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 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
381
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
5crashes
1fire
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 381 electrical complaints filed for the 2017 Subaru Outback, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 20 model years of Subaru Outback we track for electrical problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 381.
Electrical accounts for 42% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
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…
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…
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…
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…
Had electrical 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 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?
Across the 163 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 19,600 and 44,020 miles, with the median around 32,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 19,600; a quarter make it past 44,020. 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 $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.
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.