Vehicle Data Hub

2017 Subaru Outback drivetrain & axles problems

Owners reported drivetrain & axles problems in 45 complaints for the 2017 Subaru Outback, 4% of the complaints on file. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
45 4% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
24,000 miles 31 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 0
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When drivetrain & axles problems show up

Drivetrain & axles complaints by mileage, 2017 Subaru Outback Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 24,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 15 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 7 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 6 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 2 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 1 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 24,000 miles
Based on 31 complaints that include mileage. 90% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles15
20k to 40k miles7
40k to 60k miles6
60k to 80k miles2
80k to 100k miles1
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 31 drivetrain & axles complaints that report mileage, the median is about 24,000 miles, and 90% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes.

What owners wrote

The gear shift does not engage fully in park when the car is stopped. This is an intermittent problem. If it is not engaged fully when the engine is off, the key cannot be removed and the gear shift can slide from park to reverse and neutral without pressing the gear shift button. It is necessary to restart the car sometimes two or three times in order for park to fully engage. Twice when the car was idling in park it did not engage fully and slid into reverse. The second time caused an accident but no injuries.

Reported at 65,000 miles, June 2019 Crash

Since purchase on 2/19/17 from parker subaru cda, complaint of shaking front end, wandering on highway and freeway from side to side in a dangerous manner, from complete loss of steering in snow, slush and gravel as of 2/28/17. I have been very specific about the incidence. Going in my driveway at least 8 inccidents; in snow or slush conditions, in depts on only a couple inches or less in the winter of 2017.

Reported at 250 miles, February 2017

Other problems reported for the 2017 Subaru Outback

Drivetrain & axles problems in other years

Drivetrain & axles problems across all Subaru models