This bulletin provides information on paint codes for vehicles in the 2026 line up.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Subaru Outback body problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Subaru Outback have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 40,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Outback | 7 |
| 2014 Outback | 7 |
| 2015 Outback | 29 |
| 2016 Outback | 17 |
| 2017 Outback (this page) | 20 |
| 2018 Outback | 12 |
| 2019 Outback | 21 |
| 2020 Outback | 17 |
| 2021 Outback | 6 |
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What stands out
Among the 15 model years of Subaru Outback in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the PRG control module.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosing and repairing customer concerns of a âpoppingâ or âsnappingâ -type sound heard when opening the sunroof. The sound may occur when the rear portion of the glass lid weatherstrip contacts or catches the roof frame when the sunroof is opened.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosing and repairing customer concerns of a "popping" or "snapping" -type sound heard when opening the sunroof. The sound may occur when the rear portion of the glass lid weatherstrip contacts or catches the roof frame when the sunroof is opened.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change to the power rear gate (PRG) rod. The new rod will address isolated cases of one end of the rod coming off the ball stud just as the latch releases and the gate starts to open / move.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Rust is appearing on 2017 Outback driver-side doors high up on the pillar—at two-thirds height rather than the base. Multiple owners report bubbling and peeling paint that expose base-metal corrosion from the inside, progressing to complete interior degradation. Subaru confirmed one case was a "production error," yet denied warranty coverage past five years. Owners cite costs around $3,368 for door replacement and mention online forums documenting the same failure on multiple vehicles.
Sunroofs are shattering spontaneously at highway speeds without external impact. Glass breaks outward (convex rim pattern) rather than inward, and debris scatters rearward—indicating internal failure, not road debris. One incident followed 1.75 hours in 92°F heat and 15 minutes of A/C running at 68°F, suggesting thermal shock triggered latent manufacturing defects.
Windshields crack without cause: sitting in parking garages, during light rain, or at highway speeds with no rock impact. Many cracks start at the bottom-center heating element and expand rapidly. Several owners had new windshields crack again within days of installation, indicating a glass-quality or design issue, not road hazard. Subaru denies all claims.
Front doors fail to auto-lock in Drive or at speed, have no warning alerts, and owners say the manual is silent about this missing feature—a safety gap the service advisor confirmed cannot be fixed.
Hood latches have released at highway speed, and foot-pedal trim panels have fallen into the footwell during driving, blocking brake access.
Same Subaru Outback body reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Interior door rusting
Driver-side door pillar and column rusting from the inside, creating structural weakness. The rust appears high on the door (2/3 up from bottom) rather than at the base—an unusual pattern. Bubbling indicates sub-surface corrosion of the base metal and interior surfaces, not surface rust. In advanced cases, rust has progressed to complete interior degradation with perforation to the exterior. Door structural integrity compromised, raising safety concerns for crash and rollover protection.
When: Observed as early as fall 2023 in vehicles purchased in 2017; reported to worsen over subsequent years to January 2024
Symptoms owners cite: Rust bubbling on driver-side door column; Rust progressing from interior outward; Paint and base metal peeling; Perforation of door interior; Bubbling above window line
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid $3,368.53 for complete door replacement; others report Subaru has replaced doors for similar premature failures at same location on multiple vehicles in online forums
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru initially denied warranty coverage citing vehicle age beyond 5-year warranty period; request for review rejected
Spontaneous sunroof glass failure
Sunroof glass suddenly shatters or explodes while vehicle is in motion at highway speeds without any impact from external objects. Glass fracture pattern and debris distribution indicate the failure originates from inside (convex rim, glass protruding outward). Thermal shock from extreme temperature differential (ambient 92°F, A/C set to 68°F) appears to trigger failure by exposing manufacturing defects. Roof remains largely intact; closed sunshade typically contains fragments but poses safety hazard.
When: Incidents reported while driving at highway speeds; one specifically occurred approximately 15 minutes after A/C engagement following 1.75 hours in 92°F heat
Symptoms owners cite: Loud explosive pop or crash while driving; Sunroof shatters spontaneously at highway speeds; Glass convex at break rim (indicates internal origin); Glass fragments project outward and rearward; Closed sunshade present during failure
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report sunroof disintegration; insurance companies have totaled vehicles following hood-sunroof failure incidents
Windshield spontaneous cracking
Windshield develops cracks or chips without any discernible impact, often during normal highway driving or while parked. Cracks frequently originate from bottom-center where the heating element is located. Small initial chips rapidly expand to 12+ inches within minutes or over days. Pattern suggests thermal stress or manufacturing defect; multiple owners report cracking immediately after replacement, suggesting systemic glass quality issue rather than user error.
When: Occurs early in vehicle ownership (one at 9,200 miles on a 2019-purchased vehicle); documented across multiple model years; can occur while parked in garage or during light rain conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield cracks without external impact; Cracks start at bottom-center near heating element; Chips expand to large cracks rapidly; Cracking while vehicle is stationary or parked; Cracking occurs during normal driving conditions; Newly replaced windshields crack again within days or weeks
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite out-of-pocket replacement costs of $675.73 plus tax; aftermarket windshields used as substitute after Subaru denial
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America denies defect; refuses warranty coverage and replacement cost responsibility
Foot pedal panel detachment
Interior trim panel above brake and gas pedals falls away from mounting, blocking driver access to brake pedal and limiting gas pedal movement. Incident occurred while driving at 75 mph in heavy traffic, creating immediate brake-control emergency. Panel designed to stay in place during normal vehicle operation.
When: Occurred within approximately 1.5 months of vehicle purchase (purchased 12/30/16, incident 2/17/17)
Symptoms owners cite: Panel above pedals falls down into footwell; Loss of brake pedal access; Gas pedal movement restricted
Repairs/costs cited: Driver temporarily secured panel with duct tape at roadside
Door lock auto-lock system failure
Front driver and front passenger doors fail to lock automatically when vehicle is in Drive or at any speed. No voice alerts, light warnings, or dashboard notifications alert driver to manually lock doors. Doors remain unlocked during both stationary and motion operation. Service advisor confirmed issue is real and vehicle cannot be programmed to enable automatic door locking, contrary to standard industry practice. This missing safety feature is undisclosed in owner manual and not mentioned during sales process.
When: Documented as ongoing defect across vehicle population
Symptoms owners cite: Front doors do not auto-lock when in Drive; No auto-lock at any vehicle speed; No voice or light alerts to prompt manual locking; Missing safety feature undisclosed in manual
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service advisor stated no programming solution exists to enable automatic door locking
Hood flying open
Hood latch fails, causing hood to fly open and strike windshield while vehicle is traveling at highway speed. Results in undrivable vehicle condition requiring towing. One incident resulted in total loss of vehicle. No user error or mechanical trigger identified.
When: Occurred at highway speeds during active driving
Symptoms owners cite: Hood latch releases unexpectedly; Hood flies up and strikes windshield
Repairs/costs cited: Insurance totaled vehicle
Brake pedal travel and gas pedal interference
Brake pedal travels fully to the floor, causing driver's foot to contact the gas pedal when braking. This creates risk of unintended acceleration while attempting to stop. Dealer stated vehicle operates as designed, indicating this is not a defect but rather a design flaw.
When: Reported during normal vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travels full distance to floor; Foot contacts gas pedal while braking; Gas pedal engagement during braking
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer confirmed vehicle operating as designed
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2017 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2017 Subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 20 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 22,300 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 22,300; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Subaru/Outback.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.