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Reliability report · 2017 Subaru Outback · Updated July 2026 · ~$2,200/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

The busiest fifth-gen year on paper — the cam-carrier oil leak is the one repair without free coverage, so inspect for it.

2017 has the largest complaint file of the fifth generation, but the mix is familiar rather than alarming: the cam-carrier oil leak (about $6,000 to reseal, engine-out, no extended coverage), the Data Communication Module battery drain that a class action and warranty extension addressed, and CVT wear showing up on higher-mileage cars. Subaru extended CVT coverage to 10 years/100,000 miles and serviced transmissions routinely pass 200,000 miles — the neglected ones are what fail.

The recalls are all free: a park-it steering-column campaign carried from 2016 (16V292), a brake-caliper bolt-torque campaign (16V576), and a knee-guard weld (16V716). Head-gasket failure is not a concern on this engine. Buy the one with a dry engine, closed recalls, and CVT-fluid service history.

Evidence: 917 NHTSA complaints · 4 recall campaigns · 3 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Chirping

What that means: 917 federal complaints, the second-highest in our Outback set, on the same fifth-generation patterns: the cam-carrier oil leak, parasitic battery drain, and CVT wear surfacing past 100,000 miles. Four recalls including a carried-over park-it steering campaign — all free if performed. The cam leak is the wallet risk.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

917

Federal complaints

4

Recalls

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2017 Subaru Outback SW AWD (NHTSA VehicleId 11193)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

Cam-carrier oil leak — the engine-out repair with no coverage

major
  • 2.5L boxer (FB25)

The FB-series boxer seals the cam carrier to the cylinder head with RTV silicone, and that seam (along with the timing-chain cover) seeps oil as the seal ages. A Subaru specialist notes you can't reseal it with the engine in the car — the engine has to come out — which makes it a labor-heavy job, roughly $6,000 out of warranty (owner estimate), with no warranty extension covering it. Owners in the federal file report seepage starting in the 40k–65k range, just past the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. A healthy PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) system and on-time oil changes slow it. Inspect the front of the engine for oil seepage before buying.

This is a 2.5L boxer (FB25) problem. The 2.4L turbo (FA24) doesn’t share it.

Which engine is in the one you found? →

Cam-carrier reseal (engine out)

~$6,000

Slowing it with PCV service + oil changes

maintenance only

Sources: Independent Subaru mechanic channel transcripts (CVT, cam-carrier)

CVT wear past 100,000 miles — a maintenance story, mostlymoderate

  • 2.5L boxer (FB25)

The federal file shows a 2017 with CVT (continuously variable transmission — the automatic with no fixed gears) failure signs around 112,000 miles. A Subaru specialist puts the common CVT repair in perspective: the valve-body assembly (solenoids can't be bought separately) is a $750–$850 part, typically needed at 150,000–200,000 miles, and a full replacement runs about $8,000–$8,500 — but serviced units routinely exceed 200,000 miles. The catch is that Subaru long called the fluid 'lifetime' when a 3-year/36,000-mile drain-and-refill (about $250–$300) is what keeps it alive. Ask for fluid service history; a neglected CVT is the risk, not the design.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2017 Subaru Outback (true count 917) · Independent Subaru mechanic channel transcripts (CVT, cam-carrier)

$250–$300

CVT fluid drain-and-refill (every 3 yr / 36k)

$750–$850 part

Valve-body assembly if it wears

~$8,000–$8,500

Full CVT replacement

Parasitic battery drain (Data Communication Module) — covered by extension + settlementmoderate

The telematics box — the DCM, or Data Communication Module — keeps drawing power after the car is off, killing the 12-volt battery over a day or two and destroying batteries over time. Owners report being stranded and replacing multiple batteries. Subaru extended the DCM warranty (8 years/100,000 miles on this era), reached a class-action settlement, and issued a 12-volt battery warranty extension. Repeat dead batteries on a 2017 point here, not to a bad battery — confirm the software/extension work was done.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2017 Subaru Outback (true count 917) · NHTSA recalls + manufacturer communications (DCM/battery extensions, recall documents)

$0

Under DCM extension / settlement

Recalls: park-it steering column, brake-caliper bolts, knee-guard weldmajor

The park-it steering-column recall (16V292) carries over from 2016 — a machining flaw where turning the wheel might not steer the car, with a do-not-drive advisory until inspected. Two 2017-specific campaigns: improperly torqued front brake-caliper, wheel-hub, and stabilizer bolts (16V576), and a knee-guard bracket that may not be properly welded to the steering beam (16V716). All are free inspections/replacements. Confirm each shows completed by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA recalls + manufacturer communications (DCM/battery extensions, recall documents)

$0

All recall work

At about 112,000 miles, my 2017 Subaru Outback's transmission showed signs of failure.
3 mechanic & owner sources

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Subaru dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 16V292Steering column may be improperly machined so turning the wheel may not steer the car (2016–2017, built Feb–May 2016). Park-it advisory; inspect/replace column free. Subaru code WTD-65.open
  2. 16V576Front brake-caliper, wheel-hub, and stabilizer-clamp bolts may be improperly torqued and loosen (2017, built Jun 2016) — reduced braking, instability. Inspect/replace bolts free. Subaru code WTE-66.open
  3. 16V716Knee-guard bracket may not be properly welded to the steering beam (2017 Legacy/Outback, built Sep 2016) — injury risk to an unbelted driver. Inspect weld, replace beam if needed, free. Subaru code WTL-72.open
  4. 19V910A replacement airbag control module may be incompatible with the passenger airbag, affecting deployment (2016–2017). Passenger airbag module replaced free. Subaru code WUX-09.open

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2017 Outback

Three sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

28 MPG combined (25 city / 32 highway) for the AWD, 2.5L on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 37466 (Outback AWD).
Other builds EPA lists: AWD, 3.6L 22 MPG.

$2,200/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Theft

Stolen about 78% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2016–18 models, published May 2019 (report WT-18). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Subaru Outback 4WD with EyeSight.
Other series: Subaru Outback 4WD 51, where 100 = average.

22 vs 100

78% below average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

Cam-carrier reseal (engine out)~$6,000
Slowing it with PCV service + oil changesmaintenance only
CVT fluid drain-and-refill (every 3 yr / 36k)$250–$300
Valve-body assembly if it wears$750–$850 part
Full CVT replacement~$8,000–$8,500
Under DCM extension / settlement$0
All recall work$0
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

Get the printable pre-purchase checklist and an alert if this year’s recall sheet changes.

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01Confirm the steering-column recall (16V292) shows completed by VIN — it carried a do-not-drive advisory when open.
  2. 02Inspect the front of the engine and cam-carrier seam for oil seepage; budget ~$6,000 if it's leaking (no extended coverage).
  3. 03Ask for CVT fluid service history — a 3-year/36,000-mile drain-and-refill record is the single best sign; failures cluster on neglected fluid.
  4. 04Ask about repeat dead batteries and confirm the Data Communication Module (telematics) extension/software work was done.
  5. 05Verify the brake-caliper bolt (16V576), knee-guard (16V716), and passenger-airbag (19V910) recalls are closed.
  6. 06On a test drive, listen for a CVT RPM flare/squeal at steady highway speed — a sign of chain slip on a worn unit.

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vincanary.com/subaru/outback/2017