2017 Subaru Outback problems and recalls

Owners have filed 919 complaints on the 2017 Subaru Outback, and NHTSA has issued 4 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (392 complaints).

919
Complaints
4
Recalls
32
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
25
Injuries
39.9
Severity index

Severity index 39.9 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 39.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 119 of 138 by severity index among 2017 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 14% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2017 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 392 complaints (42.7%)392 43%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 205 complaints (22.3%)205 22%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 178 complaints (19.4%)178 19%Power TrainPower Train: 47 complaints (5.1%)47 5%EngineEngine: 44 complaints (4.8%)44 5%VisibilityVisibility: 30 complaints (3.3%)30 3%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 28 complaints (3.0%)28 3%StructureStructure: 26 complaints (2.8%)26 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM39242.7%
VISIBILITY/WIPER20522.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER17819.4%
POWER TRAIN475.1%
ENGINE444.8%
VISIBILITY303.3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL283.0%
STRUCTURE262.8%

Complaints filed per year

01302602016: 72017: 442018: 422019: 992020: 2142021: 2602022: 1272023: 572024: 312025: 232026: 15 (partial year)1617181920212602223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20167
201744
201842
201999
2020214
2021260
2022127
202357
202431
202523
2026 (year to date)15
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.2x those in 2020 to 2022 (111 against 601).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V91000019/12/2019AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULESubaru 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.
16V57600003/08/2016SUSPENSIONSubaru 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 stabili
16V71600006/10/2016STEERING:COLUMNSubaru 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.
16V29200011/05/2016STEERING:COLUMNSubaru 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

Other Subaru Outback model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-21. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.