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
917 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Mar 10, 2021
PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN MAY 2017. BOB MOORE SUBARU. I JUST REPLACED THE 4TH BATTERY ON MARCH 8,2021. FOUR BATTERIES IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS. SERVICE HAS CHECKED THE SYSTEM BEFORE ON 3/8/21. SUBARU JUST SAYS IT CHECKS OUT AND THATS IT. HOW WOULD THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY LIKE TO REPLACE A BATTERY EVERY YEAR. HOW WOULD ANYONE LOOK YOU IN THE FACE AND SAY- IT CHECKS OUT FINE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. CAR IS GARAGE KEPT, PERFECT CONDITION AND DROVE EVERYDAY. IT IS DEAD THE NEXT DAY WITH NO SIGNS OF BEING WEAK. FOB IS IN BACK OF MY HOUSE.
Electrical system, Mar 9, 2021
REPEATED BATTERY FAILURES. PURCHASED VEHICLE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN SEPTEMBER 2020 WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP TWICE SINCE THEN, AND VEHICLE STILL INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, REQUIRING JUMP-START.
Electrical system, Mar 7, 2021
BATTERY HAS DIED 3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, BATTERY REPLACED AFTER IT DIED THE FIRST TIME IN 2018. NEW BATTERY, ONLY APPROX. 2 YEARS OLD, DIED TWICE IN 2 WEEKS. ALL THREE TIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER I HAD THE BACK HATCH AND/OR DOORS OPEN 20-30 MINUTES, SOMETIMES WHILE CLEANING THE INTERIOR. THE THIRD TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER HAVING THE BACK HATCH OPEN APPROX. 5 MINUTES AFTER TAKING SOME ITEMS OUT OF THE BACK. ALL THREE TIMES THE CAR WAS OFF AND IN THE GARAGE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 7, 2021
SUBRAU OUTBACK WINDSHIELDS ARE PRONE TO CRACKS IN THE CENTER TOP AREA. SMALL ROCKS WILL CAUSE DAMAGE 100% OF THE TIME IN THIS SAME AREA. REPLACED ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD AND CURRENT WINDSHIELD EXPERIENCED CRACKING IN THE SAME LOCATION.
Electrical system, Mar 3, 2021
THE KEY GETS STUCK RANDOMLY IN THE IGNITION AFTER DRIVING AROUND AND PARKING THE OUTBACK. HAVE TO PLAY AROUND WITH THE SHIFTER TO HOPEFULLY GET THE KEY OUT. AT THIS TIME, IT'S RANDOM AND INTERMITTENT. IT'S A CONCERN THAT IT WILL BE A CONSTANT PROBLEM AND ONE DAY THE KEY WON'T COME OUT AT ALL. IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM AS SUBARU HAS A TSB 16-112-18R FOR THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AFTER FOUR YEARS OF OWNERSHIP AT ABOUT 42,000 MILES. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY SPILLS OR CONTAMINATION THAT I KNOW OF. IT STARTED IN FEBRUARY 2021 AND HAS HAPPENED ABOUT A HALF DOZEN TIMES. HTTPS://WWW.TSBSEARCH.COM/SUBARU/16-112-18R
Electrical system, Mar 3, 2021
A NEW BATTERY DIED AFTER 7 MONTHS USE. I REPLACED IT. THE NEWER ONE DIED IN 5 DAYS. I READ THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT THIS MODEL DRAINING BATTERIES PREMATURELY. EACH TIME, WE WENT TO USE THE VEHICLE, STATIONARY, AND FOUND THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DEAD.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 2, 2021
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CITY HIGHWAY 90 IN OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (55MPH) AND MY WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED ABOUT SIX INCHES FROM FROM THE DRIVER SIDE NEAR WHERE THE FRAME MEETS WITH THE CAR OVER. I DID NOT GET HIT BY ANYTHING. IT WAS LIGHTLY RAINING, I HAD MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST SETTING. IT WAS ABOUT 47 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND I HAD MY DEFROSTER ON SPLIT WITH MY FEET SET TO 70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
Suspension, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 2, 2021
I HAD JUST ENTERED THE GOLF COURSE PARKING LOT AND HAD TURNED RIGHT TO ENTER A PARKING SLOT. MY SPEED WAS LESS THAN 5 MPH. MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, HIT THE CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK AND JUMPED OVER A 1 FOOT HIGH WALL WHICH WAS 3 FT. AWAY FROM THE BLOCK. THE CAR ENDED UP ON A DOWNSLOPE AND THE REAR WHEEL FORTUNATELY CAUGHT ON A RETAINING WALL. I WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS ONE WITNESS TO THIS TERRIFYING EVENT WHICH OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 4TH AT ABOUT 8:10 AM IN A PARKING SPOT THAT I HAVE USED AT LEAST 50 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.
Power train, Mar 2, 2021
NUMEROUS TIMES OVER PAST TWO MONTHS, WHEN AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STALLS CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP. AT LEAST ONCE, WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC, A CAR BEHIND HAD TO DO AN EMERGENCY SLOWDOWN TO AVOID A REAR END COLLISION. TWO SUBARU DEALERS HAVE CHECKED THE VEHICLE BEING UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. YET, ON SEARCHING THE WEB, THIS COMMON CONDITIONIS IS CLEARLY DESCRIBED IN NHTSA FILES.
Electrical system, Mar 1, 2021
MY BATTERY DIES OFTEN. BATTERY WAS REPLACED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOW IT IS DEAD AGAIN. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
Electrical system, Feb 27, 2021
BATTERY DIES AFTER THE VEHICLE IS IDLE MORE THAN A WEEK. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY LASTED THREE YEARS. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES WITH THE REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN 20K MILES.
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 27, 2021
REPEATED PROBLEM OF BATTERY DRAINING, USUALLY WHEN HATCHBACK IS OPENED FOR APPROX. 20 MINUTES, LOADING OR UNLOADING CAMPING GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ALMOST HALF DOZEN TIMES, AND IT IS BOTH FRUSTRATING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, AS I GENERALLY CAMP BY MYSELF. NOW I HAVE TO LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN I PUT IN OR TAKE ANYTHING OUT OF THE HATCHBACK MORE THAN GROCERIES.
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 ?
Electrical system, Feb 26, 2021
BATTERY DIES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY PARKED IN GARAGE OR IN PARKING LOT. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THIS STILL HAPPENS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES.
Electrical system, Feb 23, 2021
SLOWING DRAINING BATTERY, INCREASINGLY HARDER TO START OVER A FEW DAY, AND EVENTUAL DEAD BATTERY REQUIRING JUMP START. BEEPING SOUND (AS IF LIFT GATE WAS OPEN) OCCURRED ON LAST START BEFORE BATTERY DIED.
Electrical system, Feb 21, 2021
DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSES BATTERY TO DRAIN PREMATURELY AND REQUIRES JUMP STARTS IF VEHICLE IS NOT FREQUENTLY OPERATED.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 20, 2021
FOR NO APPARENT REASON MY OUTBACK'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CRACK STARTS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND EXTENDS UPWARD ABOUT 14 INCHES AND SIDEWAYS ABOUT 10 INCHES. IT OCCURED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AT A SKI AREA. IT WAS SNOWING AND ABOUT 28 DEGREES.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 19, 2021
AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM RUNNING ERRANDS NOTICED WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING HIT DURING THE TRIP
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.
Electrical system, Feb 19, 2021
I PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6R LIMITED ON DECEMBER 27 2016, FIRST BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN DECEMBER 2019, SECOND BATTERY DIED IN FEBRUARY 14 2021. CAR HAS 30000 ORIGINAL MILES
Structure, Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Feb 18, 2021, crash
I HAD BACKED MY CAR UP TO THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS I TRIED TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK, MY VEHICLE CATAPULTED INTO THE GARAGE WHICH WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND IT. I BELIEVE MY CAR EXPERIENCED "SUDDEN UNINTERRUPTED ACCELERATION". MY CINDER BLOCK GARAGE PARTIALLY COLLAPSED AND NEED TO BE COMPLETELY RAZED.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Feb 17, 2021
1) WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE PARKED IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. 2) THE ADVANCED COLLISION DETECTION/ LANE TRACKING SYSTEM CALLED EYESIGHT FAILED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. 3) BATTERY HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED AND REQUIRED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. CAR WAS PARKED IN AB ENCLOSED GARAGE MOST OF THE TIMES WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. 3) CURRENTLY, A FLAT TIRE INDICATOR IS ON EVEN THOUGH ALL TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED. NOTE: EXCEPT FOR THE WINDSHIELD CASE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE ONLY REMEDY PROVIDED WAS A BATTERY REPLACEMENT.
Electrical system, Feb 15, 2021
BATTERY DRAIN, ON 2ND BATTERY AND IT KEEPS DRAINING.
Electrical system, Feb 14, 2021
BATTERY KEEPS DYING WITH NO APPARENT REASON. HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES. NOW BATTERY IS DEAD AGAIN AFTER ONLY 68 DAYS AFTER LAST REPLACEMENT.