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.
Steering, Dec 28, 2019
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON CLEAR DRY ROADWAYS, THE STEERING FEELS AS IF I HAVE A BRIEF LOSS OF CONTROL. I LIKEN IT TO HITTING A PATCH OF ICE AND HAVING A SLIGHT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. I'VE NOTICED IT TWICE WHILE ENTERING A CURVE AND DECELERATING FROM 55 MPH TO 45 MPH (THE REDUCED SPEED LIMIT OF THE CURVE). THIS ISSUE HAPPENS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY AND IS ONLY NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WE HAD THE SUBARU DEALER LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Power train, Dec 6, 2019
TRANSMISSION PERIODICALLY PUTS EXTRA POWER TO WHEELS DURING BRAKING RESULTING IN MANY NEAR MISSES.
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.
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.
Steering, Nov 26, 2019
THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT RELEASE. HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN IGNITION ALL THE TIME.
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.
Structure, Nov 6, 2019
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CHIP WHICH TURNED INTO A 12 INCH CRACK WITHOUT IMPACT FROM ROCKS OR LARGE ROAD DEBRIS. THE CHIP APPEARED WILL DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE SOUND OF SAND OR BUGS WAS HEAR TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD BUT WAS NOT ANYTHING THAT WOULD RESULT IN A CHIP THAT WOULD LEAD TO A 12 INCH CRACK. THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED. COST TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD OUT OF POCKET WAS $675.73 PLUS TAX
Electrical system, Nov 2, 2019
KEY HAS BEGUN TO GET STUCK IN IGNITION EACH TIME I SHIFT INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. ONE HAS TO REPEATEDLY SLAM THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH TO RECOGNIZE THE CAR IS INDEED IN "PARK" AND RELEASE THE KEY. COULD CREATE AN ISSUE FOR ANYONE WITHOUT THE PHYSICAL STRENGTH TO "SLAM" THE GEAR SHIFT INTO "PARK" OR SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO QUICKLY EXIT THEIR VEHICLE AND GET INTO THEIR LOCKED HOUSE OR BUILDING. HOUSE KEYS ARE ALWAYS ATTACHED TO CAR KEYS, WHICH ARE INEVITABLY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. A SEARCH OF ONLINE FORUMS SHOWS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SUBARU HAS NOT MADE GOOD ON AND DEALERS ARE CHARGING OWNERS UPWARDS OF $600 TO REPAIR.
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.
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.