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2017 Subaru Outback Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 919 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
36/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2017 Subaru Outback

The 2017 Subaru Outback shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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4
NHTSA Recalls
4 recalls on record
919
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
32
Crash Reports
3 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2017 Subaru Outback (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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….
NHTSA #19V910000
🔧 Suspension
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…
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #16V576000
🔧 Steering: Column
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…
Remedy: 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,…
NHTSA #16V716000
🔧 Steering: Column
The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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….
NHTSA #16V292000
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Most Common Problems — 2017 Subaru Outback

Based on 919 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
381
Visibility/wiper
187
Unknown Or Other
136
Power Train
42
Visibility
30
Vehicle Speed Control
25
Steering
24
Structure
20
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Subaru Outback — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2017 model year is highlighted.

2011 652 complaints 2012 294 complaints 2013 297 complaints 2014 208 complaints 2015 509 complaints 2016 642 complaints 2017 919 complaints 2018 816 complaints 2019 1,036 complaints 2020 901 complaints 2021 298 complaints

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✅ Best model years: 2012, 2013, 2014 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2017 Subaru Outback

Is the 2017 Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 Subaru Outback has 4 recall campaigns and 919 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2017 Subaru Outback have?
The 2017 Subaru Outback has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Outback?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2017 Subaru Outback are: Electrical System, Visibility/wiper, Unknown Or Other, Power Train. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2017 Subaru Outback safe to buy?
The 2017 Subaru Outback has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Outback should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Outback are: 2012, 2013, 2014. These show the lowest complaint rates.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.