2017 Subaru Outback cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Subaru Outback have filed 25 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 20,500 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Outback | 11 |
| 2014 Outback | 10 |
| 2015 Outback | 20 |
| 2016 Outback | 15 |
| 2017 Outback (this page) | 25 |
| 2018 Outback | 17 |
| 2019 Outback | 19 |
| 2020 Outback | 5 |
| 2021 Outback | 8 |
Owners have filed 25 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 17 model years of Subaru Outback in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a range of acceleration and control issues affecting the 2017 Subaru Outback, with the most alarming cluster being sudden, unintended acceleration at low speeds and while stationary. Multiple owners report the engine revving to 3500–4000 rpm without their accelerator input—typically during parking maneuvers, gear shifting, or at traffic lights—causing vehicles to lurch forward or accelerate hard despite the brake being depressed. Several incidents resulted in collisions with parked cars, garage doors, poles, trees, and other vehicles. Owners consistently note no warning lights or diagnostic codes present.
A secondary failure pattern involves the adaptive cruise control and EyeSight system disengaging abruptly at highway speeds after the vehicle encounters a bump or pothole. One owner documented this as a disconnected electric parking brake wire (both passenger and driver sides failed separately), tied to a known TSB (06-63-18R) involving a plastic retainer failure.
Additional complaints describe engine stalling during turns and lane changes, EyeSight camera obstruction from foam pieces, and cruise control dropout in rain. Dealer visits repeatedly yield no diagnostics, no duplicated failures, and no repairs. Owners report Subaru service departments claiming unfamiliarity with these problems and refusing coverage as warranty-expired defects.
Same Subaru Outback cruise control reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration while stopped or at very low speed
Engine suddenly revs and vehicle accelerates forward despite driver foot on brake or foot removed from accelerator. Events occur during gear shifting (Park to Drive/Reverse), at stop lights, while parking, or during slow-speed maneuvers. Brake pedal is depressed but provides minimal resistance; drivers report having to brake very hard or shift to Neutral to regain control. Several incidents resulted in collision with parked vehicles, poles, trees, and other structures.
When: Primarily during low-speed or stationary driving (parking, gear shifting, stop lights); one incident at highway speed during gear shift; mileage range 20,500–129,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs suddenly to 3500–4000 rpm without driver input; Vehicle lurches or accelerates forward despite foot on brake; Brake pedal feels ineffective; requires very hard pressing; Issue resolves temporarily after restarting vehicle; Occurs most often during turning, gear shifting, or at intersections; No warning lights or diagnostic codes logged in most cases
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspections frequently unable to reproduce issue; independent mechanics find no codes, air filter problems, or mechanical faults; no repairs performed in most reported cases; one owner paid approximately $750 for electric parking brake retainer repair related to TSB 06-63-18R
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru dealers reported unfamiliarity with unintended acceleration problem; one dealer claimed never seen the issue; no recalls issued; TSB 06-63-18R addresses electric parking brake retainer failure (not acceleration); no warranty coverage reported for acceleration complaints; one dealer instructed owner to pick up vehicle after finding nothing wrong
Sudden engine rev while in Neutral or Park with brake applied
Engine independently increases RPM to 2000–4000 rpm while vehicle is in Neutral or Park and brake pedal is depressed. Driver's accelerator input has no effect on RPM or ability to slow engine. Occurs during or after gear shifting sequences. RPM remains elevated even with accelerator released.
When: During or immediately after shifting gears; reported at mileage approximately 14,241 miles and other unspecified points
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPM rises from idle (600 rpm) to 2000–4000 rpm with no throttle input; Depressing and releasing accelerator does not decrease RPM; Occurs during gear shift from Park to Drive or while moving shifter through multiple positions; Tire skid reported during one incident; Issue ceases after shutting off engine and restarting
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; one owner shut off engine to control revving
Adaptive cruise control and EyeSight system disengagement at highway speed
Adaptive cruise control suddenly disengages during highway driving after vehicle encounters bump or pothole, causing abrupt deceleration in heavy traffic. Multiple warning lights activate (EyeSight, lane departure, emergency braking, brake light). Root cause identified by owner as disconnected wire to electric parking brake module (both passenger and driver side failed separately). Plastic retainer part failed; issue documented in TSB 06-63-18R.
When: Highway speed (I-95); second failure occurred approximately 500 miles after first incident
Symptoms owners cite: Bump or pothole triggers warning light cascade; Adaptive cruise disengages abruptly, vehicle decelerates suddenly; EyeSight, lane departure, and emergency brake warnings illuminate; Brake light illuminates; Electric parking brake wire disconnects from module
Repairs/costs cited: Owner temporarily secured cable with hair tie; dealer repair cost approximately $750 for known defect (plastic retainer); newer part required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 06-63-18R published addressing this issue; no recall issued; no warranty coverage; Subaru acknowledged as known problem but classified as warranty-expired repair
Engine stall during turning or lane changes
Vehicle stalls when driver makes sharp turns or executes lane change maneuvers, particularly at highway speeds with traffic. Stalls occur at least four times; one stall occurred when vehicle was passing another car at high speed and returning to lane with traffic behind. No warning lights present.
When: During turning and lane-change maneuvers; no specific mileage reported
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning while turning; Stalls during high-speed lane changes; Occurs repeatedly since original purchase
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspected multiple times, reported unable to duplicate; dealer performed software adjustment with no improvement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer software adjustment attempted but ineffective
EyeSight system camera obstruction and erratic activation
Foam pieces fall into camera apertures (both passenger and driver side on different occasions), blocking EyeSight sensors and disabling safety system functionality. System intermittently turns on and off, severely affecting operation of automatic braking and other driver assist features. Auto-braking deployed incorrectly at times during obstruction.
When: Within first few months of lease (events on 01/17/18 and shortly after); no mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: EyeSight system turns on and off intermittently; Foam obstruction visible in camera lens; Automatic braking system deploys at incorrect times; All vehicle safety features dependent on EyeSight disabled when obstructed
Repairs/costs cited: First occurrence (passenger camera) repaired by dealer; second occurrence (driver camera) not yet repaired at time of report
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru dealer (Mike Shaw Subaru) repaired first occurrence; no documented response to repeated obstruction issue
Cruise control disengagement in wet weather
Cruise control cuts out or disengages during rain.
When: When raining
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control automatically disengages in wet conditions
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2017 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 9,190 and 41,000 miles, with the median around 20,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 9,190; a quarter make it past 41,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.