YearToAvoid

2017 Subaru Outback Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 47 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2017 Subaru Outback, 5% of its 917 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 27,000 miles. Two crashes are linked, no injuries or fires, and no related recalls exist for this area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
47
5% of 917
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
27,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Gear shifter fails to fully engage in park, allowing the car to roll or slide into reverse or neutral unexpectedly.
  • Vehicle continues moving backward or fails to hold gear after shifting from reverse into drive.
  • Unexpected transmission disengagement at highway speed, with RPM spiking and the gas pedal briefly unresponsive.
  • Sudden unintended acceleration or engine revving while shifting, including one case while reversing that ended in a low-speed collision.
  • Hesitation and hard lurching when shifting from reverse to forward.
  • Push-button start allows the engine to shut off while still in drive, letting the car roll unattended.

When 2017 Subaru Outback transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 3, 2016, latest Jul 8, 2026.

2017 Subaru Outback transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2016Jun 2017Mar 2018Jul 2019May 2020Mar 2021Feb 2022Mar 2023
47 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2016 to Jul 2026; peak Jan 2018 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2017 Subaru Outback

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Outback model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201093 (26%)
  2. 2011216 (33%)
  3. 2012107 (37%)
  4. 201360 (20%)
  5. 201425 (12%)
  6. 201537 (7%)
  7. 201645 (7%)
  8. 201747 (5%)
  9. 201814 (2%)
  10. 201915 (1%)
  11. 202046 (5%)
  12. 202112 (4%)
  13. 202218 (4%)
  14. 20235 (6%)
  15. 20246 (6%)
  16. 20254 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission and powertrain complaints does the 2017 Subaru Outback have?
NHTSA lists 47 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2017 Outback, which is 5% of its 917 total complaints for the model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2017 Subaru Outback?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to this problem area for the 2017 Outback.
At what mileage do transmission problems show up on the 2017 Outback?
The median mileage at failure among these complaints is 27,000 miles, though several owners reported issues well before that.
Did any 2017 Outback transmission complaints involve crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records 2 crashes tied to this problem area for the 2017 Outback, with no reported fires or injuries.
How does the 2017 Outback compare to other model years for transmission complaints?
The 2017 Outback's transmission complaint share is 5%, lower than earlier years like 2011 (33%) and 2012 (37%), and similar to 2016 (7%) and 2018 (2%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.