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
233 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Nov 8, 2017
WE PURCHASED THE OUTBACK 2017 A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT VISIBILITY IS SEVERELY LIMITED WHEN RAINING AND WIPERS ARE ON, ESPECIALLY WHEN LIGHTS ARE REFLECTED ON THE WINDSHIELD. WE HAVE RESEARCHED AND HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM....FOR YEARS BEFORE AND FOR THE 2017 MODELS. WE WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AND LOCAL ROADS. A HEAVY HAZE APPEARS ON THE EXTERIOR WINDSHIELD WITH EVERY SWIPE OF THE WIPERS . SO, THE WINDSHIELD IS EXTREMELY GLARY WHEN LIGHT HITS IT, THUS VISIBILITY IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPAIRED. WE NOTICED THAT BEADING OCCURRED ON THE WINDSHIELD AS RAIN FELL AND CHANGED TO HAZE AFTER EACH SWIPE OF THE WIPERS. DEFROST DID NOT HELP; CLEANING WINDSHIELD DID NOT HELP.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 19, 2017
I VERY SMALL ROCK CHIP HIT MY WINDSHIELD INITIALLY CAUSING AN 8 INCH CRACK AND IS NOW OVER TWO FEET LONG. THE CHIP DID NOT EVEN LEAVE AN IMPACT MARK; IF YOU TRIED RIGHT NOW TO SEE WHERE THE CRACK STARTED YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO. I REVIEWED FORUMS ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT OUTBACK WINDSHIELDS. WEAK OR CHEAP IS HOW THEY WERE OFTEN DESCRIBED. THIS WAS A VERY SMALL ROCK CHIP THAT HIT MY WINDSHIELD. THIS AMOUNT OF DAMAGE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I AGREE WITH THE FORUMS; WEAK AND CHEAP. I SEE THERE IS EVEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST SUBARU.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 5, 2017
PURCHASED A 2015 OUTBACK AND EXPERIENCED 4 CRACKED WINDSHIELDS IN AN 18 MONTH PERIOD. TRADED THE CAR IN FOR A 2017 OUTBACK HOPING THEY FIXED THE DESIGN FLAW. NOW 6 MONTHS AFTER 2017 OUTBACK PURCHASE AN OUTRAGEOUS CRACK FORMED ON THIS NEW VEHICLE. ALL 5 CRACKS BEGAN NOT FURTHER THAN 2 TO 3 INCHES FROM THE FRAME. SO 5 CRACKED WINDSHIELDS IN A 2 YEAR PERIOD FROM SUBARU OUTBACK. AUTOMOBILES. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER NEVER WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE CRACK WOULD APPEAR SPONTANEOUSLY, SOMETIMES IT ACTUALLY SOUNDED LIKE CRACKLING SOUNDS HAPPENING IN FRAME AND MAYBE (?) ONE TIME THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD. TWICE I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IMPEDES VISION. DISTRACTS DRIVER.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 1, 2017
ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AS GLARE FROM THE CENTER INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY DIRECTLY REFLECTS ON THE EYES, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE THE ROAD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THE SCREEN SHOULD BE ANTI GLARE. SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE REPLIED THEY COULD NOT HELP IT AND ASKED TO FIND AFTER MARKET ANTI GLARE SCREEN PROTECTORS.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 2, 2017
WINDOW CRACKED BUT WAS NOT HIT WITH ANYTHING. CRACK APPEARED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, HALFWAY DOWN THE WINDSHIELD, AND OBSTRUCTS VIEW OF THE DRIVER. CAR HAS LESS THAN 1600 MILES ON IT. DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED AS A DEFECT AND WE ARE ON OWN OWN TO REPLACE IT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF SUBARU OUTBACK WINDSHIELDS CRACKING BECAUSE THEY ARE TO THIN. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO VISIBILITY ISSUES.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 10, 2017
OUR WINDSHIELD BEGAN SLOWLY CRACKING STARTING AT THE BASE OF THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW. IT BEGAN AT THE BOTTOM EDGE (HEAT STRIP) AND MOVED HALF UP THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE WE REPLACED. COST $569 FOR OEM WINDSHIELD. SUBARU DEALER DENIED THE WARRANTY CLAIM, WHILE ADMITTING A PROBLEM WITH EARLIER VERSIONS THAT YEAR'S OUTBACK.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 11, 2017
STAR CRACK IN WINDSHIELD DISCOVERED STATIONARY (IN CARPORT) THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE (ODOMETER READING 200 MILES). LOCATION OF CRACK SLIGHTLY ABOVE WIPER BLADE ON PASSENGER SIDE. IMPACT STRIKE THE SIZE OF A PINHEAD. THE DAMAGE IS CHARACTERISTIC OF PRIOR MODEL YEARS 2015 AND 2016 IN WHICH THE MANUFACTURER INITIATED RECALLS. IT IS APPARENT THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES AND HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 4, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A GLARE FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT REFLECTED OFF THE FACE PLATE OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE DISTRACTED THE CONTACT FROM DRIVING AND HINDERED HER VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE GLARE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. A BUY BACK FOR THE VEHICLE WAS OFFERED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DECLINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. UPDATED 04/06/17 LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BUY BACK OFFER INVOLVED A $5,500 LOSS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHT WAS SO EXTREME THAT IT WAS PAINFUL, CAUSING NAUSEA AND MIGRAINES. UPDATED 09/20/20017*JS