NHTSA data · free2017 Subaru OutbackProblems: Top Complaints, Recalls & Failures (NHTSA)
Every owner complaint and safety recall the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has on file for the 2017 Subaru Outback, ranked by the component that failed most.
Complaints on file
917
Recalls issued
4
Crashes reported
32
Fires reported
3
What breaks most
- Electrical System391 complaints · 42.6%
- Visibility/Wiper205 complaints · 22.4%
- Power Train47 complaints · 5.1%
- Engine43 complaints · 4.7%
- Visibility30 complaints · 3.3%
Recalls on this model year
- Air Bags › Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
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.
Campaign 19V910000 · reported 19/12/2019 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
- Suspension
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.
Campaign 16V576000 · reported 03/08/2016 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
- Steering › Column
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.
Campaign 16V716000 · reported 06/10/2016 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
- Do not driveSteering › Column
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 th
Campaign 16V292000 · reported 11/05/2016 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
What owners report
Electrical System
- Ignition key not releasing after turning engine off. Put shifter in park, foot on brakeii, turn Ignition key off. Key will not release. Have to cycle multiple times to get key released.
- I think recall work was not done, but says it was done (or is not open). Does it say when and where recall work was done? This car has a parasitic battery drain, 3 batteries in 3 years, required 2 j
- If the car engine does not run for more than 4-5 days, the battery is drained completely dead and the car needs to be jump started to get the engine to run and have the alternator recharge the battery
Visibility/Wiper
- My Outback has been through 5 genuine Subaru windshields this year, and 7 since 2019. Only one was impact damage, the rest developed cracks after installation. One only lasted 3 days after being rep
- My windshield (which has had multiple class action lawsuits) cracked spontaneously sitting in my driveway. I contacted Subaru of America and they denied any responsibility and claimed there is no assi
- Ongoing problem with Subaru. Spontaneous windshield crack. 74 degrees, parked in shade, no chips. Came out and has the crack completely across windshield just above drivers eyeline. This is has happen
Power Train
- The CVT failed at 62 miles per hour on a busy interstate, XXX. This caused the drivetrain to lock. The car has been repaired and traded locally in [XXX]. The car was very difficult to steer with lock
- AT ABOUT 112,000 MILES, MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK'S TRANSMISSION SHOWED SIGNS OF FAILURE. THE "MANUAL SHIFT" GEAR LEVER POSITION WOULD NO LONGER INCREASE OR DECREASE THE TRANSMISSION RPM AND A WHIRRING
- 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
Engine
- On Monday [XXX] were driving on [XXX] going north up [XXX]. I was doing about 60-65 mph in traffic which was flowing in both directions. While ascending the pass, the car suddenly started to misfire
- Total of 3 incidents when my car had approx 1/8 to 1/4 of a tank of gas....as going up incline on interstate....car like stalls and slows down, will not speed up....get it over to the side to avoid be
- I been hearing a loud humming sound like a sports car and smell of fumes inside the cabin.
Visibility
- The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied in the garage, the contact’s son opened the garage door and became aware of a crack on the f
- The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, a foot-long crack appeared on the lower driver’s side windshield. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer w
- The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the windshield was cracked. The vehicle was not diagnosed, inspected, nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the f
Excerpts are anonymized owner complaints as filed with NHTSA, trimmed to 200 characters.
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