11/06/23: During a routine oil change at the dealer a multipoint vehicle inspection was conducted. The inspection revealed an upper oil pan leak. The repair involved removing the engine and replacing various components (gasket, O-Rings and etc.). The vehicle was well maintained and had only 43,492 miles on it. The oil leak potentially could have caused an engine compartment fire (my opinion). …
2017 subaru Outback electrical problems
moderate 381 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
381
Recalls
0
Crashes
5
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
TL* THE CONTRACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS FATHER WHO OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER HILL SUBARU (4710 MILLER TRUNK HWY, DULUTH, MN 55811) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY BATTERY, REMOTE STARTER, SENSOR AND REAR LIFTGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUR…
My 2017 Subaru Outback will not start after sitting all night I’ve had diagnostics ran on the battery and it shows 100% charge. After charging the battery it held until the next day it was drained again. It was snowing with winds 50 mph, and I had to jump my car to start it. The faun doesn’t work when the battery is dead and that causes the theft alarm to go off once the battery is charged. Now my…
ORIGINAL BATTERY FAILED ABOUT 30 MONTHS AFTER CAR PURCHASED (NEW CAR). THERE WAS NO WARNING-JUST DEAD AFTER PARKED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. PURCHASED NEW DURACELL BATTERY FROM SAMS CLUB ON 1-24-20. REPLACEMENT BATTERY WAS DEAD AFTER PARKED OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE ON 12-24-20. BATTERY FAILED IN 11 MONTHS. NO PREVIOUS WARNING, WEATHER WAS NORMAL BOTH INSTANCIES.
I'M ON MY 4TH BATTERY IN 3 YEARS. BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD MULTIPLE TIMES, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. CANNOT OPEN LIFT GATE TO ACCESS THE CARGO AREA WHERE I KEEP MY ROAD SAFETY REFLECTORS, FLASHLIGHT, TIRE PUMP, ETC. STRANDED IN DARK PARKING LOT 1 TIME. AS A RESULT OF THE RELIABILITY CONCERNS I HAVE HAD TO BUY A PORTABLE CHARGING UNIT TO HAVE IN THE C…
MULTIPLE TIMES THE TAILGATE HAS SPONTANEOUSLY OPENED WHEN WE WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. ASIDE FROM ISSUES LIKE RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN, INCLEMENT WEATHER DAMAGING THE INTERIOR AND THE THEFT OF CONTENTS OF THE CAR ARE ISSUES. THUS FAR, THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN MOTION WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT THERE WAS A LEAST ONE INCIDENT REPORTED WHERE A VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED (SEE ATTACHED COMPLAINTS…
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2017 subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 381 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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