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: visibility/wiper
205 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Dec 14, 2021
My battery has died seven times. I have received three battery replacements. Never a full solution. Windshield wipers never work properly either, despite changing brands.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 28, 2021
Windshield just started cracking across from drivers side to center. Windshield would craxk further just sitting in garage overnight. Looks like a river running across Windshield. No apparent rock or chips as cause.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 18, 2021
The windshield cracked while driving on the freeway in the winter. I had been driving for approximately half an hour when the front windshield cracked from the rearview mirror location downward. I didn't notice a rock or other object hitting the windshield that would have initiated the crack. The crack has continued to spread since then and is to the point where I am having to replace my windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 31, 2021
Windshield chipped very easily due to small rock. In cold weather, the chip spread across into a whole crack. Safelite has stated that the windshield needs replacing.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 27, 2021
Upon getting in the car parked in the garage, noticed two cracks symmetrically coming from the base of the center of the windshield extending up about 6 inches. These cracks were not there upon parking in the garage the previous night. These cracks within a day kept moving upward and outward in a curvy symmetrical pattern and are slowly moving since. Upon investigation with a flashlight there is a tiny pin size chip under the wiper that should never have caused such dramatic cracking.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 26, 2021
Windshield cracked out of the blue. Very large crack.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 20, 2021
The windshield cracked for no reason while sitting in a Novi, Michigan parking lot on 8/14/2021. The temperature was in the low 80s. No precipitation. This is the second time this has happen on this vehicle. This will be our third windshield since buying the car in 2017.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 21, 2021
In October of 2020, I awoke to find that my 2017 Subaru Outback's windshield had cracked during the night. I assumed it might have been struck while I was driving the previous day and then it subsequently cracked as temperatures dropped. A Subaru-recommended company replaced the windshield with an OEM windshield. However, on July 18 of 2021, the windshield cracked again. Thus, not even a year passed before the windshield cracked a second time. Once again, I assumed the windshield might have been struck while driving. After getting a quote on replacing the windshield a second time, the crack spread an additional 12" after the vehicle was parked outside for 4 hours. This time, I photographed the crack. The windshield is scheduled to be replaced on 7/27 so it will not be available for inspection after that date. My concern is that the windshields on this vehicle crack VERY easily in response to impacts that I didn't even notice. The cracks then spread very easily. These cracks obstruct drivers' visibility, which presents a safety risk. Replacing the windshields is very expensive because of the safety features require calibration.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 19, 2021
My wife contacted me thru text this morning (Monday the 19th, 2021) asking if I remember seeing the windshield cracked (starting on the passanger side) on Saturday, as thats the last time the vehicle was driven. She had just got in the vehicle to go to work, when she saw it. I told her no and couldn't figure out how it even happened as there is no damage of any sort that would of caused it. Where it started to crack, its not just cracked but deeply separated about half the length of the damage. To the point your fingernail can fit in easily. It craked a bit further later in the day.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 14, 2021
The windshield randomly cracked while parked in a parking lot. The crack propagated over half of the windshield over the course of the day. From the pictures you can see there are no starbursts or evidence of road debris initiating a crack. There are active lawsuits over the weakness of the OEM windshield on Subaru Outback’s. I have not had this inspected by a Subaru dealership.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 8, 2021
I have noticed a crack on the lower corner of the windshield on the driver side. The crack goes from one side to across the bottom of the window, with no evidence of an impact point.
Visibility/wiper, May 15, 2021
SAFETY RISK: WINDSHIELD- 05/14/21 EXITED MY HOME AND WENT TO MY VEHICLE THAT HAD NOT MOVED AT ALL THAT DAY OR THE NIGHT PRIOR. I NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON MY WINDSHIELD THAT I HAD NEVER NOTICED BEFORE. NO SIGN OF THIS CRACK PRIOR TO 5/14/21.
Visibility/wiper, May 12, 2021
WALKED OUT OF STATERS BROS AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE VERY BOTTOM CENTER AND TRAVELED UP 10 INCHES AND OVER TO DRIVERS SIDE 16 INCHES.UP ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS IN THE STORE. NO CRACK PRIOR TO LEAVING MY VEHICLE 25 MINUTES EARLIER.
Visibility/wiper, May 12, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY. AM AWARE THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IF SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON YEAR AND MODEL, 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. VEHICLE IS GARAGED AND I'VE NOTED CRACK IS "GROWING." LOCAL DEALER CLAIMS TO BE UNAWARE OF A BROADER ISSUE INVOLVING MANY OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS DESCRIBING SAME PROBLEM.
Visibility/wiper, May 8, 2021
THIS SUBARU OUTBACK WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR ALMOST NO REASON. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 2/28/21 WITH 19700 MILES. WHILE DRIVING FROM 4-5PM ON 5/7 I DID NOT NOTICE ANY AUDIBLE ROCK HITS OR IMPACTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. WE WERE RECEIVING RAIN IN MICHIGAN AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS DROPPING QUICKLY. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT 5PM, AND THERE WERE NO CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD AT THAT POINT. WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT 11PM THAT NIGHT, I NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS DEBRIS ON THE WINDSHIELD (I PARKED UNDER A TREE), BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS WAS A CRACK DEVELOPING. I DROVE IT FROM 11-11:45. WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT ALMOST MIDNIGHT ON 5/7 I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS CRACK WAS GETTING LARGER. ON 5/8, I WENT TO USE THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT NOON, AND THE CRACK WAS NOW 10-12" LONG AND WITHIN THE DRIVERS LINE OF SIGHT. I CALLED SUBARU SINCE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES, AND THEY SAID TO CALL MY INSURANCE. NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR A WINDSHIELD ON A NEARLY NEW VEHICLE FROM A CRACK THAT SEEMINGLY APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE. MOST OF THE DRIVING WAS ON A CLEAN AND NEW FREEWAY, NO DIRT ROADS. IN THE SECOND PHOTO YOU CAN SEE WHAT IS MAYBE A VERY SMALL ROCK CHIP, BUT I HAVE NUMEROUS SIMILAR CHIPS ON TWO OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE NOT DEVELOPED INTO A CRACK, ESPECIALLY SO QUICKLY. I THINK THIS IS A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD ON THIS NEW SUBARU. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.
Visibility/wiper, May 4, 2021
I HAVE HAD THREE SIZABLE CRACKS IN MY WINDSHIELD SINCE 2017, WITH THE MOST RECENT FAIRLY LARGE WHICH WILL PROBABLY CAUSE ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. THE OTHER TWO CRACKS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN ALL CASES, BUT THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE DANGER ( IE. FOLLOWING A TRUCK) . THEY ALL OCCURRED ON TWO LANE ROADS TRAVELING AT OR UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Apr 20, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW WITHOUT ANY FORCE APPLIED ON A MODERATE TEMPERATURE DAY WITHOUT AC OR HEAT BLOWING. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT WELL-MAINTAINED ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED AND HEARD THE POP OF THE WINDSHIELD. APPROX SPEED WAS 20MPH WITH NO STREET BUMPS AND AGAIN ON A VERY CALM DAY AS FAR AS TEMPERATURE. ALSO, NO EQUIPMENT OR PEOPLE AROUND WHO COULD HAVE SEEMED TO 'TOSSED' ANYTHING AT THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK IS ON THE INTERIOR LAYER OF THE WINDSHEILD AND NOT THE OUTTER. ALSO, I HAVE HAD 2 INSTANCES NOW WHERE MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY DIED WITHOUT ANY ITEMS BEING LEFT ON TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. FIRST TIME WAS AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN OFF ONLY A HOUR OR SO AND COMPLETELY DEAD. I REPLEACED THE BATTERY AND AT THAT POINT THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. THE SECOND TIME THE BATTERY AND SYSTEMS TESTED ALL FINE BUT IT WAS SO DEAD, POWER LOCKS WOULDNT WORK WITH THE KEY FOB.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 20, 2021
THE FIRST TIME, I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD, I WATCHED THE CRACK SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD JUST AS FAST AS IT HAPPENED. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, IT SEEMED EACH ROCK THAT HIT MY WINDSHIELD TURNED INTO A FULL-LENGTH CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 11, 2021
I BOUGHT THE CAR 25 JUNE 2020 AND 3 DAYS INTO IT I GOT A CHIP GOING THEU AN AUTOMATED CAR WASH I CALLED SAFELITE AND THE INS COMPANY AND THEY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AND OUT OF NOWHERE I GET A CRACK COMING UP FROM BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD ON DRIVERS SIDE GOING UP TO WIPER AREA THE CAR SAT FOR 2 DAYS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I DROVE MY OTHER VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS FLORIDA HEAT IS BRUTAL I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY WINDSHIELD YOU CANT SEE IT WELL UNLESS YOUR IN DRIVER SEAT OR CLEANING WINDSHIELD AD I AM OCD
Visibility/wiper, Apr 10, 2021
A MINOR ROCK HIT ON HIGHWAY CAUSES WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM FROM BOTTOM NEAR WIPERS ALL THE WAY TO THE MIDDLE OF SCREEN.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 9, 2021
A CRACK FORMED IN THE WINDSHIELD DURING NORMAL DRIVING, THERE WAS NO CHIP OR OBJECT THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD THAT WOULD FORM A CRACK. IT IS A BIG S-SHAPED CURVE FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE IT MEET THE ROOF DOWN TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITHIN THE LAST 6 WEEKS FROM A PRIOR CHIP AND CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 7, 2021
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. IT DEVELOPED RANDOM SMALL CHIPS IN THE WINDSHIELD IN 4 DIFFERENT SPOTS ON THE WINDSHIELD I WAS DRIVING ON A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD STREET, WHEN I NOTICED SPECS ON MY WINDSHIELD THAT WOULD NOT COME OFF UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I CAME TO REALIZE THEY WERE TINY CHIPS IN THE GLASS. I HAVE NO EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THOSE GOT THERE I WAS NOT IMPACTED BY ANYTHING FLYING AT MY WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX ONE CHIP THAT GOT BIG ENOUGH TO POSSIBLY CRACK THE OTHER 3 I WAS TOLD BY THE SAFELIGHT EMPLOYEE THAT I WOULD GET LOTS OF THEM AND I DIDN'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL THEY CHIPPED OR CRACKED DEEPER. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE SUBARU GLASS IS VERY THIN AND CHIPS AND CRACKS EASILY HE HAS MANY SUBARU'S THAT COME IN FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE WAY THE CHIPS ARE STARTING OUT VERY TINY AND HOW THEY ARE SPACED OUT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING SUBARU SHOULD BE MADE AWARE AND RECALL AND REPLACE. MY HUSBAND JUST PURCHASED A CROSS TREK AND NO SURPRISE AFTER INSPECTING HIS WINDSHIELD WE FOUND TWO VERY TINY SMALL CHIPS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON HIS WINDSHIELD. I WAS TOLD TO TRY AND KEEP MY WINDSHIELD COOL AND OUT OF THE SUN TO TRY AND PREVENT ANYMORE CHIPPING OR CRACKING. IF I HAD KNOWN THE SUBARU OUTBACK HAD THIS DEFECT I NEVER WOULD HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 6, 2021
THE WINDOW CRACKED FROM THE INSIDE STARTING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT WINDOW. THERE ARE ALSO MULTIPLE CRACKS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WINDOWS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 31, 2021
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP ON 02/09/2021. ON 03/31/2021 WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE TOP CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. UPON FURTHER EXPLORATION, I NOTICED THE CRACK EXTENDED FROM THE TOP-CENTER, DOWN ABOUT 4 INCHES AND THEN ANOTHER 6 INCHES TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY CRASH OR ACCIDENT IN THE SIX WEEKS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE CRACK SEEMS TO HAVE APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2021
DRIVEN THE 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK IN THE MORNING TO WORK AND PARKED IN A COVERED PARKING GARAGE. NOTICED A BIG CRACK ON THE UPPER MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHEN GETTING BACK TO THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AT NIGHT TIME.