There are 8 owner-reported driver assist & adas complaints for the 2017 Subaru Outbackin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE FEATURE IS TURNED OFF IN MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I LIVE WHERE THERE ARE MANY TWO LAND ROADS AND OTHER DRIVES CONSTANTLY CROSS THE MIDDLE LINE, INCLUDING LARGE LOGGING TRUCKS. LATELY IT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AND NUDGING MY CAR BACK TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE EVEN WHEN I WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE VERY CLOSE TO THE SHOULDER OR WHITE LINE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN IT NUDGES THE CAR TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE LANE AND I ATTEMPT TO CORRECT, IT IS A BATTLE AND MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNEASY. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA BECAUSE WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME IF I COULD NOT RECREATE IT, IT WAS UNLIKELY THEY COULD FIX IT. AFTER SEEING A POST ON REDDIT, I THINK I AM NARROWING DOWN RECREATING THE EVENT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS THAT SHOW LANE KEEPING ASSIST BEING ACTIVE DESPITE THE LIGHT SHOWING IT IS ALSO TURNED OFF.
While driving at full speed on Interstate 80 through Sacramento CA while the outside temperature was 116 degrees, most of the more advanced systems of the car failed. I should have taken a picture of the control panel. I stopped the car and pulled out the user manual. Indicators illuminated included Eye Sight, Check Engine, tire pressure, and many many others. In fact, there were symbols on the dash that I could not find in the manual after extensive investigation. I attempted to drive the car after letting it cool down. The alerts persisted. I did check the tire pressure in all wheels and they were normal. The following day I checked the car in the morning (the temperature had subsided substantially) and the condition was still present. I made arrangements to go to the dealer, and upon getting into the car at about 2pm the indicators were all normal again. I did not go to the dealer. This may or may not be related to a prior issue which is covered in NHTSA complaint #11480372.
Car accelerated unexpectedly causing a front end collision. Sudden acceleration had occurred previously without collision. No warning lights or emergency braking engages before collision
While attempting to park in a parking spot with a concrete parking lot stop the car experience an unintended acceleration and did not engage the safety braking system causing the car to jump over the concrete parking lot stops and hit a light lost and concrete supporting barrier behind the concrete parking lot stop. There were no warnings and this caused injury to the driver and passenger. A police report is being issued as well as contact with the car manufacturer. This is the second time this unintended accelerated occurred however this is the first incident where damage to the car and injury occurred,
Wife was in a Collison on the freeway in Phoenix. She believes none of the collision avoidance devices worked properly to help prevent the accident. She heard no alarms or dings associated with the avoidance systems on her outback. She didn't feel the brakes lock up like they normally would. She feels if this truly is an issue, can she trust any of these safety features, which if working, could help avoid hitting everything from a person to a vehicle and injuring or killing her or someone else. We have not tried to reproduce this issue since the car is damaged and out our house. We have also not taken it to a dealer for the same reason. We did call Subaru and all they cared about was being sued. Which we said we did not want. We just wanted to make sure all systems are working or if there is an issue. They would not help or even offer to inspect the car. They told us we need to hire a 3rd party investigator. Which we don't even know who or where that would be or how to find one. No known issues with the system prior to the accident.
ON CURVY MOUNTAINOUS ROADS AT OR BELOW POSTED SPEEDS, THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM BRAKES ENGAGE DANGEROUSLY (E.G., TRAFFIC) AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM IS INCORRECTLY SENSING HILLSIDES AS HAZARDS. THE EYESIGHT ALARM IS SIMILARLY TRIGGERED ON STREET INTERSECTIONS.
THE AUTOMATIC REAR BRAKING IS OVERLY SENSITIVE AND SLAMS ON THE BRAKES ANYTIME I BACK OUT OF A DRIVEWAY; UNLESS I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT THE MOMENT THE TIRES MAKE CONTACT WITH THE STREET. THE DEALER TELLS POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS THIS CAN BE ADJUSTED, BUT WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN ADJUSTMENT, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW TO ADJUST IT. SUBARU CLAIMS IT'S WORKING AS DESIGNED, BUT THEY'VE NEVER TESTED IT ON THE ROAD. THE ONLY THING THEY DO IS PLUG IT IN TO THEIR COMPUTER; AND THEY FIND NO ERROR CODES. THE 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK IS NOT AS SENSITIVE.
SAFETY DEFECT OPERATOR DATA: BLIND SPOT INDICATOR IS ONLY PRESENTED ON EXTERNAL REVIEW MIRROR. DATA SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN CENTER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RATHER THAN HAVING TO DEFLECT FOCUS FROM DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026