This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Since purchasing used, June 2020, the electrical system drained the battery dead. Battery was replaced the first time but it has occurred a second time since.
My 2019 Subaru Outback battery has died multiple times on me. I previously had a 2017 Subaru Outback and had no issues at all with the battery. The first time the battery died, my neighbor was able to jump start the battery. It has happened 4 more times and had to contact Subaru roadside assistance to get my battery jumpstarted. It seems that the electrical problem is with the liftgate. A couple of times I've come out to start my car and the liftgate is up, battery is dead. The liftgate also mysteriously opened on me once during a roadtrip to gatlinburg with my vehicle locked. Other times when the liftgate is closed and battery is dead, after jumpstarting, I can hear the car try to pull the tailgate tight like it thought the tailgate was open. The last time that I had my battery jumped, I was outside the car. As soon as the charger was connected to the battery, all the interior lights and radio came on. (instrument panel, dome lights, etc.) all the doors were shut, and I had not pushed a button to get this to occur. That, to me, definitely points out an electrical issue. From what I've seen on the internet, it seems that Subaru has an issue where the computer continually sends a request to the tailgate to ensure that it is closed. This seems to be what is killing the battery. There have been campers stranded with a dead battery due to tailgate open and tent attached to the car. This seems to contradict Subaru Outback's build for outdoor adventure. I've contacted romain Subaru in evansville multiple times about this issue, and they can't even find my name in their records, claiming that my VIN belongs to someone else. It's really odd because I've purchased 3 vehicles from them. I've yet to get them to address the issue. I don't want them to replace the battery since this will not resolve the issue.
Subaru Outback 2019 is under warranty - purchased 4-6-2019 12/3/2020 car which is in the garage would not start. Battery was dead/drained, indicator light was on. Went back out and tried it again and just clicks would not start. 2. called service department and they recommended that I call roadside assistance to jump and start the battery got car started, let it run for 40 minutes. They did not check the alternator but we asked them to. Turned the car off after 40 minutes and put the car back in the garage.- 12/4/2020 - morning - car started, went to my destination. Returned home, turned off the car noticed clicking sounds for 5 min which I had never heard before. 12/4/2020. Called car service department: They recommended to bring the car to check the battery etc. Which I did.. note: Between Dec 4 and Dec 13 have been driving the car regularly. Dec. 13, 2020 - Sunday - 2nd time car would not start drove car to grocery store. Came out of store.. car would not start. Called roadside assist. Jump start my car. After jump start car, I drove car at least 1/2 hr to 45 min and came home, left the car running in the driveway for at least 45 mi. Came home and set up an appoint at service dealership for 11:30 on December 14. Dec. 14, 2020 - Monday -drove home from dealership, continued to drive car for a F about 25 miles. Arrived home - turned the car off for a period of time. When I tried to start car to park it in the garage, car started but the starter motor was very sluggish at the onset. Dec 16, 2020 - tried to start the car which is in the garage and it would not start, totally dead..no lights. Send attached letter to manager of service. No response yet.
Since purchasing car new in 08/19, I have been stranded with a dead battery 10 times in 12,000 miles. This is due to 4 things: 1. a poorly designed key fob with a hypersensitive button that opens the hatch unintentionally which kills battery; 2. computer modules that remain fully 'on', drawing at least 3.6 amps (much more if interior lights are on) when hatch is open and/or door is open or ajar without mitigation from a timer as long as key fob is detected. So if I open hatch for day use activity, the the battery dies unless I find a way to deactivate the fob. If the unintentionally bump the hatch button while car is in secure garage, hatch is open and battery is dead next morning; 3. after an unintended hatch opening resulting in a dead battery, manually closing the hatch, jumping the battery, and driving results in a loud, continuous alarm with no dash light identification in the car for one minute or until car comes to a complete stop, then alarm resumes causing great anxiety and distraction! ; and 4. these problems and what you must do to combat them are not revealed in the owner's manual nor in the sales and purchase process which I find very deceptive! dealer service department is either not informed or not forthcoming until backed into a corner by specific questions. Subaru of America has been contacted but will not respond. They claim 'operator error'. I claim design defect. I have to carry my own jump start battery behind the driver's seat because cargo area is not accessible with a dead battery, and I must treat my key fob like a hand grenade in order to keep from being stranded. I cannot trust this car, nor do I have my wife drive it anymore.
I purchased this pre-owned (by the dealership) 2019 Outback bought from ramsey Subaru, NJ in May 2020 with 3366 total mileage. In the 6 months since we purchased the vehicle, it has failed to start twice, once requiring towing to the dealer service center and once requiring a jump start. I am now quite concerned about wife and kids being stranded.
- New York, NY, USA
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After 1.5 year ownership of new 2019 Subaru Outback, now has 17,000 miles, battery died. Car started fine in the morning, drove to restaurant for breakfast, came out after eating, car didn't start. Called Subaru for jump start. The following day, took car to Subaru dealer; battery tested normal.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving 75 mph, the headlights failed to illuminate. The instrument panel also became inoperable. The contact pulled off the interstate and coasted to the side of the roadway to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted however, only running lights illuminated. The vehicle was turned off and restarted a second time. The contact stated that the high-beam and rear taillights illuminated however, the low-beams failed to operate as designed. The contact drove the vehicle to her residence with the high-beam headlight activated. The contact stated that after arriving to her residence, the vehicle was turned off and restarted and all the lights started working as designed. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,275.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the battery drained, causing the electrical system to become inoperable. The contact stated that the failure recurred eight times. Roadside assistance was called out to jump start the vehicle. The contact stated that it was impossible to enter the vehicle when the battery was drained. The manufacturer was notified of the failure each time. Grand junction Subaru (651 market St, grand junction, co 81505, 970-208-0110) was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The battery was replaced several times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 2,013.
Dead battery problem. Having the battery go dead in a parking lot, had to have it jump started to get home.had the battery replaced after a few more cases of slow starting, battery was replace by dealer. Had to jump start the new battery in garage two more time in the part week. Had to buy a battery starter box to carry in the car to be sure I can get home if I drive this car.
The battery died without warning on September 17. The car was jumped and brought to dealer. Dealer said tested battery and found to be 477 cca. Did not replace battery. Then on October 16th the battery died again. This time corrosion and leak found on positive part of battery. Took to the same dealer, told battery was indeed bad and replaced battery. There is no warning of low voltage in battery.
Second time battery was drained. Alternator is ok. It is driven every week including highway miles. Dealership says there are no issues with the car. It had been parked in driveway 1 1/2 days. Previously had a problem with radio changing volume by it self and horn honking without touching the center of driving wheel.
The car had only 6817 miles on it when we bought it about three weeks ago. The car ran fine when it was delivered, but today, after finally registering and receiving the NY plates (delayed by covid-19), we tried to start it and nothing happened. Checking the battery with my voltmeter indicated only 4 volts remaining. This is after just sitting in our driveway for the past three weeks not using the car at all. Either the battery is faulty or something in the electrical system is slowly draining the battery.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the battery was replaced five times since the vehicle was purchased in November 2019. The vehicle failed to start when parked for an extended period. The contact was unable to unlock the vehicle or access the battery to recharge the battery. The vehicle was taken to austin Subaru (8100 burnet road, austin, tx 78757, (512) 220-0930) and the battery and body control module was replaced. The failure recurred after the vehicle was taken home and parked. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was provided a loaner. The failure mileage was 3,500.
I bought the car in July 2019 the touring model in may the car was dead a tow company came got it started. The next day dead again this time it was towed to the dealer. I'd heard from the tow guy a class action suit about the battery. Now September 25 all backed to go for a weekend event with dog, dead. We unpacked loaded a different car. Subaru is saying they no nothing about it and it's probably my driving habits. They assume I don't drive much it's now got 17K on it. I'm going to be traveling all over with my dog to some areas that are remote. Everyone is learning of the issue an now I can't sell it in good faith and it's worthless to trade. Each time it's died it's been in the garage.
The battery continually dies on this vehicle. The first time it was just a few weeks after we purchased it, brand new. We've owned the car for about a year (and it only has around 6,000 miles) and the battery has died 4 to 5 times. Most times we can jump it or the dealership does. This time the battery is dead and cannot be jumped. The dealer refuses to look into this issue further, other than by recharging the battery. We're hoping to get it replaced this time.
While camping in a semi-remote location, our battery died, requiring a lengthy process to get a jump start. The only draw on the battery had been moderate use of the ljftgate the evening before. Additional expenses involved a hotel stay and purchase of a jump battery for peace of mind for the rest of our trip. We did have to use the jump battery during the next couple days to be able to start the car in the morning.
The vehicle will not start it was parked overnight in my garage and was not driven for past 48 hours. 2nd tme this has happened. Dealership says could not detect any problem first time I brought it in to them. The lights on the car do not work either. Nothing works on car today. Car has 13, 000 miles on it and it is a 2019 Outback. Vehicle is stationary parked in my garage.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Flower Mound, TX, USA