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, Jan 14, 2020
WITHIN THE FIRST 100 MILES OF OWNING OUR BRAND NEW 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD GOING UNDER 10MPH AND A CRACK PROPAGATED ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR INTO SUBARU THEY REJECTED FIXING THE ISSUE BECAUSE THEY SAID A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. RECENTLY WE TURNED ON OUR FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN AND PROPAGATED ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AGAIN. WE REQUESTED SUBARU FIX THE ISSUE AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS A NON IMPACT FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THEY REJECTED TO FIX THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THEY SAID OTHER SECTIONS HAD ROCK CHIPS (THE SECTION WHERE THE CRACK OCCURRED DID NOT HAVE A ROCK CHIP). THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE WINDSHIELD WILL BREAK WITH LITTLE TO NO EXTERNAL FORCE BEING APPLIED TO IT WHICH WILL CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO FAIL AND SUBARU WILL NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 7, 2020
WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK FOR NO REASON. CAR WAS STATIONARY AND IN THE COVERED GARAGE. WE NOTICED THE CRACK ORIGINATE FROM THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE GLASS AND WAS SPREADING UPWARDS TOWARDS THE MIDDLE. WE HAD TO GET THE ENTIRE THING REPLACED.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 6, 2020
WHEN LEAVING MY GARAGE ON 1/2/2020, A 9" VERTICAL CRACK WAS FIRST NOTICED IN THE TOP MIDDLE PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD, JUST BELOW THE RIGHT EYESIGHT CAMERA OF MY 2017 OUTBACK. TWO DAYS LATER, WHEN ENTERING MY PARKED VEHICLE, I NOTICED A 10" HORIZONTAL CRACK TO THE LEFT (TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE) AND AN 4" HORIZONTAL CRACK HAD DEVELOPED TO THE RIGHT FROM THE BOTTOM END OF THE VERTICAL CRACK. THE WINDSHIELD DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY DEEP CHIPS THAT WOULD HAVE INITIATED THE CRACKS. THE CRACKS ARE PROPAGATING INTO THE DRIVER'S VIEW WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 3, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY HUSBAND TURNED THE DEFROST ON AND WE HEARD A 'POP' SOUND. THEN MY HUSBAND SAID YOUR WINDSHIELD IS CRACKING AND NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK STARTED IN THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE BLACK PART OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CRACK CURVES UP AND TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 27, 2019
2017 OUTBACK SECOND TIME WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED. FIRST TIME (11/2018)SOMETHING VERY TINY HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD AND IT CRACKED. THE CAR WAS ON AN INTERSTATE. THE EMPHASIS IS ON TINY, NO WAY IT SHOULD HAVE CRACKED. THIS TIME, 12/25/2019, I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, ON AN INTERSTATE, LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A CRACK APPEARED ON THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. I EXCLAIMED TO MY HUSBAND "THE WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED!". NOTHING HIT IT, IT JUST CRACKED AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW. THIS WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM BASED ON READING I HAVE DONE. I HOPED THE FIRST TIME AROUND SUBARU HAD CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD, I HAD A CORRECTED WINDSHIELD AND NO LONGER HAD TO WORRY. WHY ISN'T THIS OBVIOUS PROBLEM BEING ADDRESSED? MY INSURANCE RATE WENT UP AS A RESULT OF THE FIRST "INCIDENT". AND, WITH THE FIRST ONE IT TOOK AROUND 30 DAYS TO GET IT RESOLVED PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF A DIFFICULTY LOCATING A SUBARU REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 23, 2019
SPONTANEOUS CRACKS IN WINDSHIELD WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF A CHIP OR EXPERIENCING ANY "HITS" TO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING - GO OUT TO MY GARAGE PARKED SUBARU OUTBACK (TOURING) AND NOTICE A LINEAR CRACK ACROSS WINDSHIELD ON THREE (3) SEPARATE INCIDENCES WITHIN 369 DAYS - FEB 2018, MAY 2018 & FEB 2019
Visibility/wiper, Dec 23, 2019
SPONTANEOUS CRACKS IN WINDSHIELD WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF A CHIP OR EXPERIENCING ANY "HITS" TO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING - GO OUT TO START MY GARAGE PARKED SUBARU OUTBACK (TOURING) AND NOTICE A LINEAR CRACK ACROSS WINDSHIELD ON THREE (3) SEPARATE INCIDENCES WITHIN 369 DAYS FEB 2018, MAY 2018, & FEB 2019.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 23, 2019
WE NOTICED A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD WHEN WE DOING A CAR CLEANING AND REPORTED IT TO OUR CAR INSURANCE COMPANY; OTHERWISE, WE WEREN'T AWARE OF IT HAPPENING, IT STILL EXISTS AND I NEED TO GET THE CAR INSPECTED IN JANUARY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL PASS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 23, 2019
SPONTANEOUS CRACKS IN WINDSHIELD WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF A CHIP OR EXPERIENCING ANY "HITS" TO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING - GO OUT TO START MY GARAGE PARKED SUBARU OUTBACK (TOURING) AND NOTICE A LINEAR CRACK ACROSS WINDSHIELD ON THREE (3) SEPARATE INCIDENCES WITHIN 369 DAYS FEB 2018, MAY 2018, & FEB 2019.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 22, 2019
MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAD TO REPLACE IT OUT OF POCKET WHEN I BELIEVE THE WINDSHIELD WAS DEFECTIVE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 10, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKS AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT FOLLOWING THE SMALLEST OF PEBBLES IMPACTING WINDSCREEN. THIS IS MY SECOND REPLACEMENT FOLLOWING A SMALL HIT RESULTING IN THE ENTIRE SCREEN CRACKING FROM MOLDING TO MOLDING, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ENTERING THE FREEWAY. THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE WITHIN 150 FEET. THERE IS NO MARK INDICATING AN IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THE CRACK STARTS.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Visibility/wiper, Dec 6, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKS AND INSTANTLY SPREAD WITH MINIMAL IMPACT DISABLING CAR SPEED CONTROL AND SAFETY SYSTEMS SUCH AS PRE-COLLISION BRAKING AND LANE KEEP ASSIST.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 5, 2019
MY SUBARU OUTBACK 2017 WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY A TINY STONE AT ~50MPH SPEED, BARELY LEAVING ANY MARK. HOWEVER, LATER ON (HOURS LATER) A CRACK STARTED TO GROW FROM THAT AREA. EVERY SEVERAL DAYS IT WOULD INCREASE BY A FEW INCHES, EVENTUALLY SPLITTING INTO COUPLE DIRECTIONS ACROSS A FEW WEEKS PERIOD. IT ENDED UP CLOSING A FULL LOOP, AT WHICH POINT I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND AM ABOUT TO REPLACE IT. SIMILAR TYPE OF MINOR STONES HITS NEVER SEEMED TO CAUSE ANY SUCH ISSUES ON OTHER CARS I'VE OWNED.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 3, 2019
WINDSHIELD APPEARED TO SPONTANEOUSLY CRACK FROM CENTER MIDDLE UPWARD - NO IMPACT OR OTHER CAUSE NOTED. DATE OF INCIDENT IS APPROXIMATE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 31, 2019
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SUBARU IN TOWN ON A PAVED ROAD HER WHEN SHE HEARD A POP/CRACK NOISE. A CRACK BECAME VISIBLE IMMEDIATELY AND AFTER SHE TOOK A LUNCH BREAK AND RETURNED TO THE CAR, THE CRACK HAD EXPANDED FURTHER INTO HER LINE OF SITE. THE CRACK STARTED IN THE LOWER CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS HAPPENED IN MID AUGUST 2019. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN SEPTEMBER SINCE IT INTERFERED WITH HER VISIBILITY. I HAVE A PHOTO WHICH IS TOO LARGE (OVER 5MB) TO BE ACCEPTED BY THIS FORM.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 30, 2019
MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED AND SPREAD TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD TO REPLACE IT. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHEN IT CRACKED. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR THE CRACK SPREAD THE ENTIRE SPAN OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility, Oct 29, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT OR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, INCLUDING LITHIA RENO SUBARU (775-800-5534, LOCATED AT 2270 KIETZKE LN, RENO, NV 89502). BOTH DEALERS INSISTED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS IMPACTED BY SOMETHING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND BY THE END OF THE DAY (SITTING IN A PARKING LOT) WAS SEVERAL FEET LONG. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND HAD IT REPLACED. USED MY INSURANCE CLAIM AND PAID OUT OF POCKET.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK FROM THE VERY TOP EDGE WITHOUT ANY IMPACT OR SIGNS OF DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND IN A COVERED GARAGE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 4, 2019
4TH WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT ON 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I PREMIUM WITH EYESIGHT (43,000 MILES). MINOR IMPACT WHILE DRIVING WHICH I'M SURE HAPPENS EVERY DAY TO OTHER MAKES WITHOUT NEEDING TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD. NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD IN THIS HOUSEHOLD WITH 80+ YEARS OF DRIVING NON-SUBARUS. SUBARU CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT DEFECTIVE GLASS FROM 2015-2016 IS NOT BEING USED AS OEM REPLACEMENT. WENT WITH AFTERMARKET ON 4TH TIME. SEEMS TO ME THAT SUBARU GLASS IS DEFECTIVE.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 18, 2019
HAVE TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD FOR 2ND TIME ON 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. CRACKS HAVE BEEN BOTH TIMES ON DRIVERS SIDE FROM BOTTOM UP UNDER WIPER WITH NO CHIPS ON WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE 2015 AND 16 OUTBACKS WHICH SUBARU LOST BUT SO FAR THEY ARE NOR COVERING THE 2017 MODELS WHICH IS HAS A DIFFERENT WINDSHIELD BUT HAVING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CRACKING BOTH TIMES WAS FIRST NOTED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN THE OUR GARAGE.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 6, 2019
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN JULY 2019 AND I NOTICED THAT THE SUBARU DEALER WE PURCHASED IT FROM HAD REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. NOW ITS BEEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THE WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED A SPONTANEOUS CRACK ON THE BOTTOM ABOUT 9 INCHES LONG IN A S SHAPE. THE CAR WAS PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS OCCURED. I BELIEVE THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE READ THAT EVEN 2019 SUBARU OUTBACKS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SUBARU CLAIMS THAT A FLAW IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DEICER ELEMENT CAUSES THE CRACKS ON 2015-16 MODELS BUT IF THATS THE CASE, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO THE MODEL YEARS UP TO 2019? THE BODY STYLE FROM 2015-2019 ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. I BELIEVE SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS AND DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 26, 2019
OUR OUTBACK WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY SINCE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THIS MORNING MY WIFE DISCOVERED A LARGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. IT'S APPROXIMATELY 7 INCHES LONG. I'VE READ ON SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH LATE MODEL SUBARUS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US?