What 917 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Outback Wilderness

My battery is constantly needing to be jump started even after replacing it twice. The battery tests are always good. If I open my trunk while the car is not running, I have to get it jumped. I’m currently unloading groceries and what not with the car running to save myself from having to get jumped.

NHTSA ODI 11483496

Since I purchased this car, I had the battery drain to the point the lift gate would not open and kept beeping as if something was wrong with the car. I replaced the battery and the problem corrected itself. I am now having lights in the dashboard go out and the power windows stop working. There appears to be an issue with the electrical system.

NHTSA ODI 11483365

Battery has paracitic draw caused by ECU problem. Battery dies if not driven every day.

NHTSA ODI 11480345

Battery continually drains. I have had 2 replaced since May. I have contacted Subaru and they said I just have not driven it around enough after battery install. I have had them check for a drain, and they can’t find anything. There are no lights on or any other reason to drain the battery. This coincides with my key becoming stuck in the ignition. Waiting on a part to replace the ignition under warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11478311

Frequent battery draining requiring battery to either be replaced or charged unless car is driven daily.

NHTSA ODI 11477409

The power rear lift gate mechanism frequently does not work. Even when car is unlocked the rear lift gate refuses to open just giving a 3 beep warning. The back can be manually opened but not by me as it is extremely hard to lift. Sometimes the gate only opens partially, or only closes partially. After my husband manually moves the gate it does not close fully and does not lock so we have no guarantee objects from inside the vehicle will not fall out while moving. Additionally, if my dog is in the car and the gate is inoperable I cannot get him out. Today it only opened part way and I accidentally walked straight into the edge of the gate almost knocking me out! This is a problem that comes and goes - it worked today in Walmart parking lot but not when I arrived home. The dealer said to bring it in when it doesn't work, but then it works when you get to the dealer and he says there is no problem!!

NHTSA ODI 11476875

Battery drainage started to happen very frequently after that date. Causing us travel with Jumper cables all the time.

NHTSA ODI 11476974

My charging system fails to keep my battery charged . This happens irregularly - even when the car has just sat in the garage for two or three days. We have not left the doors open or the lights on. It's very frustrating.

NHTSA ODI 11474487

The battery of the car keep dying, leaving us stranded in what could possibly be unsafe situations. We have gotten the battery checked out numerous times at the dealership, plus got a battery replacement in October 2020 but it still keeps occurring. This is a 2017 Outback with less than 30,000 miles, so should not be happening.

NHTSA ODI 11473757

Car has repeated failed to start due to drained battery. Battery is drained by system. This has occurred dozens of times since the car was purchased new. Date of most recent occurrence is listed below.

NHTSA ODI 11473312

Battery found dead 2x First time July 2021, replaced battery Second time July 2022, car will not start

NHTSA ODI 11473127

Battery continually found dead requiring frequent jump starts

NHTSA ODI 11471322

Repeated battery drained issues. Multiple batteries replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11470934

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was jump started. The contact had the battery replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic found not fault with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11470819

2 June 2022 Incident started with tail gate issues (would not respond when the button was pressed, beeped straight about 3-5 minutes). Took car to the dealership, they did the parasitic drain test, and found that the battery no longer held a charge. Replaced the battery and then tested for a draw. Found that there was draw from the DCM (data communication module). That is scheduled to be replaced as is the back up battery. Of note, the car was purchased new in July of 2017, and returned to dealer with a dead battery 27 February 2019 (7556 miles on the odometer) at which point the battery replaced. The car was taken to the dealership again for battery issues 4 January 2020 (they charged the battery) and 27 March 2020 (battery tested fine, and they jump started the car). All work on the car has been done by either Briggs Subaru in Topeka Kansa, or Gallatin Subaru in Bozeman Montana.

NHTSA ODI 11468639

Premature battery draining. This is the 3rd battery purchased for my 2017 Subaru Outback. The most recent battery was purchased on 05/11/2022. Today (05/28/2022) I went to leave for work and the entire system is dead. Not the first time I had this problem and as mentioned this is the 3rd battery purchased in the past 2 years.

NHTSA ODI 11466519

The car failed to start after the battery drained when the car was turned off even though no lights, etc. we’re left on. No warning lamps/messages were provided prior.

NHTSA ODI 11466176

Purchased vehicle new Dec 2016. Battery being drained on more than one occasion requiring jump to start. Had to call tow truck for jump until purchased charger to have in vehicle. Also corrosion accumulates on battery. Took to dealer first time and had checked out but no problem was identified. Happened again yesterday (05/19/2022). When this occurs there is a clicking sound from the fuse box under the hood. Found many complaints online referencing this problem with no resolutions. Understand there is a class action law suite in progress.

NHTSA ODI 11465514

Battery is going dead after short periods of time. Replaced battery 3x in the last year and a half. After researching, this is a big problem with the 2017 Subaru Outback

NHTSA ODI 11464702

After the Second battery gave us a problems I asked for a larger battery with extended warranty. They couldn’t do that so I bought an Interstate battery for $115 plus $125 bracket March 16,2022. We had paid Subaru $160 for the original battery replacement in 10/16/19.

NHTSA ODI 11464636

The battery has drained on at least 4 occasions, resulting in 3 tow trips to the dealer. I left the vehicle there one time for 2 weeks while on vacation so they could watch for and analyze drain. Nothing was found they said. The dealer replaced the battery at least once and I bought a ‘platinum’-level toe one at at car parts store.

NHTSA ODI 11463818

The battery doesn’t last as long as I think it should. The car is 5 years old and I’m on my 3rd battery.that doesn’t seem normal.

NHTSA ODI 11463782

Battery unexplainable discharged itself overnight. The vehicle was not running, all doors were closed and locked, and all lights were off.

NHTSA ODI 11462590

I started having battery issues with my car. I had my car at the mechanic for a regular state inspection. They told me that I had a bad battery that it had died numerous times. I was shocked because I had never jumpstarted my car in the past. I began to believe the dealership sold me the car with a bad battery. I knew this because I tried to drive the car out of the lot when I first purchased and the battery was dead. They told me to come back the next day and they would have a new battery in it. I guessed then that they never replaced the battery. So I then purchased a new battery from the mechanic. 6 months later my car wouldn't start. I had left nothing running in the car. The next day my car started. Then 2 months later, my husband drove my car to get food. He parked the car for 5 minutes and went in to get the food. When he came back, the car wouldn't start again. We had to jumpstart it. I believe something is wrong with the car overall, causing the battery to drain without the consumer's knowledge, this is a safety concern as it leaves the consumer stranded wherever they are. My husband was left sitting there with my daughter until I could come pick them up. The outback will just die without warning. I tried calling the dealer about it, they didn't return my call. I now scheduled an appointment to have them look at it. I will see what they say, however it seems like other consumers of this car are having the same issues.

NHTSA ODI 11459496

Battery drains periodically. Jump gets me back up and running but this is a known Subaru Outback issue.

NHTSA ODI 11459453