2017 Subaru Outback Problems

2017 Subaru Outback problems owners report most

2017 Subaru Outback problems are documented in public: owners have filed 921 complaints with NHTSA, the earliest in 2016 and the most recent in 2026. Sorting those by the component the filer named puts the electrical system clearly first, at 392 of the 921 complaints, two of every five filed.

A complaint is not a repair bill and not a defect finding. It is one owner telling the regulator something went wrong. What makes the count useful is the concentration: when one component takes 43 per cent of everything filed on a car, the pattern is doing more than chance.

Against the 2016 car, this model year has drawn 43 per cent more complaints (921 against 642). Both years are led by the electrical system, so this is a fault that carried over rather than one introduced with the 2017 car. A rise is worth more attention than a fall here, because a newer car has had fewer years on the road to accumulate reports.

Of those complaints, 33 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Filers reported 26 injuries.

Recalls on the 2017 Subaru Outback

A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator found a safety defect, and the repair is free at a franchised dealer however old the car is. There are 4 recalls on this model year. Your own car may be covered by some, all or none of them, so check the VIN rather than the model.

In owners own words

These are complaints filed about the electrical system, quoted as written. They are one persons account rather than a diagnosis, and they are here because a symptom described by a driver is easier to recognise than a component name.

I drive 2.5miles to work, Tuesday [XXX], I was turning into the parking lot and my car just cut off. I couldn't use flashers, restart it, put it in park or anything else. I called my husband to come help. I thought maybe the battery cable might have come loose. It was dead. I couldn't get out, if I let my foot off the brake it would roll backwards, going into the road and I didn't want it to hurt anyone. It started smoking from the drivers front side of engine. I called my husband back and said please hurry. It took approximately 7 minutes for him to arrive. I was on the phone about t

I experienced 2 incidences of sudden unexpected acceleration (SUA), the second one led to an explosive collision. Subaru asked that I sign the EDR release but refused to give me (rightful owner) a copy. With significant effort I obtained a copy of the EDR for myself. It is near impossible for the consumer to obtain their rightful copy, significant because it stinks of poor transparency for Subaru to investigate Subaru (see below). Once I obtained my copy, I released the EDR to Subaru and my vehicle was inspected by SOA at our local dealership. For some untold reason, the vehicle would "not to

On Sunday, [XXX], I was driving my 2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring after leaving the [XXX]. After I had merged onto [XXX] and immediately before the first roundabout under [XXX], the vehicle emitted three warning beeps, numerous dashboard warning lights illuminated, and the engine began running roughly. I was traveling approximately 31 mph when the warnings began. While attempting to reach a safe place to stop, I entered the roundabout beneath [XXX]. At approximately 7 mph, the electronic power-steering assistance stopped functioning, making the vehicle extremely difficult to steer. I was ab

Battery drains all the time when car is off OR in accessory mode: This vehicle was purchased new. The battery has died quickly multiple times throughout the life of the vehicle. My husband and I realize that we have had the car jumped many, many times for things that should have not caused the battery to drain. We also looked on this nhtsa site, realized this is a problem with other similar vehicles and a class action suit is pending. For the past year we have learned to not keep any electrical on when the car is not running. The last two times: within the last month. I was waiting to pi

VEHICLE DIED WHILE IN A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT AND WAS JUMP-STARTED. BATTERY REPLACED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. CAR COULD ONLY SIT 2 - 3 DAYS BEFORE NEEDING A JUMP START. TOOK CAR TO STL SUBARU DEALER. THEY UPGRADED THE CHARGING SOFTWARE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE TWO-WEEK-OLD BATTERY WAS BAD. WHEN CONNECTED TO THE CAR, THE OVERNIGHT VOLTAGE DROPS ON THE BATTERY WOULD BE FROM 0.4 TO 0.5 VOLTS. THE BATTERY WAS TYPICALLY DEAD WITHIN 3-4 DAYS. WHEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE CAR, THE OVERNIGHT VOLTAGE LOSS ON THE BATTERY WAS MINIMAL. THIS INDICATED THE CAR HAD UNSUSTAINABLE CURRENT DRA

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, I'VE ARRIVED AT MY CAR AFTER A REASONABLY SHORT TIME AWAY - EACH TIME OVERNIGHT, PARKED IN MY GARAGE - TO FIND MY BATTERY FULLY DRAINED. I WONDERED IF I HAD LEFT MY LIGHTS ON, AND IF THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT THE CONTROLS FOR MY HEADLAMPS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. NEXT, I WONDERED IF I HAD LEFT A DOOR AJAR, OR AN INTERIOR LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION. I NEVER FOUND A DOOR AJAR. I NEVER FOUND AN INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH ON. I TAKE MY CAR INTO FARAWAY CORNERS OF THE WILDERNESS ON OCCASION. I CANNOT RISK BATTERY DRAIN WHEN I RETURN

Every component, by complaint count

The full breakdown of what owners named when they filed. Components below the top ten are grouped out of this table.

How other model years compare

The same nameplate across the years we hold. Complaint counts fall naturally for newer cars because fewer of them have been on the road for long, so read the column as a rough signal rather than a ranking. In this set the 2019 Subaru Outback has drawn the most complaints and the 2021 Subaru Outback the fewest.

What to check on the electrical system

Electrical reports cover a wide spread: screens that reboot, cameras that go black, charging that stops, and warning lights that arrive in groups. The common thread is that the fault comes and goes, which makes it hard to show a mechanic on demand.

Buying a used 2017 Outback

Sit in the car with the engine running and work through every switch, screen and camera before you talk about price. An intermittent fault that appears once during a ten minute check is likely to appear often once you own it.

If you already own one

Have the battery and charging system tested before replacing any module. A weak battery produces electrical faults that look like a dozen separate failures, and the test is free at most parts retailers.

• Test every screen, camera and switch before agreeing a price.
• Have the battery and alternator tested before replacing a module.
• Ask for stored fault codes, including the ones already cleared.
• Check whether the fault is covered by a software update.