10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,959 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2017 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 2 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #340

Dec 212022

Outback

  • miles

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

My 2017 Subaru Outback will not start after sitting all night I-€™ve had diagnostics ran on the battery and it shows 100% charge. After charging the battery it held until the next day it was drained again. It was snowing with winds 50 mph, and I had to jump my car to start it. The faun doesn-€™t work when the battery is dead and that causes the theft alarm to go off once the battery is charged. Now my check surroundings before backing up sensor stays on well after shifting into Drive and beeps incessantly while driving, the back up camera also stays on while in drive. Now I have to drive 2 hours to a dealer and pay $130 in diagnostics. I feel this is the same situation thousands of Subaru owners are experiencing and why they have filed a class action law suit. Subaru should be liable for my expenses to repair this known systemic issue in a product they manufacture that is not safe, it it leaves you stranded on the side of the road in the cold. Thank you

- Hannibal, MO, USA

problem #339

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 #338

Dec 042022

Outback

  • miles
Despite a replacement and multiple visits from AAA, the battery in our 2017 Subaru Outback dies constantly and leaves us stranded. Mechanics insist the batteries (both the original and the replacement) are fine and there must be a greater issue with the car itself. We drive regularly, run the engine in the driveway otherwise, and still continue to wake up and find the car dead.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #337

Nov 262022

Outback

  • miles

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

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 #336

Nov 252022

Outback

  • miles
I have had the battery replaced 4 times in less than 6 years. There seems to be something wrong with the electrical systems ability to keep a battery charged, or something draining the battery constantly.

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

problem #335

Nov 082022

Outback

  • miles
Battery dead and needing replaced within 2 months

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #334

Oct 182019

Outback

  • miles

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

I have had to replace the battery multiple times since purchasing the vehicle in 2017. Each time the battery was determined to be unusable by qualified service staff. Battery replacements occurred on (1) 2019-10-18 at 34,877 miles and on (2) 2022-02-24 at 67,339 miles. The first occurrence left me stranded at a hotel on a sub-freezing day. The second occurrence left me stranded in a parking lot. Both required me to obtain commercial service to get on the road. Both occurrences were subsequently diagnosed by a reputable service shop (Les Schwab) as a battery failure and replacement was recommended. The battery failures occurred without warning from the vehicle (no lamps).

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #333

Apr 032021

Outback

  • miles
The battery consistently "dies". It doesn't matter how often I drive it. I never know when it won't start. In 5 years, I've had 2 batteries & about 6+ jump starts.

- Wilkes Barre, PA, USA

problem #332

Oct 252022

Outback

  • miles
I purchased a used 2017 Subaru Outback in December 2020 from a friend whose mother had owned the car before her death in Nov. 2019. That owner purchased it used from dealer in Sevierville TN in 2019 and had to replace a battery at least once according to records. The battery has failed three times since Dec. 2020, totally drained and would not recharge so a replacement was needed. I replaced the first battery then took it to dealer for other two replacements. The previous owner had a garage under her mountain house. She was found dead in her den chair. After her burial the family later found the 2017 Subaru Outback parked in her garage underneath the house was totally empty of gas. I believe from reading issues other Subaru owners have had that this car did not turn off and this lady died from carbon monoxcide poisoning. This is an issue well documented over many years and it is way past due for a recall by the manufacturer. Since it continues even to 2020 models there should at least be a stop production order until this issue is corrected. It is not just an inconvenience but a very real danger for owners who park in a home garage. As the government agency trusted to oversight of manufacturing defects presenting a danger to the safety of the public it is way past time for you to act.

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #331

Oct 262022

Outback

  • miles
When the car is not driven the car battery is drained completely and requires replacement. I have replaced the car battery three (3) times in less than one year. Alternator is functioning properly. This costs $165 each time I replace a car battery. I cannot see mileage as car is dead (approx 12,000).

- Chatham, IL, USA

problem #330

Aug 152022

Outback

  • miles

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

While driving, advance driver assist systems became disabled, car intermittently stopped and resumed responding to accelerator, power steering became inoperative, car eventually lost all power. Gear would not shift out of drive. Emergency brake would not engage. Fortunately, I was able to coast the car to the shoulder of the road. Had to keep foot on brake until roadside assistance arrived. Car was towed to repair shop where battery was replaced. Similar system failures occurred while my wife was driving a couple of weeks prior. She was able to coast car into a parking lot just off the road. In the past month, the dealer has replaced parts that diagnostics said created parasitic drain. The alternator has been replaced and the battery has been replaced twice in the last couple of months. Car had body work performed last week and the car will not start without being jumped. We are going to drive it to the dealer with fingers crossed that the electrical system will not shut the car down while in transit.

- South Jordan, UT, USA

problem #329

Sep 302022

Outback

  • miles
The Vehicle's electrical system is actively draining the battery of power. This is a known problem by Subaru.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #328

Sep 012021

Outback

  • miles
The battery constantly drains completely when the car is not used for several days. We have been replacing or recharging the battery several times.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #327

Sep 262022

Outback

  • miles
Battery is not holding a charge, causing electrical issues (windows not working properly, locks not functioning) and for the vehicle to fail to start. The battery is brand new and this is still an issue. 45,000 miles on the vehicle, there were no warning lights indicating a bad battery. This has not been confirmed yet by a dealership/mechanic/insurance.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #326

Aug 012020

Outback

  • miles
Battery discharged on multiple occasions, necessitating jump starts and eventual battery replacement.

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #325

Nov 102020

Outback

  • miles
Battery died prematurely. Also, there was a lot of corrosion on the battery that might have started a fire had the battery not died before further danger had happened.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #324

Sep 302019

Outback

  • miles
I bought the car new. 2 years later the battery died. I had to replace the battery again this summer. That-€™s 2 batteries in less than 5 years. I just received the notification about the electrical problem Subaru knew about since 2017.

- Tulsa , OK, USA

problem #323

Sep 262022

Outback

  • miles
I have had to buy 2 batteries since I bought the vehicle!! I have 60038 miles on it- One within 6 months of purchase Subaru Tyler Tx and the second roughly one year ago Patriot Subara Saco, Maine I-€™ve had to get jumped by AAA at least 3 times in past 2 years No one can give me a definitive answer to why my batteries don-€™t last-€¦

- Kennebunk, ME, USA

problem #322

Sep 262022

Outback

  • miles
Battery was defective.

- Hickman, TN, USA

problem #321

Jan 202021

Outback

  • miles
Our car battery does not hold a charge. One year ago January we had Triple AAA replace the battery after several problems starting. This year we have had 3 calls to Triple AAA to charge the battery. It starts right up when they apply the charger--alternator tests as working properly, battery tests OK once charged--but the problem keeps happening. I am now afraid to take it anywhere where I might be stranded. Got a card about a class action lawsuit against Subaru regarding battery drainage issues. I mentioned this to the Triple A tech who mused, "You know, I have had a lot of dead battery calls in the last year for Subarus." Since AAA changed that battery a year and a half ago, he said if it happens again, they will replace the battery because it is under their warranty. The Subaru dealership has not sent us a recall notice. It seems they are not accepting responsibility for this defect. What is an owner to do?

- Glastonbury, CT, USA

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