10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,597 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2017 Subaru Outback:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #154

Jan 132021

Outback

  • 18,000 miles
Purchased new vehicle from teton motors in jackson, wy. Battery was replaced once under warranty and dealer thought it was a bad battery as it failed so quickly. Started having issues with car starting due to drained battery about 6 months later and we thought that we had left lights on in the car. We turned off all interior lights to try to ensure this did not happen again. During routine service we were informed that battery was bad as it would not hold charge and needed to be replaced. Also, dealership suggested us install a trickle charger as my wife does not drive the car very far for work. So we paid to replace battery and install trickle charger in early 2021.

- Jackson, WY, USA

problem #153

Apr 012021

Outback

  • 36,540 miles
Will not start with keyless ignition. First time 2018 when battery appeared dead and coukd not be jump started in our garage and coukd not unlock doors or emergency brake and could not be jumped, car towed and new battery installed. One week later same thing again dead battery in our garage and car tested by Subaru for more than a week and no cause determined. Third time April 1, 2021 battery dead after three short stops and driving less than 10 miles and radio could not be shut off at first. Tow truck driver said battery at almost full charge and duggrsted use key fob and press start and it worked.

- Camp Hill, PA, USA

problem #152

Feb 282017

Outback

  • 100 miles
This vehicle is driven circa 125miles/month. The battery is usually drained before use, and must be charged. It is typically ok until the next use, when recharge must recur. This means that the computer is always resetting itself. The reset causes the vehicle to fail state inspection. This has been a recurrent problem since the vehicle was purchased new in February 2017.

- Durham, NH, USA

problem #151

Feb 142020

Outback

  • 10,000 miles
When my car sits in garage for a week, the battery dies. I have taken it to Subaru dealer and they say there is no problem. But I continue to have problems with this car. I have documentation on the 6 times I have had to use road servic finally I bought a trickle charger to remedy this problem.E for a battery jump start and the receipts going to dealer.

- Marstons Mills, MA, USA

problem #150

Nov 132018

Outback

  • 10,000 miles
Battery died multiple times. Left overnight, dead the next morning.car could be jumped from another car but not from a lithium ion battery pack. After many aaa calls I took it to the dealer. They couldn't find anything wrong. After several trips to the dealership I just said I'll buy another battery.. I've had 3 batteries in 4 years.

- Cassadaga, NY, USA

problem #149

Apr 022018

Outback

  • 10,338 miles
I have faced battery issue with Subaru Outback numerous of times. The vehicle was purchased on 17feb, 2017 as brand new Subaru Outback 2017. I faced battery issue first in April 02, 2018. The vehicle didn't start all the time, I also got stuck car won't start, away from my home. I showed to the dealer and battery test failed, they replaced with same oem battery. The battery was still in warranty January, 2020 same issue re-appeared. The dealer tested battery and replaced with same oem battery again. I still believe there is issue with their battery and no surprise if I get stuck again with same problem.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #148

Mar 212021

Outback

  • 20,000 miles
I have a 2017 Subaru Outback. I have replaced the battery 4 times and less than 5 years.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #147

Apr 062021

Outback

  • 30,000 miles
The car has 30K miles and the battery drained out suddenly. The only solution was to purchase another battery from the dealership. I was told that battery had low charge. I think this issue is the same as other has been experiencing.

- Lawrence, KS, USA

problem #146

Apr 042021

Outback

  • miles
My Subaru Outback is less than 3Y 9M after being purchased a brand new and it already got 5 (five !!!) new batteries replaced without being identified with any issues by Subaru technicians. The first time the battery died was when the car was only 7 month old on the original warranty. A new oem battery (#2) has been installed at the Subaru dealership. 14 months later this Subaru battery #2 is dead, replaced by a new aaa battery #3 that within two months was dead, extremely corroded. Once again I was forced to address the same issue, bringing the car to a dealership where a new oem Subaru battery #4 was installed and covered by a thick layer of petroleum jelly. The battery #4 has lasted only for 17 months. Thus a new Subaru oem battery #5 had to be installed. Every time I'm told the car has been checked, no issues have been found, though I had also reported that I kept adjusting the clock in my car every couple of weeks, it has been falling behind. It's hard to accept that Subaru technicians have not been able to diagnose the cause of the parasitic drain problem in my car. What is exactly going on with my Subaru Outback 2017 electrical system?too much frustration when I missed my working hours, medical appointments due to dealing with the car thatis not starting, as well as witnessing my car losing its value. All the documents are kept in a file, my notes are recorded.

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #145

Apr 012021

Outback

  • miles
The electrical system keeps draining the battery. I have to keep a battery jumper in my car because the battery is constantly dead. I'm in my 2nd battery and having to jump star5 it at least twice a month and the car only has 30,000 miles.

- Solana Beach, CA, USA

problem #144

Apr 082021

Outback

  • 29,800 miles
Dead battery requiring tow service to charge battery 4/2018 and 5/2018. Replaced battery under warranty after testing at Subaru 5/2018. Dead battery requiring towing company charge times in 5/2020 and replaced battery on 5/14/2020. Dead battery now again in 4/2021 requiring towing company battery charge.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #143

Apr 022021

Outback

  • 44,300 miles
I am experiencing repeated battery drain leaving the vehicle unable to start. The dealer says I am leaving something electrical "on" when I park it. It has gotten so bad that I carry a starter jump pack battery to get it going when the battery goes dead. The original equipment battery rating is 200 cold crank amps below the standard of 550 cca seen in most cars. This problem has been going on since I first purchased the vehicle new.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

problem #142

Apr 022021

Outback

  • 46,855 miles
Have the car 5 years, have had to replace the battery now twice. Once at 2 years and once a year and a half later. I own a 2014 VW beetle and still have not had to replace the battery.

- Lindenhurst, NY, USA

problem #141

Mar 082021

Outback

  • 39,000 miles
This car has had repeated electrical issues. The car is on it's third battery in 4 years. Suubaru paid for the last "aftermarket" battery based on my request and numerous complaints from others. The safety issue came up from the last problem: The key was stuck in the ignition. This too is a common problem. The dealer replaced the sensor in the gear shift mechanism to fix this problem. The safety issue is owners are posting workarounds on line to get around this problem. The workarounds get around the issue. However, by disconnecting wires the key can be removed in any position, including while the car is in gear and moving. That is clearly a potential problem. This repair was made approximately three weeks ago. Two days ago the battery was completely depleted and the tailgate would not function. I brought this to Subaru's attention. This time they said I was out of warranty and they would not assist (I was out of warranty on the ignition switch and battery issues). I believe there is a fundamental problem in this generation of Subaru's that needs to be investigated. A simple search of the Subaru Outback forum for key release problems will verify my assertion. Subaru needs to come clean on the electrical engineering deficiencies impacting safety and reliability.

- Richboro, PA, USA

problem #140

Mar 302021

Outback

  • 40,000 miles
Battery keeps draining even after being replaced key sensor also always goes off that key is not in car when driving

- Jericho, VT, USA

problem #139

Mar 012021

Outback

  • 36,000 miles
I recently started having issues with removing my key from the ignition. I could remove it most of the time after multiple attempts and messing with the shifter and steering wheel etc. But there was at least one time that I had an appointment and could not after 10 minutes, remove the key. I had to leave the key in the ignition with the car in the partially "on" setting. I took this into Subaru dealership to get it fixed on 25mar2021. I discovered that this is a known issue, but that Subaru decided it wasn't a safety issue. I had to pay about $500 to repair this issue. I beg to differ that this is a safety issue. Leaving the keys in the ignition because I could not remove them is a safety issue because 1) an un-licensed driver or youngster could have gotten in the car and started driving it; or 2) a criminal could have gotten in the car and waited for me to return with malicious intentions and 3) or the car could have simply been stolen. I also contacted my insurance rep and found out that if a car is stolen with the key in the ignition, that this would be a non covered claim. Even if it was physically impossible for me to remove the keys.

- Lawrence, KS, USA

problem #138

Mar 222021

Outback

  • 43,522 miles
It looks like the car bleeds the battery. Vehicle purchase: Oct 2016 I had my oem battery replaced due it it dying in < 3 years. (September 2019) I replaced it with duralast gold and that also died in 2.5 years. (Feb 2021) during the cold wave in Texas, the vehicle would not start. I chalked it up as cold weather and went on. But this past week it died all of a sudden and I had to get it replaced via warranty. I ran a blue driver report and it shows low voltage errors for some components. This sounds like the same ongoing lawsuit for battery drain issue.

- Farmers Branch, TX, USA

problem #137

Oct 112018

Outback

  • 13,576 miles
In home driveway, car won't start, battery dead. Towed to dealer, battery good but needed charge. Dec11, 2020, in driveway, car won't start, and clicking noise in rear power gate, towed to dealer. Battery tested bad, replaced. Also replaced prg module for rear gate. Mar 8, 2021, in driveway at home, won't start. Jumped and drove to dealer...(this new battery) charged and tested, failed, so they replaced the battery, again. "parasitic draw test found 45ma of draw, below maximum allowable draw specification of 70ma. Verified correct and normal operation. Test code:. K1gkf40-2fcl091"

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #136

Mar 162021

Outback

  • 38,500 miles
When the car is shut off, something is draining the battery so that it very often does not start in the morning.

- West Boylston, MA, USA

problem #135

Sep 302020

Outback

  • 50,000 miles
After 2 years of use, the oem battery was not keeping the charge or was draining due to an issue with the electrical system. I had to have the car jumped a couple of times to get it started. Brought the car to Subaru dealer and they did not find any issues but replaced the battery with another oem battery, quite unusual until I read an articale about a class action suit against Subaru. In 2020, the new oem battery was having issues requiring I jump it several times. I was away from home at the time and brought the car to advanced auto parts. They tested the 2nd oem battery and advised the battery was bad and not holding the charge. At that time I purchased a diehard battery and have had no issues in the last 6 months. As I stated above, I have read that Subaru is in a class action suit for the exact issue I had and wanted to have this issue recorded.

- Wappingers Falls, NY, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »