What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2017 Subaru Outback

Typical pattern

8.1% of complaints about the 2017 Subaru Outback came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2017 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.1 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (390 complaints), typically at 4.5 yr or about 30,000 miles.

Complaints
1,100
Median age at failure
4.1 yr
Median mileage
30,000 n=614
Crash / fire / tow
5.9% of reports
Safety recalls
4 1 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
390 reports · 30,000 mi
4.5 yr
2.1%
Visibility / wipers
205 reports · 33,000 mi
3.4 yr
1.5%
Other
176 reports · 29,400 mi
4.1 yr
4%
Power train
47 reports · 30,000 mi
3.1 yr
4.3%
Engine
43 reports · 31,952 mi
4.5 yr
4.7%
Collision avoidance
31 reports · 22,000 mi
4.4 yr
29%
Visibility
30 reports · 50,000 mi
4.3 yr
0%
Speed control
28 reports · 20,000 mi
4.1 yr
25%
Structure
25 reports · 25,000 mi
3.9 yr
4%
Service brakes
23 reports · 20,500 mi
3.1 yr
21.7%
Steering
23 reports · 19,966 mi
4.3 yr
8.7%
Air bags
16 reports · 3,360 mi
2.6 yr
62.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

16V292000 2016-05-11 Do not drive
Steering: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 the direction of the wheels.

The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.

19V910000 2019-12-19
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.

In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.

16V716000 2016-10-06
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.

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.

16V576000 2016-08-03
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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 700 mi 0 mo in service
FAULTY OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM. TURNS OFF AIRBAG WITH PASSENGER. TURNS ON AIRBAG AND SEATBELT CHIME WITH NO PASSENGER/WEIGHT. INTERMITTENT. BRAND NEW CAR WITH 700 MILES AND BROUGHT IN 3 TIMES TO SUBARU SANTA MONICA. SERVICE CENTER UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM, BUT I SENT THEM VIDEOS.
Air bags 3,360 mi 2 mo in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,360.
Air bags mileage not reported 11 mo in service
TAKATA INFLATORS I CANNOT FIND OUT IF MY AIR BAGS ON MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK ARE ON THE RECALL.I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER.CAN YOU PLEASE FIND OUT AND LET ME KNOW
Structure 2,000 mi 0 mo in service
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 WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT UPDATED 06/07/17*LJ CONSUMER DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF WINDOW FAILURE AND IT WAS FIXED. (STILL MAKING SAME LOUD NOISE (12-3-16). UPDATED 7/9/18*JB *TR

Other Outback model years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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