2017 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 44owner reports
- 24,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 15, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
760 of the 917 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 44 of those describe infotainment.
Tick what matches of 44 reports
Infotainment on other Outback years
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
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head unit or screen (25 reports), the camera (13 reports) and the software (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the electrical system covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 12,000 and 42,000 miles, from the 29 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 8 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.
This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment).
This bulletin provides information to help diagnose and address different conditions relating to customer concerns which may arise when operating the new-generation âGen 2â and âGen 2.1â F10 Navigation and Display Audio systems.
This bulletin announces new reprogramming file availability and the software installation procedure to address additional operational concerns received from the field and listed involving âGen 2â F10 Navigation and Display Audio units with 7â display.
4 more on the 2017 Subaru Outback page.
What owners wrote
“Ongoing problem with Subaru. Spontaneous windshield crack. 74 degrees, parked in shade, no chips. Came out and has the crack completely across windshield just above drivers eyeline. This is has happened to many Subaru owners and Subaru does nothing. Now I want Safelite to do repair, but Subaru will not honor any work involving eyesight navigation unless it is Subaru glass,”
Filed Apr 14, 2025
“Battery drain kept on happening. The nth time after buying 2 batteries and getting battery recharge 2x, Subaru sent me a letter of notice of possible problems with car keeps on finding radio or gps signal thus drains the battery. Brought car to Subaru then they changed the signal unit and gave me a new battery as well.”
Filed Oct 17, 2024
“Rear view camera would not display on head unit while vehicle is in reverse. Has happened multiple times.”
Filed Jun 18, 2023
“Placing car in park and attempt to remove key. Key remains locked in ignition. Car remains in the ON position with steering wheel NOT locked and radio/lights ON. I must re-start the car, put in drive, rock gear shift and slam back into Park. This procedure eeds to be repeated until the key can be removed. It is occurring with increasing frequency, at least once per day at this point.”
Filed Aug 14, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 44 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
Other problems on this car
- Battery dies or the car will not start 336 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 229 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 43 reports