2017 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Car won't start
- 54owner reports
- 40,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 16, 2024 · checked Oct 2, 2026
54 of the 336 reports of dead battery on the 2017 Outback describe won't start.
Part of Battery dies or the car will not start (336 reports)
Tick what matches of 54 reports
Won't start 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, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (52 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 23,824 and 52,300 miles, from the 37 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice 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 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 ...
What owners wrote
“The battery consistently "dies". It doesn't matter how often I drive it. I never know when it won't start. In 5 years, I've had 2 batteries & about 6+ jump starts.”
Filed Oct 31, 2022
“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.”
Filed Jul 11, 2022
“The car failed to start after the battery drained when the car was turned off even though no lights, etc. weâre left on. No warning lamps/messages were provided prior.”
Filed May 26, 2022
“I have a 2017 Subaru Outback that has constant dead battery problems. I have purchased 5 batteries, the last one a month ago and today the car would not start again. Jumped it, drove it 30 min., and now it starts but donât trust it to start tomorrow morning.”
Filed Mar 11, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 54 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
- Windshield cracks or distorts 229 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 44 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 43 reports