There are 5 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2017 Subaru Outbackin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Headlight lenses fill up with water on interior of lenses causes headlights to distort lighting and reduced visibility.
My 2017 Subaru outback has moisture forming inside the passenger side headlight. Temperature does not appear to be a cause. The concern is freezing and light distortion affecting the night time auto headlight dimmer. There are no apparent cracks and front end has not been in any collision. Issue was noticed at least two months ago. Dealer is talking to manufacturer.
THE HEADLIGHTS (HID WITH AUTO-LEVELING) ARE POINTED DANGEROUSLY LOW. THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD FAR ENOUGH. A DRIVER WOULD HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME TO REACT, GIVEN THIS LIMITED ILLUMINATION DISTANCE. SUBARU DEALERSHIPS ARE ADAMANT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ADJUSTED TO SPECIFICATIONS. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ALL OVER THE INTERNET FROM OWNERS, AND THE DEALERSHIPS I'VE MENTIONED THIS ISSUE TO HAVE EXPLAINED THEY ARE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINTS, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I AM VERY WORRIED FOR OUR SAFETY AND FOR THE PEDESTRIANS/VEHICLES WE WOULD NOT SEE IN TIME TO STOP. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW, AND THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE. I HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BASICALLY FINE (GIVEN THE SHIFT OF WEIGHT TO THE REAR WHICH HAS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AIMED A BIT HIGHER), BUT AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE LEVELS OUT, THE ISSUE IS VERY EVIDENT. THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM FEATURE SIMPLY DOES NOT COMPENSATE, AS THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAMS ARE NOT INTUITIVE ENOUGH TO PERFECTLY ACTIVATE AND STAY ACTIVATED EVERY TIME (IT MISREADS SURROUNDING STREET LIGHTS, FOR EXAMPLE, AS ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS VERY EASILY.
I have been stranded repeatedly by my subaru since it was purchased with drained batteries, no explanation from subaru. Safety issues arise from the stranding. There is a lawsuit now with subaru but they are not acutally fixing the cars? No warnings were given and I now have a unreliable vehicle with no proposed fix from the manufacturer.
SUBARU MARKETS THEIR HIGH BEAM ASSIST (HBA) FEATURE AS WORKING 'IN CONJUNCTION WITH EYESIGHT TO AUTOMATICALLY SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS BETWEEN THE HIGH AND LOW SETTINGS WHEN AN ONCOMING VEHICLE IS DETECTED.' THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY TRUE AND THAT'S WHERE THE SAFETY ISSUE COMES INTO PLAY. THE HBA FEATURE TURNS OFF HIGH BEAMS AT LOWER SPEEDS NO MATTER IF AN ONCOMING CAR IS PRESENT AND ABSOLUTELY TURNS THEM OFF AT A STOP SIGN. THIS MAKES FOR TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS IN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES DANGEROUS. IN OUR COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S VERY HILLY AND CURVY WITH A LOT OF WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE WHO WALK/JOG SO SPEEDS ARE OFTEN BELOW 20 MPH, THE SPEED AT WHICH SUBARU'S MANUAL SAYS THIS FEATURE WORKS. IF ANYTHING, WHEN THERE IS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES HIGH BEAMS SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON AT NIGHT. THIS ALLOWS FOR THE EARLIER DETECTION OF PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. IN TALKING TO SUBARU THEY REALLY DIDN'T CARE AT ALL THAT THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND OFFERED TO TELL THEIR ENGINEERS. OF COURSE, THIS CAN BE TURNED OFF, BUT ONLY BY VISITING A DEALER AND PAYING THEM TO FIX SUBARU'S DESIGN FLAW. NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE SUBARU TO 1) FIX THIS FEATURE SO THAT IT ONLY DIMS HIGH BEAMS WHEN THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC; AND 2) REQUIRE SUBARU OFFER TO DISABLE THE FEATURE FREE OF CHARGE AT ANY AUTHORIZED DEALER UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED.
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