10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,299 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2017 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 8 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #28

Jul 052019

Outback

  • miles

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

Driver front door lock and unlock failed. Doesn't operate with fob or key. Lock and unlock interior switch doesn't work either, no affect.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #27

May 242019

Outback

  • 45,000 miles
Touch screen multimedia system freezes and makes handfree calling, voice commands and other functions on screen and certain control functions on steering wheel inoperable while driving. Occurs intermittently but has happened more than once.

- Island Heights, NJ, USA

problem #26

May 122019

Outback

  • 45,000 miles
Original windshield cracked by rock (I think) hit at top near edge and crack instantly ran down and across the windshield. Took to dealer for replacement, took all day because the first windshield they installed broke, so they had to put in a second. A week later heard a loud pop, like a rock had hit the windshield and window cracked from just above the wiper on the passenger side up and to the middle of the windshield. If it was a rock it couldn't have came directly in but would have had been lobbed as a straight in shot would have clipped the wiper and the wiper has no damage. There is a very small ding in the windshield, certainly not significant enough to cause a crack that would instantly run across the windshield. Dealer will not warranty a 1000 windshield that I had for a week. I don't think the integrity of the windshield is sound if a small rock dings the windshield and causes it to crack. If something of size were to hit it I think it would likey break through and could seriously injure someone. This is a huge safety issue, the glass is defective. Windshields are built to withstand serious impact without cracking. Some needs to look into this. I've seen many people reporting this online and someone is going to get hurt. Subaru needs to recall all the vehicles and replace with safe glass and they need to reimburse all those like me that have incurred ridiculous expense because of this defect.

- Huntersville, NC, USA

problem #25

Apr 082019

Outback

  • 22,000 miles

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

Intermittently not able to remove the ignition key from the ignition.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #24

Mar 242019

Outback

  • 27,000 miles
On March 24, 2019, my husband and I were driving North on interstate 5 in southern Oregon, traveling from our winter home in Nevada to our summer home in Alaska. Suddenly, we heard a loud explosion on the roof of our car. The sunroof glass had spontaneously exploded and shattered!! there were no rocks or debris on the road. Since we were traveling, I was able to get the sunroof repaired at walkers renton Subaru in renton, Washington. Even though the vehicle was still under the full bumper to bumper 36,000 mile warranty (it had 27,000 miles on it), I was required to pay the $500 repair bill. The service advisor told me that the breakage had to have been due to a rock, and was not covered under warranty. I am convinced that there was no rock or anything else that caused the shattering of the sunroof glass. There are scattered reports of sunroofs spontaneously exploding, and I am convinced that that is what happened to me.

- Craig, AK, USA

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problem #23

Mar 312019

Outback

  • miles
Navigation screen can not see in day time and ignition key will not remove sometime when park.

- Monterey Park, CA, USA

problem #22

Mar 202019

Outback

  • 27,800 miles

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

Windshield crack in lower glass portion (about a foot long); originated without any rock strike. Noticed it while driving one day last week, on a lone stretch of highway in Nevada. Have seen online tonight that this has been a known problem with several Subaru models and years. I should not nor should my insurance company pay for a known issue that these models have.

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #21

Mar 132019

Outback

  • 28,000 miles
Front right power window. Power window on passenger side goes down, when pull to close, goes up then opens/comes down again. Won't stay up.

- Lebanon, PA, USA

problem #20

Jan 292019

Outback

  • 38,000 miles
After parking, I frequently can't get the key out of my 2017 Subaru Outback, making it impossible to leave the vehicle. It can take dozens of restarts, switching from drive to reverse to park and moving the wheel to be able to release the key. Also, frequently, when the car is parked, I am able to insert the key but cannot turn it to start the car. This started when the car was under warranty but did not become an obvious/frequent problem until just after the warranty ended. I have read on line that this was a design flaw and the part has been redesigned but they did not issue a recall and are now charging me for the new part. I believe this is a safety issue (being stuck outside in Massachusetts in winter without being able to leave or sometimes start my car) that they should be addressing. This happens many times each week, and is completely unpredictable.

- Stow, MA, USA

problem #19

Jan 182019

Outback

  • 56,000 miles
I am randomly unable to remove the key from the ignition after placing the vehicle in park. It has taken me up to ten minutes to get the key out. Sometimes just wiggling the shifter in the park position is enough to get the key to release. Other times I have to repeatedly start and stop the engine, and move the gearshift lever from park to drive and back to park to get it to release. The key will turn all the way to the off position in the ignition but something is preventing it from being pulled out of the ignition switch. Searching google for this problem reveals that many others are having this problem, and the dealer's solution is to replace the entire shift assembly at your expense if you are out of warranty. That is what they told me, even though they apparently have a tsb on the problem.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #18

Dec 012017

Outback

  • 6,000 miles

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

The car is squirly on snow and ice, feels like the steering wheel has play in it and back end keeps moving. Feels like im trying to keep it on the road and arms get tired. This is going straight down the highway. Online forums they describe it as ghost walking. It started the first winter I got the car and I am scared to drive it now in the winter and I even have studded tires on it.

- Crescent, OR, USA

problem #17

Dec 152018

Outback

  • 27,500 miles
When lane keep assist is on at night (uses eyesight to keep you in your lane) the car steering wheel has on two separate occasions suddenly jerked to the right. The first time there had been some road repairs with some parts of the road having new asphalt at some not, and the road was still wet from a previous rainstorm. The most recent time the road was dry and this happened when the car reached and exit where the painted stripe on the right side opened at the angle for cars to depart the interstate to allow for the exit. The first time there were two immediate jerks to the right. The last time a single jerk. Each time I had to forcibly jerk back the car back to the middle of the lane I was in, or we would have left the road at 65 mph. I have stopped using lane keep assist - this was very dangerous. The first time I asked the salesman at Subaru of champaign about this, and he didn't know about it. After the second occurrence I decided it was a dangerous defect and had to report it. Thank you.

- Savoy, IL, USA

problem #16

Nov 012018

Outback

  • 5,500 miles
On numerous occasions in past 6 weeks, I have been unable to turn key to lock so car is turned off and I cannot withdraw the key. Only by excessive "playing around" with gear shift etc. Can I finally get key out. This could present serious problems to anyone. My dealer not particularly helpful-said if not doing it when bring car in-they can't fix. If you go on internet your can see that has been a recurring problem for Subaru owners of various models. I can't believe there hasn't been a recall. Thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Oceanport, NJ, USA

problem #15

Nov 012018

Outback

  • 12,000 miles
Battery has failed three times with no reason found. Charged then dead next morn with nothing left on etc. Cold temp was not a factor. Once was possibility connected to the rear gate motor which I could hear at one point, but they found nothing...the car was in the garage twice, and in driveway other times.below date is the latest, the first time being 12/17;milage is at 11/1 encounter

- Whitesboro, NY, USA

problem #14

Sep 302018

Outback

  • 18,000 miles
We were traveling with our moon roof closed but the moon roof cover open. We hear an explosion and I thought someone hit me from behind. Next think I know glass is falling on my head and on my wife and dog's head. One of the scariest moments of driving I have ever experienced. Weather was cloudy no rain, no rocks no overhead bridges. This was truly a defect in the moon roof glass.

- Darien, CT, USA

problem #13

Sep 222018

Outback

  • 14,241 miles
Similar to complain dated 12/09/2016 by someone else. About a year ago I was at a light waiting to turn left, my foot was on the brake when suddenly the engine revved up and I had to switch to neutral to return to idle speed. I notified a Subaru representative on the internet. This month I had 4 occasions that I had similar experience in a shopping mall trying to turn right into a parking space. This Friday I tried to park in my garage after 5 miles drive, and my wife was a passenger, I turned the wheel slightly to the left when the engine revved up from idle of 600 to 2000 RPM and then went to 4000 RPM. I was using the brake and I felt a skid of a tire. Switched to neutral and park and turned off the engine. My wife was scared and would not ride in my car. I have an appointment with my wakefield Subaru dealer on 09/25/18, I did not drive my car since the last episode. My odometer is 14241 miles. I am positive I did not step on the gas, only the brake.

- Lexington, MA, USA

problem #12

Mar 252018

Outback

  • 22,000 miles
Parking gear disengages into reverse, engine running and powered backwards. Two incidences in the past 4 months, both on level surface with engine running. Required getting control of the vehicle unexpectly moving in reverse. The first incident was on a level parking strip and caused injury to the passenger. The second incident was in our garage on a level surface, and we narrowly avoided property by quickly gaining control of the car. A different driver for each incident. We are very concerned about this problem and the safety issues with the parking gear disengaging into powered reverse gear. Our dealer was very responsive but were unable to duplicate the problem and offer a solution.

- Palm Desert, CA, USA

problem #11

Mar 082018

Outback

  • 9,280 miles
Bought a 2017 Subaru Outback wagon 2.5I premium with opt package 14 last Feb, 2017. The option package was the eyesight driver-assist system. Twice so far, while driving in good weather, the brakes have slammed on for no apparent reason - leaving rubber on the road and throwing my wife and I forward. They apply for approx 2-3 seconds and then - the car continues. Fortunately, this has happened on roads that have not been busy and no one behind us. I immediately took the car to the dealer when this happened on 3/8/2018 and was informed they were not aware of any issue that would cause this. This contradicted what the service rep told me on 1/8/2018 when I took it in for the 6,000 mile service. He told me a computer update had been run to correct this. I requested that they download the onboard computer after this second incident which should show speed, braking, turning, etc... when I dropped it off. On pick up, we were told that the car computer does not record this information, they test drove the car and could not duplicate the issue and no defect found. I contacted Subaru of America and provided all of the information to them. They advised they would contact the dealer and get all of the details. They later followed up with me and advised there were no stored failed codes and no issues found with the eyesight system and no information stored on this incident in the car. Therefore, no issue or defect with the eyesight system and they could not recommend any repairs. This lack of computer stored information contradicts what their own manual says. It states 'eyesight records and stores the following data when the pre-collision braking system is operated.' It then lists - stereo camera image; distance from vehicle in front; vehicle speed; steering wheel turning; brake pedal operation'etc. I now turn eyesight off when driving as I have no trust/faith in it.

- Bluffton, SC, USA

problem #10

Mar 122018

Outback

  • 9,100 miles
Was turning left into a driveway at resurrection cemetery in monterey park ca when I heard a loud popping sound and then noticed the front windshield was cracked. It appeared nothing had hit it. The crack is located in the center lower bottom starting from the edge and creating an "L" pattern. It is a Subaru 2017 Outback with 9,100 miles.

- West Hollywood, CA, USA

problem #9

Feb 212018

Outback

  • 9,000 miles
The Subaru Outback, 2017, 9000 mis. Seemed to be losing battery power on each start and then nothing. Battery is dead. Jump started it..no start except every dash light came on. Had to shift gear while not started, put in park and hit shifter to start. Why is the battery dead and will not start on a jump start" thankfully, vehicle was parked at home when it would not start. Subaru dealer told me to bring it in to see if they can figure the problem. I believe it may have a faulty relay. They are thinking it is the shifting lever. If so, why is the battery totally dead"

- Hunlock Creek, PA, USA

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