10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,553 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2017 Subaru Outback miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2017 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 1 of 8)

problem #156

Apr 142024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I experienced sudden acceleration in downtown and almost hit three cars, caused me to run three red lights and almost hit pedestrians. I had the car, 2017 outback Subaru towed to the dealer and was told there are no recalls, but saw many problems listed on the NHTSA website. It was terrifying and still shakes me up when I think what could have happened. Subaru told me this was the first they have seen this and that I do not have the extended warranty and I would be held for the cost. I am beyond upset. They tried to have me pick up the car after finding nothing. I told them they are to keep it until they find the issue. I have a loaner from them.

- Parker, CO, USA

problem #155

Oct 132023

Outback

  • miles
headlights large amount of water condensation. decreases amount of light and could cause to fail

- Phenix City, AL, USA

problem #154

Dec 282021

Outback

  • miles
Noticed rust bubble in the inner and outer paint of the driver front door pillar December 2021. Noticed it was getting substantially worse and reported it to Subaru July 2022. They said there was no pinhole in the rust and would not be covered. Showed it to Subaru again in 2023, and said it is not covered under their 5 year rust plan. It is now January 2024, and the paint as well as base metal is peeling from the door. It is clear there is damage to the base metal, and represents a weakened location in the door/frame/pillar structure should there be a rollover accident. Bought this car for its safety reputation. Online forums have noted that Subaru has replaced doors for this same premature failure of the door in the same location on multiple vehicles.

- Saint Charles, IL, USA

problem #153

Oct 062023

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The eyesight system not functioning and at this point has not been repaired and is available for inspection. Warning notices were intermittent with warning sound-??s coming on each time. Eventually the warnings came on nearly all the time. I was alone in the dark and very nervous. no other injury Yes the vehicle was taken to dealer, also I took photos as it continued to intermittently occur. Yes there were warning notices that alerted me. Note: dealer states non OEM windshield is cause, however windshield has been in vehicle fo nearly 2.5 years with no issue. Other electrical issue has occurred since eyesight issue.

- Phoenix , AZ, USA

problem #152

Oct 162023

Outback

  • miles
I was in a parking lot. I stopped in order to pull into a spot. The vehicle suddenly accelerated and jumped forward. I pushed hard on the brake and put car into neutral. This could have resulted in a crash. Don't understand how this could occur. My foot was not on the gas pedal.

- Chesterfield, VA, USA

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problem #151

Jan 132023

Outback

  • miles
The automatic back hatch came down with out pushing button or key fob. The fob was in the ignition and nobody was around to push the button to make it go down. It caused damage to my spine and gave me a concussion. Capitol Subaru of Salem Oregon said it was a Glitch that happens sometimes when wires get crossed. After they inspected. Plus changed information on our documents without our knowledge. It did go to Subaru for almost a month the said they found nothing in the EDR report. So they feel I do not need to see it.

- Albany, OR, USA

problem #150

Aug 012023

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Windshield cracked for no reason. Started at the bottom beneath hood and continued to grow. This will be the 4th windshield replacement on this car.

- Placentia , CA, USA

problem #149

Jun 172023

Outback

  • miles
Head unit fails to respond to commands, freezes up, and/or shuts off.

- St. Joseph, MO, USA

problem #148

Mar 252023

Outback

  • miles
Ignition switch fails to revert to last forward position, so unable to remove key. So far have been able to start, stop, and generally go forward, reverse, keep manipulating key and ignition position until it works again.

- Ponsford, MN, USA

problem #147

Feb 022023

Outback

  • miles
Can not remove ignition key at times. Have tried all suggestions on line. It can take up to five minutes of various things to ge it out. It is never the same. Mary

- Butler, WI, USA

problem #146

Mar 062023

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Yesterday the windshield began to spontaneously crack. This is the THIRD windshield in this vehicle to do this. All three windshields cracked starting in an area below the hood line, so stone chips are highly improbable. We bought this vehicle new. That windshield we replaced in 2018. Then we put another new windshield in in 2020. I believe, as I did when I filed a previous complaint in 2020, that there's a structural issue with the car that causes this undue stress.

- Junction City, WI, USA

problem #145

Mar 042023

Outback

  • miles
Secondary hood lock lever not functioning, spring is missing.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #144

Feb 102023

Outback

  • miles
We have owned our previously owned Subaru Outback 2017 for 18 months and have replaced the battery 3 times. We are now on our 4th battery. That battery turnover seems rather excessive, doesn't it? My thoughts: 1. Phantom drain 2. Short (harness or wires cut by abrasion) 3. Programming (shut alternator off to increase mpg) 4. Faulty programming - see 3.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #143

Jul 232022

Outback

  • miles
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 be released to me" at the end of the day but was held for additional time at the dealership. Later Customer "Advocacy" informed me that the results of the investigation was that the throttle was active 1.5 seconds prior to impact and that it was a case of "pedal misapplication". Because I also had the data I was acutely aware of how SOA cherry picked data to match their own narrative. I know for a fact what happened considering all the data, together with the actual facts of this potentially fatal accident. I was pulling straight into the parking spot, yet the EDR MISTAKENLY "thinks" that the car is turning sharply to the right the entire time (EDR shows this and why PBS not active). The electronic sensors are being fed ERRONEOUS information. With the steering wheel 'supposedly' at full lock, the power steering pump is told to spin faster to maintain pressure. The computer tries to pick up speed for this and sends an electronic message to open the throttle. The rpms suddenly surge and the vehicle explodes forward leaving only a fraction of a second to react before impact (at which point EDR confirms brake was on). Intermittent failures in electronic sensors do in fact happen as experts know. Incredibly, SOA refused to hear me. I am concerned for the safety of other Subaru drivers as well as those in the path of a Subaru SUA incidence. Ignoring this can have fatal consequences.

- Alameda, CA, USA

problem #142

Jan 082023

Outback

  • miles
Windshield Cracked for no apparent reason. Parked the car in front of the house for a few hours. When I came out the windshield had a 6" crack (starting at the bottom of the windshield going up then towards the passenger side of the vehicle). by the next day it was more than 12".

- Lewes, DE, USA

problem #141

Dec 232022

Outback

  • miles
front windshield cracked spontaneously during extreme cold while front defroster was running set on high. no overhead objects. no other cars or vehicles on the roadway. 15 mph. crack is in the windshield wiper resting area extending from the black edge to the center, in a horizontal crack, bilaterally.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #140

Sep 222018

Outback

  • miles
2 yo 2017 Subaru Outback was left untouched for 2 weeks. When trying to start, it had a dead battery. 2 years later, 2017 Subaru Outback was left untouched for 1 week. When trying to start, it had a dead battery. 2017 Subaru Outback was left untouched for 2 days. When trying to start, it had a dead battery with a 1 - and 8 month old battery. Basically, when this 2017 Subaru Outback hasn't been started every day, it will have a dead battery.

- Henderson , NV, USA

problem #139

Nov 262022

Outback

  • miles
Battery goes dead, known problem with unusual drain on battery due to electrical issue. If car sits unused for a few days, battery dies.

- Cornish, NH, USA

problem #138

Nov 232022

Outback

  • miles
We have replaced the battery every 2 years.

- Pataskala, OH, USA

problem #137

Sep 262022

Outback

  • miles
Battery was defective.

- Hickman, TN, USA

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