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2017 Subaru Outback Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 919 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Outback, most often about the electrical (43% of complaints, typically around 30,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Outback model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2017 Subaru Outback problems
Electrical
392 complaints · 43%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, ignition, instrument cluster/panel.
I believe there is a parasitic draw on the electrical system of my 2017 Outback (which I purchased in 2016). It has died repeatedly and randomly since I purchased it, failing to start after being parked for a few hours. More times than not now, it has happened when I'm in the backcountry (such as 05/28/2019)…
After using remote start and after driving vehicle, it would not shut off. Was able to actually turn off ignition, remove key and still drive car. Had to pull fuel pump fuse to disable the car.
Visibility and wipers
233 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, sun/moon roof assembly.
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…
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.
Other or unspecified
178 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 28,000 miles.
Front right power window. Power window on passenger side goes down, when pull to close, goes up then opens/comes down again. Won't stay up.
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…
Transmission
47 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 27,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
When the vehicle is placed in park it is not possible to remove the key. This leaves me stranded as I can not leave the vehicle. I was left stranded in mexico.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the electric parking brake was stuck intermittently. The contact stated while shifting to drive(d) or reverse(r), the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that failure occurred after reversing several times. The message "park" was displayed. The…
Engine
44 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 32,000 miles.
Yesterday morning, I stopped my Subaru in order to back into a parking space. The car was in drive and my foot was on the brake. While my foot was still on the brake and I was changing gears from drive to reverse, the engine started accelerating full-throttle. I had to press the brake pedal very hard to prevent the…
In 2018 the battery kept dying and had go be replaced. Now, in 2012, the same thing is happening again. It had to be jumped off yesterday morning, again this morning and now this evening is dead again. The car only has a very little over 32,000 actual miles on it. The vehicle is keopt in the garage all the time and…
Speed control
28 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. While pulling into a parking space at a very slow speed, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a pole and a second vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and…
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. While the vehicle was completely stopped, it accelerated independently. The contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle continued to accelerate and crashed into a tree. A police report was filed. The air bags deployed. The driver sustained chest and…
Driver assistance
28 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic emergency braking, warnings, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection.
Vehicle was in motion on a highway when the driver heard the windshield crack. Driver never saw any item strike the windshield. Because eyesight sensors have to be recalibrated after a windshield replacement, this incident cost almost $1000 to repair.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated on three occasions while driving 25-35 MPH, the automatic collision braking system engaged when there was no object present. The contact mentioned it happened while approaching a curve. Additionally, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard however…
Body and structure
26 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Parked my leased 2017 Outback in my driveway last night with nothing overhead, no trees, etc. This morning there was a large crack in the windshield which began at the bottom of the glass on the passenger side and continued on for over 15 inches. Total mystery.
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2017 Subaru Outback recalls
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: knee bolster
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: caliper
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Steering: column
Risk: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2017 Subaru Outback
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Outback?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (392 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles); visibility and wipers (233 complaints, typically around 36,000 miles); other or unspecified (178 complaints, typically around 28,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2017 Subaru Outback have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 19, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2017 a bad year for the Subaru Outback?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Outback model year since 2000, with 919 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.