2017 Subaru OUTBACK

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2017 Subaru OUTBACK has 1102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 13.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2017 subaru outback. the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, there was an loud abnormal sound. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was undetermined. the contact also mentioned the all the windows failed to function except for the driver side windo. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 32 crash reports 26 injuries

1102

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

13.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

392 complaints

36%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THE ALL THE WINDOWS FAILED TO FUNCTION EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDO
• THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON A WEEK AGO AND THE ENGINE BECAME SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO MARIN SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. RESULT IS THAT A RODENT MUST HAVE CHEWED THROUGH THE SOY-BASED HARNESS COVERING THE SENSOR WIRE. REPAIR BILL = $1,400,
• DRIVING BACK TO MICHIGAN FROM FLORIDA, MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK (6000 MILES) STALLED TWICE UNEXPECTEDLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON I75. THE VEHICLE WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHEN IT STALLED. I COASTED TO THE MEDIAN, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. (BOTH TIMES) THE CONDITION HAS N

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THE ALL THE WINDOWS FAILED TO FUNCTION EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

235 complaints

21%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A GLARE FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT REFLECTED OFF THE FACE PLATE OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE DISTRACTED THE CONTACT FROM DRIVING AND HINDERED HER VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE D
• STAR CRACK IN WINDSHIELD DISCOVERED STATIONARY (IN CARPORT) THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE (ODOMETER READING 200 MILES). LOCATION OF CRACK SLIGHTLY ABOVE WIPER BLADE ON PASSENGER SIDE. IMPACT STRIKE THE SIZE OF A PINHEAD. THE DAMAGE IS CHARACTERISTIC OF PRIOR MODEL YEARS 2015 AND 2016 IN W
• OUR WINDSHIELD BEGAN SLOWLY CRACKING STARTING AT THE BASE OF THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW. IT BEGAN AT THE BOTTOM EDGE (HEAT STRIP) AND MOVED HALF UP THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE WE REPLACED. COST $569 FOR OEM WINDSHIELD. SUBARU DEALER DENIED THE WARRANTY CLAIM, WHILE ADMITTING A PROBLEM WITH EARLIER VER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A GLARE FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT REFLECTED OFF THE FACE PLATE OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE DISTRACTED THE CONTACT FROM DRIVING AND HINDERED HER VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

177 complaints

16%

• I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO PURCHASE A NEW SUBARU OUTBACK, BUT THE FORWARD JUTTING HEADRESTS ("HEAD-RESTRAINING SYSTEM") IS WAY TOO UNCOMFORTABLE. WE ARE LEARNING ALL NEWER VEHICLES SEEM TO HAVE THESE REMARKABLY UNCOMFORTABLE AND POSTURE DAMAGING FORWARD TILTS DUE TO YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS/REQUIREMENTS.
• FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOORS DO NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY AND REMAIN UNLOCK WHEN SHIFT IN DRIVE WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY AND ALSO WHEN CARE IN MOTION. NO VOICE, LIGHT OR ANY ALERTS THAT ALERT THE DRIVER TO LOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THE CAR. THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IF YOU FORGE
• DOOR LOCKS DOORS DONT AUTOLOCK WHEN IN DRIVE. DOOR WOULD HAVE OPENED WHILE DRIVING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO PURCHASE A NEW SUBARU OUTBACK, BUT THE FORWARD JUTTING HEADRESTS ("HEAD-RESTRAINING SYSTEM") IS WAY TOO UNCOMFORTABLE. WE ARE LEARNING ALL NEWER VEHICLES SEEM TO HAVE THESE REMARKABLY UNCOMFORTABLE AND POSTURE DAMAGING FORWARD TILTS DUE TO YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS/REQUIREMENTS. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

46 complaints

• MILEAGE: 248. CAR CONTINUE TO MOVE BACKWARD AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. SHIFTING BACK TO REVERSE AND AGAIN TO FORWARD ( 3 TIMES) DID NOT HELP. IT HAPPENED ON A LEVEL PARKING LOT (SLOW SPEED MOVING). AFTER SHIFTING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM PARKING TO REVERSE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING BA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT WAS THE PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE AND INADVERTENTLY MOVED THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE UNTIL SEVERAL MOMENTS LATER WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO MANUAL DRIVE. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED AND THERE WAS A LOUD GRI
• AS EXIT MY LEVEL GARAGE THE DRIVEWAY IS ON AT 9% DOWN SLOPE WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK UP OUT OF THE GARAGE AND THEN PLACE THE CAR TO DRIVE TO MOVE BACK UP THE DRIVEWAY TO LOAD MY WIFE AND GRANDCHILD THE CAR SLIPS BACKWARDS BETWEEN ONE AND 3 FEET OR THREE SECONDS OF HIS FULL SLIPPAGE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“MILEAGE: 248. CAR CONTINUE TO MOVE BACKWARD AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. SHIFTING BACK TO REVERSE AND AGAIN TO FORWARD ( 3 TIMES) DID NOT HELP. IT HAPPENED ON A LEVEL PARKING LOT (SLOW SPEED MOVING). AFTER SHIFTING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM PARKING TO REVERSE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING BA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

43 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THE ALL THE WINDOWS FAILED TO FUNCTION EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDO
• THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON A WEEK AGO AND THE ENGINE BECAME SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO MARIN SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. RESULT IS THAT A RODENT MUST HAVE CHEWED THROUGH THE SOY-BASED HARNESS COVERING THE SENSOR WIRE. REPAIR BILL = $1,400,
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1102 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THE ALL THE WINDOWS FAILED TO FUNCTION EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A GLARE FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT REFLECTED OFF THE FACE PLATE OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE DISTRACTED THE CONTACT FROM DRIVING AND HINDERED HER VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO PURCHASE A NEW SUBARU OUTBACK, BUT THE FORWARD JUTTING HEADRESTS ("HEAD-RESTRAINING SYSTEM") IS WAY TOO UNCOMFORTABLE. WE ARE LEARNING ALL NEWER VEHICLES SEEM TO HAVE THESE REMARKABLY UNCOMFORTABLE AND POSTURE DAMAGING FORWARD TILTS DUE TO YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS/REQUIREMENTS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: MILEAGE: 248. CAR CONTINUE TO MOVE BACKWARD AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. SHIFTING BACK TO REVERSE AND AGAIN TO FORWARD ( 3 TIMES) DID NOT HELP. IT HAPPENED ON A LEVEL PARKING LOT (SLOW SPEED MOVING). AFTER SHIFTING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM PARKING TO REVERSE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING BA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)