22 complaints reported

2017 Subaru Outback ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
22
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2025

Subaru was not willing to cover the cost to replace their faulty gear shifter. My key gets stuck in the ignition. This problem has been confirmed by a dealership. No warnings happen, it gets stuck. This is a safety issue because I have to leave my keys in my car (unlocked) and come back for them when the car decides to recognize that it is in park. This is a know issue and Subaru wiped its hands of me and said deal with it by yourself.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2025
Dec 2024

My battery continues to die leaving me stranded every winter for the past several years. It is a known issue I believe with the wiring/ fuse for the trunk hatch door. Subaru only offers a new battery - so every year I replace the battery and then end up stranded somewhere again.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2024
Aug 2023 Injury

The automatic back hatch came down with out pushing button or key fob. The fob was in the ignition and nobody was around to push the button to make it go down. It caused damage to my spine and gave me a concussion. Capitol Subaru of Salem Oregon said it was a Glitch that happens sometimes when wires get crossed. After they inspected. Plus changed information on our documents without our knowledge. It did go to Subaru for almost a month the said they found nothing in the EDR report. So they feel I do not need to see it.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2023
Feb 2023

We have owned our previously owned Subaru Outback 2017 for 18 months and have replaced the battery 3 times. We are now on our 4th battery. That battery turnover seems rather excessive, doesn't it? My thoughts: 1. Phantom drain 2. Short (harness or wires cut by abrasion) 3. Programming (shut alternator off to increase mpg) 4. Faulty programming - see 3.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2023
Nov 2022

Battery goes dead, known problem with unusual drain on battery due to electrical issue. If car sits unused for a few days, battery dies.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2022
Sep 2022

Battery was defective.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2022
Sep 2022

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?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Sep 2022

Battery continually drains. I have had 2 replaced since May. I have contacted Subaru and they said I just have not driven it around enough after battery install. I have had them check for a drain, and they can’t find anything. There are no lights on or any other reason to drain the battery. This coincides with my key becoming stuck in the ignition. Waiting on a part to replace the ignition under warranty.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2022
Jul 2022

The battery of the car keep dying, leaving us stranded in what could possibly be unsafe situations. We have gotten the battery checked out numerous times at the dealership, plus got a battery replacement in October 2020 but it still keeps occurring. This is a 2017 Outback with less than 30,000 miles, so should not be happening.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2022
Apr 2022

I started having battery issues with my car. I had my car at the mechanic for a regular state inspection. They told me that I had a bad battery that it had died numerous times. I was shocked because I had never jumpstarted my car in the past. I began to believe the dealership sold me the car with a bad battery. I knew this because I tried to drive the car out of the lot when I first purchased and the battery was dead. They told me to come back the next day and they would have a new battery in it. I guessed then that they never replaced the battery. So I then purchased a new battery from the mechanic. 6 months later my car wouldn't start. I had left nothing running in the car. The next day my car started. Then 2 months later, my husband drove my car to get food. He parked the car for 5 minutes and went in to get the food. When he came back, the car wouldn't start again. We had to jumpstart it. I believe something is wrong with the car overall, causing the battery to drain without the consumer's knowledge, this is a safety concern as it leaves the consumer stranded wherever they are. My husband was left sitting there with my daughter until I could come pick them up. The outback will just die without warning. I tried calling the dealer about it, they didn't return my call. I now scheduled an appointment to have them look at it. I will see what they say, however it seems like other consumers of this car are having the same issues.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2022
Jul 2021

The ignition key becomes stuck in the ignition upon stopping the vehicle and placing the gear shifter into "park" and turning the vehicle off. Intermittently the key is unable to be removed from the ignition even though the vehicle is in the "park" position and turned off. Usually after starting and stopping the vehicle and moving the gear shift a few times the key can be removed from the ignition. This problem does not occur every time the vehicle is driven, but lately it is happening more frequently.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2021
May 2021

REAR BACKUP CAMERA REMAINS ON AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. SCREEN HAS SEVERE BURN IN WITH “Z” PATTERN ACROSS ENTIRE DISPLAY. MAKING IT UN-VIEWABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2018
May 2021

BATTERY HAS FULLY DRAINED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY “FOUND NOTHING”. I HAVE PURCHASED A MOBI POWER CELL FOR JUMPING THIS OUTBACK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2018
Mar 2021

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Mar 2021

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE BATTERY IN OUR SUBARU OUTBACK. THIS LAST ONE ONLY LASTED 2-3 MONTHS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2021
Feb 2021

VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE WORKING ONLY PART OF THE TIME . THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DRAINED MORE THAN ONCE AFTER DRIVING THE PREVIOUS DAY . IT'S ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING HAS BEEN LEFT ON ,DRAINING THE BATTERY WHEN I KNOW EVERY THING HAS TURNED OFF . IS THERE SOMETHING THAT STAYS ON AFTER YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF LONG ENOUGH TO DRAIN THE BATTERY ?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2021
Jan 2021

I have had multiple issues over the years with the battery 2017 Subaru Outback keeping a charge and I have required a jump multiple times. My latest issue is over the last 3-4 months I have required a jump and while researching the issue, I came across Chimicles action lawsuit for the same problem I've been having. Please include my information in any database where information is being collected. Feel free to reach out to me if more information is needed.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Jan 2021

BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED KEY SENSOR ALSO ALWAYS GOES OFF THAT KEY IS NOT IN CAR WHEN DRIVING

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2021
Mar 2020

MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS PARASITIC BATTERY DRAIN THAT KILLS THE BATTERY. THE CAR WON'T START MAKING THE VEHICLE UNRELIABLE. THIS IS A ROUTINE ISSUE WITH SUBARU AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2020
Mar 2020

BATTERY ISSUES ARE NON STOP! BATTERY DIES ALL THE TIME. WE HAD A NEW 2016 OUTBACK PREVIOUSLY, THAT HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULD JUST DIE. WE TRADED IT IN FOR A NEW 2017 OUTBACK AND IT'S EVEN WORSE. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED (NOT SURE HOW MANY TIMES), AND ISSUE IS STILL THE SAME. LEAVES US STUCK/STRANDED IN RANDOM PLACES, AND BACK HATCH WILL SOMETIMES BEEP NON STOP EVEN THOUGH IT'S COMPLETELY CLOSED. WE HAVE TO KEEP AN EMERGENCY JUMP KIT WITH US CONSTANTLY. THE BACK HATCH WON'T OPEN WHEN BATTERY IS DEAD/LOW, WHICH IS CRAZY THAT THERE ISN'T SOME TYPE OF OVERRIDE TO THIS. I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS BATTERY ISSUES FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I'M BEYOND SHOCKED THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN FIXED/ADDRESSED BY SUBARU. WE ARE FED UP WITH THE BATTERY DRAIN, AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN SO WE CAN (HOPEFULLY) PROACTIVELY START OUR VEHICLE (HAVE ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS OFF, RADIO OFF, AIR OFF - ALL SYSTEMS POSSIBLE TURNED OFF). EVEN THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. WE SPEND EXTRA MONEY ON GAS JUST TO RECHARGE THE CAR BY DRIVING IT MORE MILES THAN WE WANT TO. I'M GONNA BE DONE WITH SUBARU AFTER THIS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2020
Feb 2019

NAVIGATION SCREEN CAN NOT SEE IN DAY TIME AND IGNITION KEY WILL NOT REMOVE SOMETIME WHEN PARK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2019
Nov 2017

ON THE HIGHWAY CRUISING AT 10:19AM IN OCT 13 2017, A NUMBER OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK FROZE ABRUPTLY. SPECIFICALLY, MY ON-BOARD GPS NAVIGATION SCREEN FROZE, THE DIGITAL CLOCK FROZE (ON 10:19AM), AND THE HEADS UP DISPLAY OF NAVIGATION DIRECTIONS ON THE DRIVER'S HUB FROZE. WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER SYSTEMS ALSO LOCKED UP, WHICH I COULDN'T OBSERVE. AFTER I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THOSE THINGS UNFROZE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2017

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Quick Summary

The 2017 Subaru Outback has 22 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.