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The 2017 Subaru Outback is a small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicle covered by 2 EPA fuel-economy configurations. In NHTSA's records it has accumulated 919 owner complaints and 4 recall campaign(s). Of those complaints, 32 report a crash and 3 report a fire; 17 complaints report injuries totalling 25 injured people, and 0 deaths are recorded across all complaints for this model-year. The single most-reported component is Electrical System, named in 392 complaints (42.7% of the total). The sections below reproduce the underlying records in full: crash-test ratings, every recall campaign with its NHTSA campaign number, complaint counts by component, and EPA fuel-economy figures for each configuration.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
NHTSA tested the 2017 Subaru Outback SW AWD under its 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars; "Not rated" means NHTSA did not publish a score for that test for this variant.
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side pole crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover resistance | ★★★★☆ |
Electronic stability control was fitted as standard equipment on the tested variant, and NHTSA records no safety recall investigation rating adjustments for it.
Recall Campaigns (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) that include the 2017 Subaru Outback. Each campaign below shows the official NHTSA campaign number, the affected component, and the manufacturer's own summary, consequence and remedy statements as published by NHTSA. To check whether a specific vehicle is covered, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.
Campaign 19V910000 — Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module 19/12/2019
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Outback vehicles. A replacement air bag control module may have been installed that is not compatible with the passenger air bag module, possibly affecting air bag deployment.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUX-09.
Campaign 16V576000 — Suspension 03/08/2016
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Outback vehicles manufactured June 20, 2016, to June 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may have improperly tightened attaching bolts for the front left and right brake calipers, wheel hubs, and the right stabilizer clamp.
Consequence: If any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the related components would also become loose and may detach possibly making the vehicle unstable and reducing the braking capability. These conditions would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the bolts for proper torque, and replace any loose bolts, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTE-66.
Campaign 16V716000 — Steering:column 06/10/2016
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.
Consequence: If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTL-72.
Campaign 16V292000 — Steering:column 11/05/2016
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
Consequence: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Owner Complaints (919)
Owners have filed 919 complaints about the 2017 Subaru Outback with NHTSA. Complaint counts are not sales-adjusted — higher-selling vehicles naturally attract more complaints — but the breakdown by component shows where owners report problems most often.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 392 | 42.7% |
| Visibility/wiper | 205 | 22.3% |
| Unknown Or Other | 178 | 19.4% |
| Power Train | 47 | 5.1% |
| Engine | 44 | 4.8% |
| Visibility | 30 | 3.3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 28 | 3.0% |
| Structure | 26 | 2.8% |
| Steering | 24 | 2.6% |
| Service Brakes | 24 | 2.6% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 23 | 2.5% |
| Air Bags | 16 | 1.7% |
Complaints by Component — Visual
Bar length is proportional to the most-reported component for this model-year (Electrical System, 392 complaints).
By filing year, complaints peaked in 2021 with 260 filings. Owners filed 919 complaints in total across 11 calendar years in the database extract. Complaints involving a crash number 32 and those involving a fire number 3; 17 complaints report at least one injury.
EPA Fuel Economy
The EPA classifies the 2017 Subaru Outback as a small sport utility vehicle 4wd vehicle and published ratings for 2 configurations (engine, transmission, drive and fuel combinations). Combined fuel economy spans 22–28 MPG; the median configuration returns 22.5 city / 29.5 highway / 25 combined MPG. Fuel types covered: Regular Gasoline.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 28 |
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and safety ratings databases and EPA FuelEconomy.gov dataset, accessed October 2026. See our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2017 Subaru Outback have?
NHTSA's complaints database held 919 complaints for the 2017 Subaru Outback when accessed in October 2026. The most-reported component was Electrical System with 392 complaints.
How many recalls affect the 2017 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) covering the 2017 Subaru Outback in the data accessed in October 2026, including campaign 19V910000 for Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module.
What is the 2017 Subaru Outback's safety rating?
NHTSA gave the tested 2017 Subaru Outback SW AWD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with 5 stars for frontal crash, 5 for side crash and 4 for rollover resistance.
What MPG does the 2017 Subaru Outback get?
The EPA rated 2 configurations of the 2017 Subaru Outback. Combined fuel economy ranges from 22 to 28 MPG, with a median of 25 MPG (median city 22.5, median highway 29.5).