10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 3
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 15,262 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The clock spring that controls the steering wheel, horn and other electrical accessories doesn-??t work. This put my life and family-??s lives at risk. This is a known issue for Subarus 2015-2019. There-??s multiple videos online, I have spoken to multiple owners personally that have encountered the same issue. I spoke to the Subaru dealer and they said due to no recall has been issued for the vin number of my vehicle they can-??t replace it and it cost about $1,000 dls. We need the NHTSA to step in and ask Subaru to issue a recall to start replacing the defective units at no cost to the owner.
- West Hollywood, CA, USA
Horn became intermittent with failure related to steering wheel position, then failed altogether. No horn is a safety issue. We replaced the 'SRC SET 83196AJO4', AKA 'clockspring', the wiring assembly that connects the AIRBAG as well as the HORN, and all steering wheel controls.
- Lakewood, CO, USA
Been having issues with my Subaru Outback dying for years now. I-??ve gone through 5 battery-??s the last 6 years. No amount of driving seems to fix the issue, the replacement batteries only work for so long until it gets cold or I don-??t drive my car for a week and suddenly it dies. I believe there is a parasitic drain somewhere, I can-??t figure out what. I have nothing obstructing the hatch locking mechanism, I turn all my lights off and air system off before turn turning the car off. It-??s becoming a serious issue, I have to jump my car almost everyday or every other day and am driving for over 40 minutes a day. Subaru has been unhelpful and I-??m now not trusting of their help.
- Issaquah, WA, USA
Ignition inhibitor switch causing car to stay in neutral, fried the starter and battery 8 months after getting a brand new transmission under subaru warrenty
- Parma, OH, USA
#1. I replaced the battery in June of 2022 after all the dash warning lights came on. My eyesight safety feature was rendered in operative. After the battery was replaced, all the warning lights eventually went out. In July of 2023 the same scenario happened again. I returned to Advance Auto retailer and the store manager checked the battery. She replaced the battery with a new one of greater cold cranking amps. she was most knowledgeable and extraordinarily gracious. I asked her to check the alternator for proper function and was told it was functioning as it should. #2. On June 07, 2023, I took the automobile in for service: oil and filter change and brake pads and rotors on all four wheels. My Subaru had 68,482 miles on this date. The technician (who previously was employed by a local Subaru dealership) noticed that the engine was leaking oil and diagnosed the timing cover gasket was leaking oil. Oil leaking would contribute to the bad smells entering the passenger compartment. The gasket and three seals were replaced at a cost of $1329.94 plus 8% tax. Online research reveals that Subaru"s boxer engine suffers chronic oil consumption and seal problems. Subaru of America relies on the consumer to eat any repairs rather than fix the problem that has been going on for years.
- North Tonawanda, NY, USA
There's a problem in a part called (clock spring/roll connector) that is responsible for the horn on steering wheel. It affects almost all Subaru models, like Outback, Forester, Legacy... I've verified it in a mechanic shop, and after all the tests of fuses, horn, and everything. They say the problem is the clock spring, a part that goes after the air bag and costs around $130 plus service ($150 minimum) to change. Then I research on internet and found out it's a very common problem with a lot of videos on YouTube of people having the same issue and a lot of comments there of more people complaining about it that it should have a recall cause it's a security part. I couldn't use my horn when another driver almost hit me, that's how I figured out that my horn died. Those are just some of the videos with this related problem. There's a lot more on YouTube and a lot of posts on Internet forums as well: https://youtu.be/E73ao9zRCUM https://youtu.be/vDxvafmQ6Qg https://youtu.be/plbtVX2WZWw https://youtu.be/YIwl5AmhfQ0 https://youtu.be/ZR5Qq3zufRc
- Everett, MA, USA
The battery has been in need of replacement at least every year if not twice a year since purchase. This has led to issues with the rear hatch and other fuses being blown.
- Holliston, MA, USA
Oil consumption issues. The oil is burning more then it should. Oil light would come after 2 to 3 more after an oil change. The dealership has been notified and is working on ordering new parts for the engine. Replacing the small block of the engine. Had less the 100k miles when this problem accured. Electrical issues. The battery is being drained after the car is turned off. Car would not start in the morning and need to be jumped. Additionally, battery eventually dies and needs to be replaced. Dealership has been notified.
- Matthew , NC, USA
The horn in my car quit working about a month ago. I have checked the fuses and relay involved in the horn fiction. I have also tested the horns themselves and they are working. All signs point to the clock spring in the steering column being bad.
- Sandy, UT, USA
I am on my 3rd battery since May 2015 when the Outback was purchased in El Cajon, California. There have been multiple instances when I prepare to venture out and am unable to as the result of a dead battery. In every instance there was not an obvious instigating factor such as a light inadvertently left on. This situation is extremely disruptive resulting in my belief that I have an unreliable vehicle that has caused me to miss appointments and meetings. There is also a significant monetary loss in that this is a known and well- publicized issue that will render me unable to recoup market value upon sale of the vehicle. '
- South Lake Tahoe , CA, USA
I have had to replace battery sooner than it should have. Also, it seems to be causing an electrical issue with the computer board where all the dashboard warnings are blanking. I have been disconnecting the battery and reconnecting to reset the computer board.
- Camas, WA, USA
1st time battery died when car was not in use at least for three days, back in Jan 2022. was replaced. on 10/11/22, after the car was not in use for 4 days, 8 month old battery was died, had to replace, again. Recently received a Subaru Battery settlement letter of a design defect that cuase battery drain.
- Chicago, IL, USA
I am reporting this deficiency as it is related to: Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:20-cv-03095-JHR-MJS Deficiency: Battery will discharge to an unusable degree within a relatively short amount of time (10 to 20 min.) when any power is used (radio, cabin lights) while engine is off. This has happened 4 times since my purchase of my new 2015 Subaru Outback. I now carry an emergency battery jump starter power unit so as to not be stranded. As the amount of power used is so small there is no warning from the car's system that the discharge is causing such a power drain as to make starting the car not possible. Although I have been contacted by the above class action suit sponsors I am mostly interested in Subaru fixing the electrical system from this obvious deficiency.
- Schwenksville, PA, USA
On multiple occasions I have had the tailgate open and the light has drained the battery to the point that it needs a jump start or a battery charging to get it to start back up. On one occasion the tailgate was only left open for 30 minutes and the car would not start due to the battery being drained from it. The battery is in perfect condition as it would start fine any other time.
- Elyria, OH, USA
Replaced 2 new batteries in 6 months. Batteries went totally dead. Batteries wer replaced by independent shop. Dealer changed battery to a subaru oem battery, checked system, said everything ok. Read about complaints about subaru batteries going dead months apart. Want to find out if there is a defect in subarus.
- Bronx, N.Y., NY, USA
Inoperative horn. Traced to continuity failure in steering roll connector, part #83111AL13. No indication of fault and no other apparent continuity failure in adjoining wire paths.
- Seattle, WA, USA
Battery repeatedly drains when vehicle not used. Have replaced multiple batteries. Alternator checked and functioning.
- Denver, CO, USA
On multiple occasions the car battery was drained and required a jump to start. Battery replaced less than 5 months ago. Service technicians unable to identify problem with alternator or parasitic drain.
- San Francisco, CA, USA
The electrical system failed to go into sleep mode after parking the car. The battery was totally drained by morning causing us to find someone to use jumper cables to juice it up again.
- Truth Or Consequences, NM, USA
- Bend, OR, USA