10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,580 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #204

Oct 052022

Outback

  • miles
After purchasing my 2018 Subaru Outback, I experienced 2 instances where my battery died in the first 2 yrs of ownership. After the second instance, where it had died while I was eating at a restaurant, I contacted the dealership right away. They replaced the battery with a new manufacturer battery saying the previous battery failed the testing. I paid $176 for a new one. This was in March 2021. While preparing to return from my summer home in the mtns to my permanent home on the coast, I spent at least an hour packing my car and trying to keep the door and hatch openings at a minimum. Well, my car battery was dead while trying to start my car for my trip home. I had previously purchased a portable battery pack at the cost of $100 with me, and was able to get it started. One should not have to go such lengths when traveling as doors and the hatch are almost always being used. My car is going in for service at the dealership for this particular issue, but they are only going to replace the battery of which I have been informed. My car has 35,000+ miles and is only 4 yrs old. I traded in my previous car because it had over 100,000 miles on it. But I never had these kinds of issues with it. Now I am hesitant to travel anywhere unless I have that battery pack as it is deemed not reliable! This is ridiculous!!

- Southport, NC, USA

problem #203

Sep 232022

Outback

  • miles
Battery draining issue. Jump starts required

- Louisville , KY, USA

problem #202

Apr 112022

Outback

  • miles
I bought a 2018 Subaru outback in January of 2022 from a Subaru dealership. Approximately 3 months after purchase the car battery died suddenly with no prior warning, so I jumped it, it started fine and I drove it to work. When I took my lunch break 3 hours later, my car was dead again. I jumped it, it stated fine and I drove home. same thing happened when I tried to go back into work, and when I tried to leave work for the day. During my lunch break on the way into work the dash light and display screen shut off completely while I was driving this happened a second time when i left work on the way to an auto shop. At the auto shop they ran diagnostic on the battery and declared it dead, unable to hold a charge any longer. I then payed 250$ bought a brand new battery and got that installed. Here I am 6 months later and I am having the same issues with the battery. This is a safety issue what am I to do if the battery dies while I'm driving and leaves me stranded in the winter.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #201

Sep 292022

Outback

  • miles
Entertainment Unit Defects Car Battery Fast Drainage

- Garnet Valley, PA, USA

problem #200

May 242022

Outback

  • miles
The battery has drained twice in the time that I have owned this vehicle. Once I was able to recharge the battery by jumpstarting and letting it run. The second time it required a battery replacement. This was approximately 12 months after the first incident. The electrical system also has unpredictable quirks related to the window functions and lighting. I am uncertain to other resulting irregularities that may be occurring under the hood. Currently, my car is being serviced for a radiator fan and motor replacement for the cooling system. The estimate for repair is $1747 + tax. This is potentially related to the electrical quirks related to the battery irregularities.

- Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, USA

problem #199

Jun 192022

Outback

  • miles
Battery failed and had to be replaced Wheel Bearing replacement

- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #198

Sep 102018

Outback

  • miles
The battery in my 2018 Subaru Outback has been replaced three times since I purchased it. I am the sole owner. The original battery was replaced within seven months of purchase due to continual battery drainage. The dealership replaced it with the same type of battery and I was not charged. When I went into the dealership expressing concern with the second battery also having to be jump started frequently when the battery was barely two years old, I was told that is the typical life of a battery for the newer electronic vehicles and because the area I live in has excessive heat, that also lowers the battery life. I have had to jump start my vehicle so many times, I stopped taking my vehicle on long trips for fear of being stuck somewhere. In August of 2021, during a cross- states road trip, the battery died mid-trip. I jumped it and had it replaced at my own cost, but not at a dealership. They gave me a 5-year warrenty on the battery. When I took the car into the dealership and had them run diagnostics, they told me that, "Yes, there was some kind of power draw, but then it couldn't be duplicated, so we don't know what the problem is. That will be $117." I think Subaru makes great products and my dealership has wonderful employees, but there is currently a Class Action Suit going on, and I wanted to support those who are filing. Subaru needs to acknowledge and fix the issue. And reimburse me the $117 plus the $169.56 for my third battery.

- Redding, CA, USA

problem #197

Aug 272022

Outback

  • miles
Battery is dying pre-emptively. Have gone through 2 batteries in one month.

- Dunnellon, FL, USA

problem #196

Aug 012022

Outback

  • miles
Subaru Starlink system flickers, selects apps and does all of this without ANY touching. At times, the backup camera is not working. Having a phone connected does not improve the problem.

- Perrysburg, OH, USA

problem #195

Aug 182022

Outback

  • miles
Persistent battery drain. Car was jumped a week ago because it wouldn't start at all. It has been sluggish to start (turns over a couple times before catching) since and had a major error with the rear hatch today despite starting up. Power rear hatch will alarm as open but then cannot be opened with key fob, button in car, or button on hatch. The rear alarm will ring consistently until car has been running for 10 min/reached 60 mph but restarts again at stop lights. It is currently scheduled to be looked at in 4 days, if it is able to be safely driven to the dealership.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #194

Aug 072022

Outback

  • miles
I bought this Outback new back in June of 2018. I just purchased the 3rd battery for it today 8/11/22. I-€™ve noticed that the past 2 batteries have been corroded and barely last 1.5-2 years. It sounds like this is an issue with many other owners as well where the battery either doesn-€™t fully charge or continues to deplete when the car is off and parked. The battery gets so low and is so corroded that it can-€™t get jumped by remote starters and requires a jump from a started car. The shop I took it to to replace the battery said they couldn-€™t get a read from their battery checker because the terminals had so much acid on them.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #193

Jul 222022

Outback

  • miles
Normal vehicle start. While leaving shopping mall parking lot, vehicle suddenly shut down; no electrical, no accelerator, no power steering, no engine. Was able to steer vehicle to safe location out of traffic path. Waited approximately 10 minutes, tried vehicle again, and it started / drove normally. Vehicle inspected afterward by dealer, who found no issues, and returned vehicle with no repairs made. Driver is 86 year old widow, who is terrified of being stranded in an unreliable car.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #192

Jul 152022

Outback

  • miles
The electrical system in our Subaru is draining the battery prematurely, which could cause us to get stranded.

- Moore, OK, USA

problem #191

Jul 082022

Outback

  • miles
The battery loses its charge so that the car will not start if I don-€™t drive the car at least once or twice a week. The battery and electric system of the car was checked July 11, 2022 at the Bay Ridge Subaru dealership in Brooklyn, NY and all systems were found to be normal and good, including the battery. The battery is only 1 year old and is under a 30 month warranty. The Subaru service technician said that the car needs to be run for 45 minutes twice a week or this problem will keep happening and will lead to the battery needing replacement much sooner than normal. He also suggested I buy a portable battery jumper or a stronger bigger battery for $500-$750. So he acknowledged that this model has issues with the battery draining. He said the newer Subaru electrical system in Subaru Outbacks was first tested on this car model and year, and that was the cause of the problem, that they hadn-€™t figured out an efficient electrical system for the newer Subaru Outbacks by the time they started selling the 2018 Subaru Outback. The system is available to look at upon request. The problem was confirmed by the Subaru dealership service technician. The safety hazard is that I or my family might get stuck somewhere that is remote or dangerous due to weather or temperature with a car that won-€™t start. Or if I need to escape a bad situation quickly and my car won-€™t start. There were no warnings before the battery died. This has happened 3 times in the past two months. Today is July 11, 2022.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #190

Jul 032022

Outback

  • miles
The car battery will drain completely when the car is not being driven. This has happened to us numerous times while camping leaving us in a remote area with a dead battery and no cell phone service to call for help

- Santa Cruz , CA, USA

problem #189

Jun 092022

Outback

  • miles
Just had to replace the battery for the third time since we bought the car in Dec 2017. This last battery was installed in Aug 2021 and failed Jun 2022. The dealer we take the car for service has not been able to determine why the batteries are failing so often. Fortunately two failed our house but once it failed at a store's parking lot and we had to wait for three hours to get a tow to the dealer. It's always failed parked, never while driving but I'm not sure it can't happen while driving.

- Emory, TX, USA

problem #188

May 122022

Outback

  • miles
The battery continually drains due to some electrical leak in the system (particularly when the rear liftgate is left up and the interior lights are on for several hours), requiring jump starting of the vehicle on several occasions. I have had the battery serviced and checked several times, at my expense, with results being the battery was okay. Eventually, I had the battery replaced by a Subaru dealer at my expense.

- Woodland Park, CO, USA

problem #187

May 012022

Outback

  • miles
The Battery of the vehicle drains frequently, making the car inoperable. The battery has been replaced three times in four years, much more frequently than i would expect in a relatively new vehicle that was purchased new from a dealership. The battery dies without warning and repeated jump starts don't charge it enough to maintain a change to the nexty operation. Each time the battery stops holding a charge the dealership advises me to simply replace it.

- Kailua, HI, USA

problem #186

Apr 282022

Outback

  • miles
Over the last two-plus years I have found my 2018 Subaru Outback's battery dead or so low that it cannot crank the engine. I have had to replace the battery twice in that time, and have had AAA out at least four times to jump start the car without replacing the battery. Today, after sitting in my garage for about 10 days, the battery was so low that it would not crank over the engine. This is a truly unusual experience in my life. I have left cars at home or at the airport for several weeks while traveling, and had no problem starting the cars upon my return. My Subaru Outback completely drains the battery while parked with the engine off in as little as 7-10 days. It is as if some electrical system or circuit in the car is continuing to use battery power at the same rate as if the engine was running. I am fortunate that I have a 2nd car. If I did not, I would be screwed. Someone needs to look into this, identify the problem, and then require a fix.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #185

Apr 052022

Outback

  • miles
Battery spontaneously drains, disengaging all safety features with no warning.

- Columbia , MO, USA

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