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Air bagsPart report

2017 Subaru Outback Air bags Problems

Complaints
16about this part
Share
2%of 921 total for the year
Median mileage
3,230miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the air bags of the 2017 Subaru Outback, 2% of the 921 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 3,230 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I hit a large deer on ih 10 at 75 MPH. All airbags deployed safely but conpletely blocked my vision and prevented me from exiting the vehicle as the bags blocked door handles, window control switches and my seat belt release. Another motorist cut air bag strips and helped me to exit the car. Fortunately, no fire.”

NHTSA complaint #11203480, filed 2019-04, 17,000 miles

“Upon impact, in an accident that occurred on august 20, 2017 with my 2017 Subaru Outback, the airbags did not deploy. The auto body repair specialist examined the car, & the angle in which impact occurred and believes the airbags should have in fact,deployed. I also had the insurance adjuster from usaa look at the photographs from the accident. His professional opinion was also that the airbags should have deployed. The other vehicle involved had their airbags deploy. …”

NHTSA complaint #11020096, filed 2017-08, 3,000 miles

“On 8 june 2017 I had just pulled into a parking spot in front of a medical suite when my leased three month old 2017 Subaru Outback with 1,000 miles suddenly had an unintended acceleration episode jumping the curb and crashing into a brick wall and suite door after displacing a threshold column by two inches. The airbag did not deploy, the eyesight function did not stop the vehicle, the seat belt did not restrain me and my chest slammed into the steering wheel, my knees crashed into the dashboard. …”

NHTSA complaint #11011433, filed 2017-07, 1,000 miles

“My husband was driving on a public street at approximately 35 MPH when another car ran a red light and drove out in front of him. He hit her broadside. He was transported to the hospital with a cracked sternum. The car was damaged so severely it was totaled by our insurance company. The air bag did not deploy, hence the cracked sternum from the seat belt. I believe the air bag should have deployed which would have lessened the impact against the seat belt. I have a police report, pictures of the car and hospital reports if they are needed.”

NHTSA complaint #11155479, filed 2018-12, 17,000 miles

“Faulty occupant detection system. Turns off airbag with passenger. Turns on airbag and seatbelt chime with no passenger/weight. Intermittent. Brand new car with 700 miles and brought in 3 times to Subaru santa monica. Service center unable to replicate problem, but I sent them videos.”

NHTSA complaint #10909578, filed 2016-09, 700 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202556%
202466%
202322%
202261%
2021165%
2020182%
2019131%
201881%
2017162%
2016102%
2015143%
20143818%
20134214%
20123913%
20117311%
20104412%
20093028%
200810446%
20074736%
20064014%
20053814%
20042528%
20031920%
200254%
200132%
200052%
199976%
1998119%
199723%
1996817%

Other parts of the 2017 Subaru Outback

Electrical system
392 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
233 complaints
Other or unknown
178 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
47 complaints
Engine
44 complaints
Vehicle speed control
29 complaints
Body and structure
27 complaints
Brakes
25 complaints
Steering
24 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
23 complaints
Fuel system
16 complaints
Lane departure
9 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2017 Subaru Outback

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology