2017 Subaru Outback problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (319) · Visibility/Wiper (205) · Power Train (32)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Outback model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
516 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module 2019-12-19 · campaign 19V910000 · 46 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Air Bags:knee Bolster 2016-10-06 · campaign 16V716000 · 54 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper 2016-08-03 · campaign 16V576000 · 99 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Steering:column 2016-05-11 · campaign 16V292000 · 48,819 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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.
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.
Service bulletins (397)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Power Train 2026-09-28 · SubaruNet Announcement (T · Other
this announcement provides information on an enhancement of the techshare cvt diagnostic assitance application.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Electrical System 2026-09-18 · 18-244-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"this bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following dtcs: dtc c1956: rh actuator circuit dtc c1957: lh actuator circuit"
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 397 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-26 · Structure:body“the vehicle is 10 years old with 150,000 miles. the vehicle did not pass inspection, as the front end chassis/structural frame is completely rusted and corroded. the cost to replace this structure is $3,200. this seems unusual for a 10 year old car with no visible rust that is in very good condition. i read that the air conditioning condensate …”
2026-10-26 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal · 112,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2017 subaru outback. while the contact's wife was driving into a parking space, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. the vehicle drove over two concrete curbs and crashed into a shipping container, pushing the shipping container back several feet. the driver parked the vehicle in the parking lot. the driver experienced body sore…”
2026-10-16 · Steering“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 th…”
2026-10-07 · Unknown Or Other“under subaru's bulletin wuj-95, certain 2015-2016 outbacks were recalled due to the exhaust pipe front (epf) bellows cracking. my 2017 subaru outback has developed a crack in the bellows (flex pipe on the catalytic converter) and has had to be replaced. the emissions warranty ran out at 80k miles, i currently have 92k miles on the vehicle. if no…”
2026-07-08 · Wheels“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 locked wheels in traffic. this was a rapid evasive manuver on a busy interstate. an undrivable vehicle on an interstate is life threatening to many. flat …”
2026-07-07 · Unknown Or Other“came out to car on the morning of july 1, 2026 and found windshield had cracked from the very bottom of the windshield (no impacts). this is the third windshield i will be putting in this car. original windshield was replaced by subaru 4/25 2025 for the same exact problem. 2015 &16 outbacks had a settlement filed as did the 20-23 subarus. this is a…”
2026-06-22 · Steering“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, rapidly lost power, power steering failed and all dash lights lit up. with no shoulder to pull out this was a very scary experience. eventually mana…”
2026-05-11 · Unknown Or Other“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. …”
2026-04-24 · Unknown Or Other“the front passenger window does not work correctly all the time. the driver is not able to put the window up when pressing button on driver’s side and the passenger needs to keep pressing button to have it go back up again. so if the driver puts the window down while driving, the driver cannot put it back up. it occurs every few months. it’s such a…”
2026-04-09 · Air Bags · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“i was recently involved in a multi-car accident, where the vehicle rammed into my outback from behind, leading to a spin-up and hit again by the driver side, forcing me to collide into a vehicle that had side-lined on a highway. in this situation, i would expect the airbags to get deployed, but to my surprise and shock, none of the airbags were dep…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.