BRAKE, ACC - ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LAS - LANE ASSIST STEERING), RAB - REAR AUTO BRAKE, REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT, BLIND SPOT DETECTION, PARK BRAKE, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, POWER STEERING. NOTE THAT THE FAILURE OF THESE SYSTEMS DOES NOT CAUSE A CHECK ENGINE CONDITION AND NO ERROR CODES ARE LOGGED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE FIRST 4/5 FAILURES LEFT NO CODES. THE NEXT FAILURE WAS DELIVERED TO DEALER WHILE RUNNING IN A FAILED STATE. DEALER REPORTED NO CODES FOUND. SINCE THE DEALER DID NOT REPORT THIS TO SUBARU I WILL BE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM TO SUBARU.
Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2019
RIGHT SIDE FRONT QUARTER GLASS SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, NOT RUNNING, AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE WITH ALL GARAGE DOORS CLOSED. THE DATE WAS 09/02/2017. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON 07/19/17 WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 18 MILES. CAUSE OF THE GLASS SHATTERING IS UNKNOWN.
Other or unspecified, Oct 31, 2019
IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK AND WOULD NOT COME OUT BECAUSE OF FAULTY SHIFT GEAR SENSOR NOT RECOGNIZING THE PARK POSITION.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKING.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS OF HAVING TO HAVE OUR WINDSHIELD FIXED, I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A FREEWAY, APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, WHEN A CRACK STREAKED ACROSS OUR WINDSHIELD. WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY, THINKING MAYBE A TINY ROCK HIT US. A FEW DAYS LATER WE ASKED SUBARU TO FIX IT, BUT THEY SAID THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY DO AND SENT US TO A LOCAL AUTO GLASS COMPANY. THEY SAID THESE NEW WINDSHIELDS WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY LIKE EYESIGHT, ETC. SEEM TO MAKE THE WINDSHIELDS MORE FRAGILE. ON JUNE 1ST, 2017 (OUR CAR WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD), HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED, WE PICKED IT UP TO A TUNE OF $1,485.02. I WONDERED WHEN WE WOULD HAVE TO BE BACK IN FOR ANOTHER FIX. VERY CONCERNING.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD HAS BROKEN FOR THE 2ND TIME SINCE PURCHASE. BOTH TIMES SUBARU GLASS.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN THE CAR WAS GARAGED. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR OTHER DAMAGE TO CAUSE IT. IT HAS SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO SUBARU.
Other or unspecified, Oct 26, 2019
I OWN AND DRIVE A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK PREMIUM. I LIKE THIS CAR AND ENJOY DRIVING IT. MY CAR HAS THE FULL EYESIGHT SAFETY SYSTEM. ON SEPTEMBER 27 2019 I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON THE NORTHEAST EXTENSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. I WAS A FEW MILES SOUTH OF THE LANSDALE EXIT IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THREE. THE ROAD WAS DRY, THE WEATHER CLEAR AND TEMPERATURE ABOUT 80 DEGREES. I WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH. A CAR PASSED ME ON THE RIGHT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND PULLED INTO MY LANE IN FRONT OF ME. MY SUBARU PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND BROUGHT ME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN MY LANE. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE WAS SCREAMING ' WHAT ARE YOU DOING ? WHAT ARE YOU DOING ? 'MY EYES WENT TO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHO WAS GOING TO HIT ME. MY FOOT STAYED ON THE ACCELERATOR TRYING TO KEEP MOVING. THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM FINALLY RELEASED THE CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN. I MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE AND PUT MY EMERGENCY FOUR WAY FLASHERS ON. IT HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES IN THE NEXT MILE. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED HOW TO TURN OFF THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM. ON OCTOBER 3RD I TOOK MY OUTBACK TO THE CIOCCA SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN ALLENTOWN PA. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND CLAIMED THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR EYESIGHT SYSTEM. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.
Other or unspecified, Oct 14, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 28,000 MI. HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK I SEE THAT A LOT OF OWNERS OF OUTBACKS ARE ALSO HAVING CRACKS DEVELOP. NOT SURE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK SHOWED UP AS I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE CRACK IS ON THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE CENTER.
Other or unspecified, Oct 10, 2019
THE IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. I HAVE READ MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING TO SEVERAL SUBARU OWNERS. THEY SAID SUBARU IS CHARGING THE CONSUMER ANYWHERE FROM $375 TO $800 TO FIX IT.
Other or unspecified, Oct 9, 2019
FAULTY WINDSHIELD, I AM ON MY THIRD WINDSHIELD WHICH HAS JUST CRACKED. THE CRACK ALWAYS BEGINS IN THE SAME PLACE, LOWER PASSENGER SIDE BELOW WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY IN DEFROST PORTION OF GLASS. SUBARU HAS REPLACED THE GLASS TWICE AT NO COST AT 27,407 MILES AND 45,099 MILES. NOW AT APPROX. 63,000 MILES IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. SUBARU IS "UNAWARE" OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELDS IN 2017 OUTBACK MODELS. I AM UNAWARE OF ANY ROCK IMPACT TO THE GLASS. WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY, I HEAR A POP SOUND AND CRACK BEGINS TO FORM AND SPREAD QUICKLY.
Other or unspecified, Sep 5, 2019
THE GEAR SHIFTER DOES NOT GO IN TO PARK COMPLETELY ALLOWING FOR RELEASE OF THE KEY. THERE IS A 'RESET' YOU CAN DO IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OR THEY WILL REPLACE THE SHIFTER SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Aug 29, 2019
MY OUTBACK HAS HORRIBLE WIND NOISE. ITS SO LOUD I CANT USE THE BLUETOOTH PHONE, NOR LISTEN TO THE RADIO. ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE AND WILL IMPACT MY NEXT PURCHASE.
Other or unspecified, Aug 27, 2019
POSSIBLE STRUCTURAL DESIGN ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. OEM WINDSHIELD CRACKED SUDDENLY A YEAR AGO. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE VERY TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE CENTER. NO APPARENT STONE CHIPS OR OTHER DAMAGE TO ATTRIBUTE THIS TO. ABOUT 8 WEEKS AGO THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD ALSO CRACKED, THIS TIME STARTING UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE HOOD AREA, AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE'S NO WAY FOR A ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT TO IMPACT THIS AREA, WHICH, GIVEN THE SUDDEN LARGE CRACKS THAT APPEARED, LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THERE'S A STRUCTURAL STRESS ISSUE COMING TO PLAY ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. AS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IS A STRUCTURAL SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE, I BELIEVE THIS CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUE LONG TERM, NOT TO MENTION A SIZABLE ANNUAL EXPENSE BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND HAVING THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS RECALIBRATED FOR THE NEW GLASS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD LESS THAN THREE YEARS. THE 'WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN' DATE SELECTED BASED ON THIS YEARS CRACKING. I DIDN'T TAKE PHOTOS OF LAST YEARS CRACKED WINDSHIELD. CURRENT CRACKED WINDSHIELD STILL IN THE VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Aug 16, 2019
HESITATES FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS FROM A STOP WITHOUT WARNING. HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW JAN. 2017. REPORTED TO SERVICE DEPT AT DEALERSHIP. TOLD IT IS THE WAY I DRIVE. REPORTED IT TO SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICES. THEY REFUSE TO CHECK INTO IT AND SAY IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. I AM VERY CAREFUL ABOUT PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AS I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. IT ALSO HAS A ROUGH IDLE. I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES IN THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY.
Other or unspecified, Aug 10, 2019
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I-80 IN NEBRASKA. WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND, HER SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR ANYTHING AHEAD FO THE EVENT. LUCKILY THE HEADLINER SHADE WAS CLOSED SO THE DIDN'T GET HIT BY GLASS AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY.
Other or unspecified, Jul 25, 2019
REPEATED ISSUES WITH REAR LIFT GATE. INCLUDING NOT OPENING AND STICKING AN ANIMAL IN THE BACK AND NOT SHUTTING COMPLETING HOWEVER GIVING THE INDICATION OF SHUT. TODAY 7-25-19, I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES AN HOUR AND THE LIFTGATE NOT SHUT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH DURING THE MORNING COMMUNICATE. THERE WAS NO SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER UNTIL 10 MINUTES LATER. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR IT APPEARED TO BE SHUT HOWEVER I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO SHUT IT. LUCKILY MY DOG WAS NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME, BUT THIS CAN POSE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF ACTUALLY CAME OPEN. I HAVE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT THEY SAID THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING IF THEY CANNOT RECREATE IT THEY ONLY RESET THE SENSOR. THIS WAS THE FINAL DRAW FOR ME AND I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. NOTE: PICTURE TAKEN WAS WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT.
Other or unspecified, Jul 12, 2019
DRIVER FRONT DOOR LOCK AND UNLOCK FAILED. DOESN'T OPERATE WITH FOB OR KEY. LOCK AND UNLOCK INTERIOR SWITCH DOESN'T WORK EITHER,NO AFFECT.