2017 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet

Battery dies or the car will not start

336owner reports
30,000median miles
$160median quote
2involved a crash

Newest report Apr 7, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

391 of the 917 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 336 of those describe dead battery, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2017 Outback.

Narrower sheets: Car won't start (54 reports)

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026

2 crashesin 336 reports

1 firein 336 reports

Tick what matches of 336 reports

dead after sitting a day or two

needed a jump start

104

battery replaced more than once

105

warning lights or messages

the dealer found a drain

173

the dealer found nothing

Dead battery on other Outback years

201587 reports 2016238 reports 2017336 reports 2018170 reports 2019283 reports 2020210 reports 202143 reports 202229 reports

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.

What this problem usually is

These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (334 reports), the alternator (20 reports), the starter (11 reports) and the module (5 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the electrical system covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

What owners paid

15 of the 336 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $130 to $300.

$130$160$300

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 18,341 and 41,000 miles, from the 163 reports that gave a mileage.

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 7 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Subaru Outback that deal with this problem. Newest first.

Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

Service bulletin15-308-23RAug 20, 2026
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised ...
Service bulletin15-317-24RMar 12, 2024
Subaru has extended the Data Communication Module (DCM) warranty from 3 years 36,000mi to 8 years or 100,000mi. In rare cases, customers may experience a dead battery as a result of the DCM continually trying to access the 3G network.
Service bulletin15-317-24Feb 27, 2024
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is extending the Data Communication Module (DCM) warranty from three years (36 months or 36K miles) to eight years (96 months or 100K miles), whichever comes first.
Service bulletin07-207-22RFeb 3, 2023
Subaru Battery Drain Product Liability Litigation.

3 more on the 2017 Subaru Outback page.

What owners wrote

“Battery is not holding a charge, causing electrical issues (windows not working properly, locks not functioning) and for the vehicle to fail to start. The battery is brand new and this is still an issue. 45,000 miles on the vehicle, there were no warning lights indicating a bad battery. This has not been confirmed yet by a dealership/mechanic/insurance.”
Filed Sep 28, 2022 · 45,000 miles

“I have had to buy 2 batteries since I bought the vehicle!! I have 60038 miles on it- One within 6 months of purchase Subaru Tyler Tx and the second roughly one year ago Patriot Subara Saco,Maine Iâve had to get jumped by AAA at least 3 times in past 2 years No one can give me a definitive answer to why my batteries donât lastâ¦”
Filed Sep 26, 2022 · 60,038 miles

“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.”
Filed Jul 13, 2022 · 30,000 miles

“Car back door won't open, despite 3 new batteries. Remained locked so that couldn't remove equipment from back--Dangerous. Have been through 3 batteries in 26,000 miles....all that the car has been driven since it's purchase, new, in 2017.”
Filed Jan 17, 2022 · 26,000 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 336 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found