Should I buy a 2017 Subaru Outback with documented steering problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented steering issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2017 Subaru Outback steering problems

severe Owners of the 2017 Subaru Outback have filed 23 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 27,500 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →

Failure mileage

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$700

steering complaints on the Subaru Outback, by model year
Model year	steering complaints
2013 Outback	34
2014 Outback	17
2015 Outback	13
2016 Outback	24
2017 Outback (this page)	23
2018 Outback	35
2019 Outback	35
2020 Outback	12
2021 Outback	5

2crashes

When does it fail?

Of the 23 steering complaints filed for the 2017 Subaru Outback, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.

0-25k

0 (0%)

25-50k

3 (100%)

50-75k

0 (0%)

75-100k

0 (0%)

100-125k

0 (0%)

125-150k

0 (0%)

150k+

0 (0%)

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

All 2 active steering recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.

No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 16V716000 October 6, 2016

Subaru of America, Inc

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.

Fix: 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.

severe NHTSA 16V292000 May 11, 2016

Subaru of America, Inc

The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.

Service Bulletin 05-97-26 Apr 2026

This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin 05-80-20 Oct 2020

This bulletin announces availability of new Front Stabilizer Link assemblies equipped with a new dust boot material having enhanced durability and grease retention characteristics.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin 04-17-17-R May 2019

This bulletin provides a service procedure to address isolated customer concerns of a rattling sound identified as coming from the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) gear box (steering rack) assembly. The repair (when applicable) involves installation of a new tension spring for the worm gear to reduce / eliminate the condition.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin 04-17-17R Oct 2017

This bulletin provides a service procedure to address isolated customer concerns of a rattling sound identified as coming from the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) rack assembly. The repair involves installation of a new tension spring for the worm gear to reduce / eliminate the condition. It should be noted the condition is NOT detrimental to the operation of the EPS system.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin 04-17-17R Sep 2017

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

The 2017 Subaru Outback steering complaints cluster into several categories. First, highway instability and wandering are the most common: owners report the vehicle drifting side-to-side, feeling loose and imprecise, and refusing to return naturally to center after turns. This happens at 55+ mph on clear roads and worsens in rain, wind, or snow. Several owners say dealers inspected alignment, suspension, and tires—all checked out normal—but the problem persisted. One owner paid $2,224 for a steering rack replacement after the dealer said it was unsafe.

Second, Lane Keep Assist and EyeSight systems malfunction dangerously: the steering wheel jerks abruptly to the right, sometimes locking immovable, forcing drivers to wrench the wheel back into lane. This happens even when the driver has disabled the system. Dealership resets provide no permanent fix.

Third, ignition key and steering lock failures occur frequently. The key gets stuck in the ignition 50% to 100% of the time and cannot be removed; the steering wheel doesn't lock; sometimes the shift lever is trapped in Park. Owners resort to cycling the shifter or disconnecting the battery. One owner mentions service bulletin 16-112-18R as common across Subaru models.

Finally, owners report sudden loss of steering control, especially in snow and gravel, plus an unusual hazard: the paddle shifters have sharp corners that can snag coat zippers and lock the steering wheel during turns.

Same Subaru Outback steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019

Failure modes owners describe

Instability and wandering at highway speed

Vehicle drifts side-to-side, wanders across lanes, and feels like it's on ice or slipping in wind or wet conditions. Steering feels loose, imprecise, and does not return to center naturally after turns. Owners report needing constant correction to keep the vehicle centered.

When: Highway speeds (55+ mph), particularly in rain, cross-wind, or winter conditions. Some incidents occurred within first 9 months of ownership.

Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle wanders left and right at highway speed; Rear end 'ghost walks' or pulls left/right; Steering feels loose and does not return to center; Heavy steering effort in city traffic; Feels like driving on ice on clear roads; Unsafe in rain, snow, slush, and gravel conditions

Repairs/costs cited: Dealers inspected alignment, suspension, tires, and shocks—all reported as normal. One owner paid $2,223.86 for steering rack replacement after dealer advised it was unsafe to continue driving.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V292000 covers steering components on some 2017 Outbacks; however, one owner's VIN was excluded from recall. No other formal recalls or technical service bulletins mentioned for this issue in the narratives.

Lane Keep Assist and EyeSight malfunction with sudden steering jerk

Lane Keep Assist system triggers abrupt, uncontrolled steering jerk to the right, even when the system is turned off or when road markings change (exits, new asphalt). The steering wheel jerks dramatically and becomes immovable, forcing driver to forcibly correct back into lane.

When: At night or during highway driving; triggered by road conditions, paint stripe transitions, or wet road surfaces. Incidents occurred after new tire installation and during normal highway operation.

Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel jerks suddenly to the right; Steering wheel locks and becomes immovable; Lane assist activates unexpectedly despite being turned off; Nearly causes lane departure at highway speed (60+ mph); System resets provided temporary relief but no guaranteed fix

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer confirmed malfunction and reset system but stated they could not guarantee vehicle safety. No permanent repair documented.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America opened investigation but was unable to obtain complete information from dealership. No recall campaign identified in narratives.

Key stuck in ignition and steering wheel lock failure

Ignition key becomes stuck 50–100% of the time and cannot be removed after engine is shut off. Steering wheel does not lock as designed. In some cases, shift lever is also stuck in Park. Issues may be triggered by cold weather but persist year-round. Service bulletin reference 16-112-18R is mentioned by one owner as common across multiple Subaru product lines.

When: Upon engine shutdown or after turning off vehicle. One owner first reported issue at 52k miles; another experienced failure in July 2022 and again in December 2022.

Symptoms owners cite: Key cannot be removed from ignition; Steering wheel does not lock when engine is off; Shift lever stuck in Park; No warning lights or error codes before failure; Engine restart impossible until problem resolves; Workarounds include cycling shift lever, using push-button restart, or disconnecting battery

Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners report dealers charge parts and labor for repeated repairs. One owner's first incident was documented at Georgetown Subaru (July 2022); second failure occurred December 2022 with no permanent fix.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletin 16-112-18R exists; owners reference it via online searches. No formal recall campaign mentioned in narratives.

Loss of steering control and sudden uncontrolled movement

On two separate occasions, vehicle experienced sudden loss of steering control or uncontrolled movement. One owner reported rear-end loss of control causing near-collision; another reported complete steering loss in snow, slush, and gravel. One incident at low speed (15 mph on gravel) resulted in full loss of control.

When: Winter 2017 (snow, slush, gravel conditions); also reported on clear, dry highways. One crash occurred in January 2022.

Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of steering control; Rear end ghost walks uncontrollably; Complete loss of steering in winter conditions; Vehicle veers suddenly without driver input; Crash occurred; vehicle totaled

Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented. One owner's insurance claim resulted in total loss declaration; Subaru declined to share inspection findings.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru conducted post-crash inspection and claimed vehicle was running normal; declined to share findings with owner or investigator.

Paddle shifter design hazard and steering interference

Paddle shift levers on steering wheel have sharp, square edges that can catch on coat zippers or clothing, causing abrupt steering wheel entanglement and loss of control. One owner's coat zipper caught on paddle shifter during a right turn, preventing steering wheel straightening and resulting in collision with bus stop and traffic citation.

When: During normal driving when wearing heavier coat (cold weather). Incident occurred during right turn at residential speed.

Symptoms owners cite: Paddle shifter corner catches coat zipper; Loss of steering control due to clothing entanglement; Inability to straighten steering wheel; Vehicle collision and traffic citation

Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; design defect requires correction.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in narratives.

Advanced safety systems disable without codes or warning

Multiple advanced safety systems (EyeSight, Forward Auto Brake, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Assist Steering, Rear Auto Brake, Blind Spot Detection, ABS, Traction Control, Power Steering) disable simultaneously without triggering check engine light or logging diagnostic codes. Systems fail at idle, low speed, and highway speed without predictable pattern.

When: Multiple occasions: in driveway (stopped), parking lot (5 mph), town driving (25 mph), highway (60 mph). No consistent trigger identified.

Symptoms owners cite: All advanced safety systems go offline simultaneously; No check engine light or error codes generated; Power steering disabled during driving; No warning messages or symptoms before failure

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer found no codes on first four to five failures. Vehicle was delivered to dealer while in failed state with no codes found.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer did not report issue to Subaru; owner states they will report to Subaru.

Steering overheat warning and vehicle will not start

Vehicle displays steering overheat error message and refuses to start. Issue occurred on two separate occasions.

When: Two occasions, timing not specified in narrative.

Symptoms owners cite: Steering overheat error message; Vehicle will not start

Codes mentioned: Steering overheat

Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided.

Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 3 most recent

steering · 37,000 mi · filed 12/31/2020

While traveling through michigan's upper peninsula and northern wisconsin during snow fall with a fully packed car on the highway I experienced the rear end "ghost walking" or "steering" or "pulling" to the left and to the right. I had to drive 40mph while two-wheeled drive camrys, civics, vans, etc. Passed us by. Growing up in northern michigan, I'm no stranger to winter conditions and all…

steering · 30,000 mi · filed 12/28/2019

While driving at highway speeds on clear dry roadways, the steering feels as if I have a brief loss of control. I liken it to hitting a patch of ice and having a slight loss of steering control. I've noticed it twice while entering a curve and decelerating from 55 MPH to 45 MPH (the reduced speed limit of the curve). This issue happens only intermittently and is only noticeable at highway…

steering · 27,500 mi · filed 12/25/2018

When lane keep assist is on at night (uses eyesight to keep you in your lane) the car steering wheel has on two separate occasions suddenly jerked to the right. The first time there had been some road repairs with some parts of the road having new asphalt at some not, and the road was still wet from a previous rainstorm. The most recent time the road was dry and this happened when the car…

Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2017 Subaru Outback?

It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.

At what mileage does the steering typically fail?

Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 14,000 and 37,000 miles, with the median around 27,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 37,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?

Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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.