10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,422 miles

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problem #292

Mar 242024

Outback

  • miles
3rd battery in 2019 Outback. Park car and next day battery is dead. And fully dead. Does not even want to take a charge at times-??. 39000 on vehicle. Dealer could not find anything. Coincidently the passenger front window quits working also. There is no warning to this just next day vehicle will not start. All work is done at the Mandan nd Subaru dealership.

- Bismarck, ND, USA

problem #291

Mar 222024

Outback

  • miles
I am writing to bring to your attention a concerning matter regarding a 2019 Subaru Outback. This vehicle has a known factory defect that results in excessive electrical draw from one of the factory-installed systems (DCM), leading to drained car batteries. This issue poses a significant risk, especially in situations where the vehicle may fail in dangerous environments. Subaru has previously issued a recall for the same issue on earlier model years, indicating awareness of the problem. However, they have failed to extend this recall to the 2019 model, despite it being part of the same manufacturing series. This inconsistency in addressing the issue is deeply concerning and potentially puts consumers at risk. Given the potential safety implications and the manufacturer's failure to take adequate action, I urge your office to investigate this matter thoroughly. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt action in resolving this issue and ensuring the safety of consumers.

- Gig Harbor, WA, USA

problem #290

Mar 122024

Outback

  • miles
My battery continually dies leaving me stranded. I have to carry a jumper box to be sure I can start my car and safely get home. From doing research, Subaru is aware of this problem from the tech bulletins they have posted. They should replace the DCM for their customers and update the program as well.

- Depew , NY, USA

problem #289

Jan 052024

Outback

  • miles
Broken axle, ECM or engine control module, Replaced with third battery with only 77,000 miles. This car is a lemon and a total, piece of junk My wife-??s 2020 Subaru Forrester has a console which is a complete hazard on the road. If you put anything on the console it doesn-??t stay and slides off Talk about a complete distraction and safety danger just because of lazy manufacturing and stupid engineers who can-??t think their way out of a wet paperbag

- Harleysville, PA, USA

problem #288

Mar 092024

Outback

  • miles
The head unit is malfunctioning due to bubbles behind the screen, causing various systems to act up. When a phone is plugged in for guidance it will randomly change the settings and guidance goes away. It will automatically call people. Radio stations and music turn on and off, and change by themselves. All of these are distractions while driving, and negate the safety features of the in dash guidance and hands free phone features. This is a continuous problem.

- Westminster, CO, USA

problem #287

Mar 012024

Outback

  • miles
Delamination on radio screen causing head unit to go crazy on its own. Identical issues reported in 2017/2018 models resulting in class suit vs Subaru-?? at this time Subaru dealership advised Subaru is not addressing the known defective head unit issue and quoting $2000 for replacement which is ridiculous for a 4-5 year old car. Assistance needed to have Subaru issue a recall and take ownership for its defective product.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #286

Mar 042024

Outback

  • miles
The battery keeps draining/dying and I need to constantly jump start the car. I-??ve replaced the battery and it keeps happening.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #285

Mar 042024

Outback

  • miles
The DCM component failed and is available for inspection by the dealer. When a manufacture has knowledge of a component that has a record of failure but ignores the need for replacement; it becomes a safety concern. Any problem when neglected is a potential safety issue. The dealer has confirmed the DCM is responsible for causing the engine battery to fail. No warning. No mention in vehicles regular maintenance schedule. The dealer reports SOA advised the service department to stock DCM's.

- Schofield, WI, USA

problem #284

Sep 052023

Outback

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the entertainment system randomly restarted without warning, froze, and then became unresponsive. The system was uncontrollable and was transitioning from one program to another independently. The entertainment system affected Eyesight warnings, back up camera, and the GPS. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

- Tuskahoma, OK, USA

problem #283

Feb 252024

Outback

  • miles
Repeatedly DEAD BATTERY. Experiencing premature parasitic battery drain in Outback, I had to jump the car every morning.

- Hummelstown, PA, USA

problem #282

Jan 252024

Outback

  • miles
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
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
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

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