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.
Engine, Oct 30, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. DURING COLD WEATHER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON APRIL 15, 2017. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPITAL SUBARU (920 CAPITAL EXPRESSWAY AUTO MALL, SAN JOSE, CA 95136) ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,718.
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.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKING.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS OF HAVING TO HAVE OUR WINDSHIELD FIXED, I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A FREEWAY, APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, WHEN A CRACK STREAKED ACROSS OUR WINDSHIELD. WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY, THINKING MAYBE A TINY ROCK HIT US. A FEW DAYS LATER WE ASKED SUBARU TO FIX IT, BUT THEY SAID THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY DO AND SENT US TO A LOCAL AUTO GLASS COMPANY. THEY SAID THESE NEW WINDSHIELDS WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY LIKE EYESIGHT, ETC. SEEM TO MAKE THE WINDSHIELDS MORE FRAGILE. ON JUNE 1ST, 2017 (OUR CAR WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD), HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED, WE PICKED IT UP TO A TUNE OF $1,485.02. I WONDERED WHEN WE WOULD HAVE TO BE BACK IN FOR ANOTHER FIX. VERY CONCERNING.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD HAS BROKEN FOR THE 2ND TIME SINCE PURCHASE. BOTH TIMES SUBARU GLASS.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN THE CAR WAS GARAGED. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR OTHER DAMAGE TO CAUSE IT. IT HAS SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO SUBARU.
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.
Other or unspecified, Oct 26, 2019
I OWN AND DRIVE A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK PREMIUM. I LIKE THIS CAR AND ENJOY DRIVING IT. MY CAR HAS THE FULL EYESIGHT SAFETY SYSTEM. ON SEPTEMBER 27 2019 I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON THE NORTHEAST EXTENSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. I WAS A FEW MILES SOUTH OF THE LANSDALE EXIT IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THREE. THE ROAD WAS DRY, THE WEATHER CLEAR AND TEMPERATURE ABOUT 80 DEGREES. I WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH. A CAR PASSED ME ON THE RIGHT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND PULLED INTO MY LANE IN FRONT OF ME. MY SUBARU PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND BROUGHT ME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN MY LANE. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE WAS SCREAMING ' WHAT ARE YOU DOING ? WHAT ARE YOU DOING ? 'MY EYES WENT TO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHO WAS GOING TO HIT ME. MY FOOT STAYED ON THE ACCELERATOR TRYING TO KEEP MOVING. THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM FINALLY RELEASED THE CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN. I MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE AND PUT MY EMERGENCY FOUR WAY FLASHERS ON. IT HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES IN THE NEXT MILE. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED HOW TO TURN OFF THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM. ON OCTOBER 3RD I TOOK MY OUTBACK TO THE CIOCCA SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN ALLENTOWN PA. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND CLAIMED THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR EYESIGHT SYSTEM. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.
Other or unspecified, Oct 14, 2019
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 28,000 MI. HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK I SEE THAT A LOT OF OWNERS OF OUTBACKS ARE ALSO HAVING CRACKS DEVELOP. NOT SURE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK SHOWED UP AS I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE CRACK IS ON THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE CENTER.
Other or unspecified, Oct 10, 2019
THE IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. I HAVE READ MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING TO SEVERAL SUBARU OWNERS. THEY SAID SUBARU IS CHARGING THE CONSUMER ANYWHERE FROM $375 TO $800 TO FIX IT.
Electrical system, Oct 9, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,700.
Other or unspecified, Oct 9, 2019
FAULTY WINDSHIELD, I AM ON MY THIRD WINDSHIELD WHICH HAS JUST CRACKED. THE CRACK ALWAYS BEGINS IN THE SAME PLACE, LOWER PASSENGER SIDE BELOW WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY IN DEFROST PORTION OF GLASS. SUBARU HAS REPLACED THE GLASS TWICE AT NO COST AT 27,407 MILES AND 45,099 MILES. NOW AT APPROX. 63,000 MILES IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. SUBARU IS "UNAWARE" OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELDS IN 2017 OUTBACK MODELS. I AM UNAWARE OF ANY ROCK IMPACT TO THE GLASS. WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY, I HEAR A POP SOUND AND CRACK BEGINS TO FORM AND SPREAD QUICKLY.
Electrical system, Oct 7, 2019
AFTER STOPPING VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT IN PARK, KEY WILL NOT RETURN TO START AND IS STUCK IN IGNITION.
Suspension, Oct 6, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE REAR STRUT COMPLETELY COLLAPSED/FAILED AT 45000 MILES. I REPLACED (NOT AN EASY JOB) WITH SAME KYB OE PART.
Power train, Electrical system, Oct 6, 2019
THE KEYS COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNING THE CAR OFF. THE PROBLEM FIRST APPEARED AROUND SEPTEMBER 2019 (APPROXIMATELY 42,000 MILES). OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THE PROBLEM PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, AND REQUIRED SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL TO PARK MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL THE KEYS COULD BE REMOVED. THE SELECT LEVER ASSEMBLY (PART 35111AL00B) WAS REPLACED WITH THE NEWER VERSION (PART 35111AL00C) WHICH FIXED THE ISSUE. THE ORIGINAL SELECT LEVER ASSEMBLY (35111AL00B) WAS TESTED AND IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE "P" RANGE SWITCH. RESISTANCE ACROSS SELECT LEVER ASSEMBLY PINS 1 AND 2 SHOWED A RESISTANCE OF 2-3 OHMS WHEN THE SELECT LEVER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE SERVICE MANUAL STATES THAT THE "P" RANGE SWITCH RESISTANCE SHOULD BE LESS THAN 1 OHM WHEN IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS HIGH RESISTANCE LIKELY CAUSED THE IGNITION TO FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND PREVENTED THE KEYS FROM BEING REMOVED.
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.
Electrical system, Sep 18, 2019
CAN NOT REMOVE KEY AFTER TURNING CAR OFF. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN PARK AND ENGINE OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. KEY STAYS IN COLUMN. SLAMMING SHIFT LEVER A FEW TIMES SOMETIMES FREES IT UP. SUBARU CLAIMS IT'S NOT A RECALL ISSUE. BEEN HAPPENING EACH DAY THE LAST WEEK.
Electrical system, Sep 11, 2019
BATTERY DEAD SEVERAL TIMES. HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT JUMPED SIX TIMES. BATTERY REPLACED BY DEALER ONCE. I NOTE THAT MANY SUBARU OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM.
Engine, Sep 8, 2019
THE COOLANT LOOSE AND HAS COOLANT SMELL AFTER DRIVE A CAR. I HAD SEVERAL SAME REASON SERVICE. THEY NOTHING WRONG THEY FILL UP COOLANT THAT'S IT. NOW ALMOST EMPTY RESERVOIR. AND IT'S OVER LIMITED WARRANTY. IT'S 36059 MILES.
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.
Other or unspecified, Sep 5, 2019
THE GEAR SHIFTER DOES NOT GO IN TO PARK COMPLETELY ALLOWING FOR RELEASE OF THE KEY. THERE IS A 'RESET' YOU CAN DO IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OR THEY WILL REPLACE THE SHIFTER SOLVING THE PROBLEM.