2017 Subaru Outback reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2017 Subaru Outback — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,099
- 501 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 381 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 56 reported crashes · 45 injuries · 5 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#332
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+917
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2015-2019
+801
median 298 complaints in 577 records
Top component share
35%
Electrical System: 381 complaints
What owners report fails — 2017 Subaru Outback
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 381
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 205
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 175
- POWER TRAIN 44
- ENGINE 42
4 recalls on record for the 2017 Subaru Outback
- NHTSA 19V910000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODU In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increas
- NHTSA 16V576000 · 2016 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COM If any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the related component
- NHTSA 16V292000 · 2016 · STEERING:COLUMN The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 16V716000 · 2016 · AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to p
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2017 Subaru Outback
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2017 Subaru Outback units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Subaru Outback reliable?
NHTSA has 1,099 consumer complaints on record for the 2017 Subaru Outback and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (381 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2017 Subaru Outback units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Outback?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (381), visibility/wiper (205), unknown or other (175), power train (44). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2017 Subaru Outback?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.