10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,263 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2019 Subaru Outback electrical problems

electrical problem

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2019 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 1 of 15)

problem #282

Jan 252024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2019 Subaru outback has a defective screen. The screen has begun to delaminate from the inside and causes the screen to jump around and not be able to stay on one screen. The power button also seems to not be working and is cause the radio to turn on and off. Because of those two issues, the radio screen jumps around and turns off and on, posing a major safety risk. I tried taking the car to the place I bought it and a Subaru dealer, and they will not help financially or with the repair even though they have this issue with other year models of the same car. Picture is attached. Has sense gotten worse.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #281

Feb 162024

Outback

  • miles
DCM is a parasitic drain on the battery according to the dealership. Replaced battery twice. The "fix" online is to pull the fuse but starlink and hands free won't work without it.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #280

May 012023

Outback

  • miles
Faulty dcm causing parasitic drain on battery causing dead battery every two days. New battery did not solve problem.

- Mora, NM, USA

problem #279

Feb 082024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Repeated dead battery. Have replaced battery to no avail.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #278

Apr 012022

Outback

  • miles
Starling system that also controls the hands free voice control for phone and navigation has a data control module that is trying to connect to an out dated relay or 3g phone tower. Because the system cannot connect the car continues to loop itself in its programming to keep trying. The continuous retrying eventually drains the battery causing the car to not start. The fix within the Subaru Outback forum has a fix to remove the data control module fuse. When this fuse is remove the hands free calling and navigation is also disabled. Repeated attempts for Subaru to replace or update the starlink system is not acknowledged and it-??s claimed that Subaru does not recognize that there is an error in the starlink programming or system that causes a battery drain.

- Findlay, OH, USA

problem #277

Dec 132021

Outback

  • miles
2019 SUBARU OUTBACK Purchased new 10/10/2018. December 13, 2021 Original Battery Dead Replaced by Firestone cost $164.51 - 53,931 miles. June 8, 2023 Dead Battery - Towed to Firestone - Replaced Battery. December 28, 2023 - Dead Battery Vehicle wouldn-??t start - Recharged Battery. January 7, 2024 - Dead Battery Vehicle wouldn-??t start - Recharged Battery. January 9, 2024 - Firestone Tested Battery - Could not diagnose problem cost $37.99. January 12,2024 - Subaru Dealer performed Battery Draw Test Cost $170 - Concluded DCM (Data Communications Module needed to be replaced) - 88,009 miles. February 1, 2024 Currently still waiting on DCM Back-order to arrive at the Subaru Dealer. Cost to replace DCM $800. Subaru has many class action lawsuits on its 2015 - 2020 Vehicles over dead battery failures but is not offering a recall replacement of the DCM causing the failures. Also, the reimbursement for a dead battery has expired leaving owners of these vehicles to replace this DCM part on their own expense. Without replacing this part leaves the owner waking up every day not knowing if their vehicle will start.

- Moseley, VA, USA

problem #276

Jan 152020

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Battery failure! Something is draining the battery constantly causing it to fail and the vehicle will not start without a jump. We have owned the vehicle since it was new and have been dealing with the battery failing ever since. We have gone through several new batteries and the batteries continue to get depleted and fail...

- Houghton Lake, MI, USA

problem #275

Jan 252024

Outback

  • miles
Battery has been dead, if sitting acouple of days of not driving, charge it up and in acouple of days it's is dead again, seem the data communication module(DCM) IS what is drawing the Battery dead

- Duluth, MN, USA

problem #274

Jan 232024

Outback

  • miles
Ignition and battery failure - unable to unlock certain parts of the car, all electrical is dead This is the second incidence in 6 months. Not weather dependent. One incidence in June and another in January. Entered car, pressed ignition button, no ignition, the icons all lit up in red on the indicator dash. Previously AAA indicated that the battery was totally dead, no amps, appeared to be an electrical problem and not strictly a battery problem according to AAA. At dealership they performed a "drain test." They told me that is all they could do. Customer Service gave me a battery for "free." I don't know if it was a used battery or a new one. This time I will pay for the battery to make sure it is new. No words of why this occurred to my car were stated. They just pushed the repair invoice towards me with the keys and said I was ready to go. This time when I called they told me they could only do the "drain" test again. I knew I had to investigate since they were not helping me find the source of the problem. This could be a major problem if one was locked in the car and the electrical failed. Worse yet if a fire occurred and one could not get out, death could occur. When I left the car after the ignition did not work, the ignition light on the ignition button stayed on. (lit up in red) Please help me out with this. The auto is a Touring Outback - year 2019.

- Merrimac, MA, USA

problem #273

Aug 162023

Outback

  • miles
The radio receiver is defective as it experiences ghost touches and changes screens by itself while driving. This causes it to change settings, remove paired devices, open apps, change the radio stations, and several other things. As one could imagine, this is a major distraction while driving. I purchased the car working flawlessly in June of 2023. The issues did not arise until after a few hot days happened in FL around August of 2023 and I noticed the screen started to form bubbles. The touch screen is now inoperable so I am unable to change the clock, use navigation, reset maintenance reminders, or use any other built-in functions. Luckily the backup camera still works but can be hard to see in certain lighting. Previous model year Subarus were covered under a class action lawsuit for experiencing similar issues but not 2019. The last time I took my vehicle in for service, the service rep had mentioned they were unable to reset my maintenance reminder due to the touchscreen being unresponsive. I reached out to Subaru of America to ask for assistance in getting it resolved. They offered to pay $1,000 of the over $2,800 repair quote I received from my local Subaru dealer. Since an OEM unit will most likely do the same thing after a period of time, I looked into an aftermarket replacement as well. I was quoted around $1,100 to get a new aftermarket receiver and maintain majority of the factory "creature comforts" like steering wheel controls, backup camera, and vehicle information. I have attached pictures that are from September 2023, December 2023, and January 2024.

- Pinellas Park, FL, USA

problem #272

Jul 012023

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The touch screen on my head unit no longer works consistently. The screen flickers and changes menus constantly. When making hand's free calls, the call often goes on hold with no way of getting out of hold due to the broken touch screen. The knobs and side buttons also regularly don't work. Need to use the phone to cancel call or get out of hold. This is extremely distracting when driving and has almost caused an accident multiple times.

- Pacifica, CA, USA

problem #271

Dec 152023

Outback

  • miles
My 2019 Infotainment systems has begun delamination from the outer glass on the back side. It is causing ghost operations of the systems. Access to my safety features are through the system.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #270

Apr 012023

Outback

  • miles
Battery started draining while parked when the car was about 3 years 8 months old. I got a new higher capacity battery and it also drained several times.

- Gurnee, IL, USA

problem #269

Dec 192023

Outback

  • miles
I have submitted for Extended Warranty Battery Service in the Subaru Battery Settlement confirmation number is SB68712430. This battery settlement should include the DCM as replacing the battery does not fix the problem. I believe this is an electrical fault (parasitic current draw) is caused by the the faulty DCM. There are hundreds of people posted the same issue. This should be a recall.

- Tualatin, OR, USA

problem #268

Oct 162023

Outback

  • 51,500 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the residential garage, the contact turned the ignition key to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact charged the battery for six hours and then was able to start the vehicle. The following day the contact attempted to start the vehicle and the vehicle failed to start. The contact was advised to purchase a new battery to replace the old battery. The contact stated that the battery was replaced; however, the new battery lasted for only six weeks. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed data control module. The contact was informed that the data control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,500.

- Danville, CA, USA

problem #267

Feb 012023

Outback

  • miles
Subarus have a battery drain problem. Frequently, my car would unexpectedly have a dead battery and not start. This is a safety issue for anyone needing to drive as part of an emergency response, to a hospital, to a doctor, etc. Being unexpectedly unable to drive at all could leave people stranded on cold nights, on the side of the road, or unable to get to necessary services/meals/warmth/ etc. The issue is a common one for Subaru owners like me, and there was a class action lawsuit on the issue for 2015-2020 Subarus. That lawsuit was settled with a battery replacement warranty extension, and a software update to the ECM. Replacing the battery and updating the ECM software did not solve the problem. Not for me and not for many others. The real source of the parasitic drain is the DCM. Subaru knows this and dealerships will readily admit it is a widespread common problem, with the DCM, an expensive part, on backorder, and weekly repairs being done at most Subaru dealerships to replace faulty DCMs. But it is not covered under the class action settlement, and there is still no recall for it. Subaru should be accountable to ensuring their car batteries are not unexpectedly dead, and that people can drive when needed, and their cars can start. This is a widely spread issue, and Subaru dealerships will try to hide the issue in the software update, which frequently doesn't fix the problem, when they know the real issue is that a replacement DCM is needed.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #266

Dec 112023

Outback

  • miles
Battery dies on a consistent basis and appears to be a trickle drain on the battery. After reading numerous online forums this appears to be a consistent issue that has not been addressed by Subaru of America. It appears the drain is caused by the DCM fuse being faulty. I have recently had the vehicle inspected by an authorized Subaru dealership with no issues noted. While this issue does not create any immediate safety concerns, it could place individuals at risk if they found themselves in remote and/or dangerous locations with no ability to start their vehicle. According to online forums this issue has been observed by multiple Subaru dealers. There are no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of this issue other than a dead battery.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #265

Dec 032023

Outback

  • miles
There is a persistent battery issue that, after repeated periods of short-trip-driving, results in a dead battery. There is a parasitic drain on the battery. We've had the battery replaced twice, and the issue still continues. We're worried that this will leave us stranded somewhere with a vehicle that won't start.

- Maplewood, MO, USA

problem #264

Jan 032023

Outback

  • miles
I had a sudden dead battery in January 2023. My mechanic replaced it, and told me that Subaru had a service bulletin about a parasitic drain issue. In October, my battery died again, so my mechanic kept the car for several days, discovered that it would drain after charging, so he pulled all the fuses, individually, based on his hunch from the service bulletin, and found that the Starlink fuse was the problem. (I believe it-??s DCM #9). So, he pulled it, and replaced the battery again (under warranty) as it had been totally drained. He talked to Subaru, who said the fuse is back ordered around the country, and he will notify me when the part is available. He estimates it will cost about $600 to fix. My car seems fine, now, except I-??ve also lost the hands free phone capability and had to buy a phone holder in the meantime, to be safe and legal. And I always have jumper cables in my car so I don-??t get stuck somewhere. It seems to me that Subaru must be aware of this problem, and I think they should pay for replacing this part, as it is a very expensive fix.

- Jericho, VT, USA

problem #263

Oct 312023

Outback

  • miles
I have a 2019 Subaru Outback. I bought it used in June 2023 and all warranties have expired. My battery has been drained multiple times. I have to get it jumped to start the car. There is a long Reddit thread that explains that a fuse powering the Subaru Starlink system (its version of OnStar) drains the battery even when the car is off. See --> https://www.reddit.com/r/Subaru_Outback/comments/y3b4hk/repeatedly_dead_battery_issue_finally_solved/?rdt=48183 My dealership has pushed back that my problem is the DCM fuse--they say the radio unit is draining my battery. Their only solution is to find either (1) a used radio or (2) order a new radio which costs $1500 and it on a 6-12 month back order. I've contacted Subaru of America for help and I am awaiting for one of their specialists to contact me.

- Washington, DC, USA

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