2017 Subaru Outback Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 47about this part
- Share
- 5%of 921 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 27,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 47 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2017 Subaru Outback, 5% of the 921 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 27,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I turned the car on while it was stationary, and switched to reverse but it would not accelerate. I switched it to drive and pressed the acceleration pedal but the engine would only rev; the tires would not move. I switched the car to neutral and called bob wade's Subaru dealership to tow the car to their dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #11062892, filed 2018-01, 17,800 miles“I turned the car on while it was stationary, and switched to reverse but it would not accelerate. I switched it to drive and pressed the acceleration pedal but the engine would only rev; the tires would not move. I switched the car to neutral and called brown's manassas to tow the car to their dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #11062890, filed 2018-01, 15,541 miles“I bought a 2017 Subaru Outback in march,2017. It has 1946 miles. Car has safety issues. Car doesn't go into park, instead it goes into reverse. It happened when come home try to put in park, I come out of the car but it start going back. Also after that it was not going into drive either. Subaru change the shift assembly, but the car still make klunk noise when I put in the park.”
NHTSA complaint #10991362, filed 2017-05, 1,946 miles“Car attempted to accelerate without input from driver.while approaching a stop sign I was slowing down with my foot on the brake car engine suddenly raved up to 4000 k, when I shifted to neutral engine revved to 7000k. I put car back in gear and drove car approximately a quarter mile back to my home using the brakes to control speed of car and called the dealer. Had car towed to dealer where it remains.”
NHTSA complaint #10993518, filed 2017-06, 1,650 miles“Driving back to michigan from florida, my 2017 Subaru Outback (6000 miles) stalled twice unexpectedly in heavy traffic conditions on i75. The vehicle was in stop and go traffic when it stalled. I coasted to the median, placed the car in park and restarted the engine. (both times) the condition has not repeated itself since, now has (7800 miles). Subaru dealership could not replicate the problem and Subaru customer service cannot resolve the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10979309, filed 2017-04, 6,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11037942Sep 28, 2026This announcement provides information on an enhancement of the TechShare CVT diagnostic assitance application.
- 11036804Aug 21, 2026This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
- 11036810Aug 20, 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised…
- 11034242Jun 2, 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the…
- 11033063May 13, 2026This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
- 11033056May 4, 2026This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
- 11032040Apr 24, 2026This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
- 11024861Nov 4, 2025This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which enhancement was implemented to prevent abnormal operations. The updated valve body incorporates…
- 11023523Sep 30, 2025This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
- 11022305Aug 11, 2025Subaru Service Technical Support Newsletter special edition.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5% |
| 2025 | 5 | 6% |
| 2024 | 6 | 6% |
| 2023 | 5 | 6% |
| 2022 | 18 | 4% |
| 2021 | 12 | 4% |
| 2020 | 48 | 5% |
| 2019 | 16 | 2% |
| 2018 | 14 | 2% |
| 2017 | 47 | 5% |
| 2016 | 45 | 7% |
| 2015 | 37 | 7% |
| 2014 | 25 | 12% |
| 2013 | 60 | 20% |
| 2012 | 108 | 37% |
| 2011 | 216 | 33% |
| 2010 | 94 | 26% |
| 2009 | 8 | 8% |
| 2008 | 12 | 5% |
| 2007 | 9 | 7% |
| 2006 | 17 | 6% |
| 2005 | 17 | 6% |
| 2004 | 10 | 11% |
| 2003 | 13 | 14% |
| 2002 | 20 | 14% |
| 2001 | 23 | 13% |
| 2000 | 42 | 20% |
| 1999 | 29 | 26% |
| 1998 | 19 | 15% |
| 1997 | 8 | 10% |
| 1996 | 5 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2017 Subaru Outback
392 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
233 complaintsOther or unknown
178 complaintsEngine
44 complaintsVehicle speed control
29 complaintsBody and structure
27 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsSteering
24 complaintsForward collision avoidance
23 complaintsAir bags
16 complaintsFuel system
16 complaintsLane 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 29, 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