NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
A replacement air bag control module installed in certain vehicles may not be compatible with the passenger air bag module, which could affect whether the passenger air bag deploys properly in a crash.
This page covers 5 recalls, 914 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2017 Subaru Outback.
22–28 mpg combined
8.4–10.7 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2017 Subaru Outback draws its heaviest complaint volume from the electrical system, followed by visibility and wiper issues. On the electrical side, owners most commonly describe parasitic battery drain that kills the battery repeatedly, sometimes going through multiple batteries over a few years. Ignition key release problems also come up frequently, owners report the key sticking in the ignition after shutting the engine off and having to cycle the ignition repeatedly before it frees. Visibility complaints center on the windshield wipers and forward sightlines, a pattern this generation Outback is well known for among owners. Powertrain complaints are a distant third. Window switch malfunctions appear in a smaller cluster of reports, with owners noting the driver's door controls intermittently losing the ability to raise a passenger window, requiring the passenger to operate their own switch instead.
914
Total Complaints
32
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
17
With Injuries
By System
The 2017 Subaru Outback has 5 recalls, the most serious being two separate safety-critical issues: a steering column defect that can cause the steering wheel to have no effect on the direction of the wheels, and front brake caliper, wheel hub, and stabilizer clamp bolts that can loosen or detach, destabilizing the vehicle.
The steering concern affects vehicles built during a narrow window in early 2016, where turning the wheel may not translate to any change in direction, leaving the driver with no way to steer. The brake hardware issue affects a separate short production run from mid-2016, where the loosening or loss of front brake calipers and wheel hubs can make the vehicle unpredictable or uncontrollable. Two recalls involve the airbag system: on certain vehicles, a replacement airbag control module may be incompatible with the passenger frontal airbag, meaning that module may not deploy correctly in a crash when it is needed. On the structural side, two separate recalls address the driver's knee guard bracket, which may not be properly welded or attached to the steering beam. If the bracket is loose or misaligned and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt in a frontal crash, it may fail to restrain the lower body, raising the risk of leg and knee injury.
At a glance
What can fail
A replacement air bag control module installed in certain vehicles may not be compatible with the passenger air bag module, which could affect whether the passenger air bag deploys properly in a crash.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module at no charge. Contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 or reference recall WUX-09.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly, potentially causing it to separate.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on the steering beam and replace the beam if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's knee guard bracket may be misaligned or improperly welded to the steering beam, reducing its ability to restrain the driver's lower body in a frontal crash.
What the fix does
The knee guard welds will be inspected and repaired as needed to ensure proper attachment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front left and right brake caliper bolts, wheel hub bolts, and right stabilizer clamp bolt may not be tightened properly, potentially causing them to loosen.
What the fix does
Dealers will check bolt tightness and replace any loose bolts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering column may have been improperly machined, causing the steering wheel to have no effect on wheel direction when turned.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the steering column lot number and replace it if necessary, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
