10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 23,070 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Replaced original battery with Subaru battery 12/2019. Needed two jump starts after virus travel protocols began (3/2020). Car parked for 3 days (1/28-30/2021) battery won't start engine.
- Euclid, OH, USA
I if the car has not been started at least every 2 days the battery is dead and won't start. You also can't leave the doors open while vacuuming the inside or the battery will die on you. There has been a lot of chatter about this many places calling it a parasitic drain. This has been a known issue with Subaru for several years, which never seems to get addressed. This has happened many times since we bought it new.
- Plymouth, MN, USA
Steering wheel locks and all lights light up on dash then vehicle completely shuts off. Tried to jump vehicle and vehicle will start but turns off a few seconds later. Subaru advise it was a defective battery. Subaru then replace battery under warranty on 11/05/2020. The battery was not even 1 year old when it was replaced. Today on 01/29/2021 it happened again while driving. Lucky both times I was not traveling at a high rate of speed like on a hey. I was able to pull off on the side street. Now I'm waiting for a tow truck to tow my vehicle to the Subaru dealership.
- Tacoma, WA, USA
The battery will not hold a charge. I had a new battery installed exactly one year ago and for the last two months the car will not start if it is not driven for more than a day or two. I've had the car jumped multiple times and had the terminals replace last week due to corrosion. And today, foe the third time in two weeks the car will not start. Research on this website and on the internet in general tells me this is a known and ongoing issue with Subaru electrical and they need to figure a fix for it asap.
- San Diego, CA, USA
When I tried to start my car the battery was dead. This happened twice last year and I then replaced the battery. This new battery is only 4 months old and yesterday it was dead again. Each time a few days had passed since the car had last been driven. It seems there must be something wrong with the car that is draining the battery. In addition, possibly related to the dead battery there were a couple of times when we found the back hatch wide open. The battery was not dead after this happened.
- Brewster, NY, USA
I have a 2016 Subaru Outback purchased September 2019 last year replaced the battery, yesterday the car would not strat. Jump it got it to the shop and they showed the battery, & alternator were good. I sreached and seen several complaints the are the same on 2016 to 2020. We need a recall.
- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
2016 Outback has had battery problems since it was new, first battery replaced by Subaru in late 2017. Now needed third replacement in Jan 2021. Subaru will pay 50% which is $120 which is robbery as a new battery is about that much. Subaru says use the car more, plug in a battery minder charger, hi tech cars have power usage even when not being driven, etc. None of my other cars, hundai, Honda have this problem. I believe either the Outback design has parasitic power drainage, the battery is under powered or there is a flaw in electrical system design.
- Annapolis, MD, USA
Our car battery has repeatedly died, without any extended use (I.e., no lights were left on, doors open, etc). We will drive it and then come back out to the car and the battery will be dead. We had the battery checked and were informed it was in excellent condition.
- Columbus, OH, USA
Have had to replace battery 4X in 18 months. Currently have another dead battery three days after replacing. Car cannot sit for more than 4-5 days without losing batter charge. Suggested fix from Subaru: Put it on a trickle charger. Most recent issue: 1/9/2021.
- San Carlos, CA, USA
Purchased Jan 2016. Battery died 3 times while on trips & car sat for 2 weeks. Replaced battery Dec 2018. Battery died multiple times while on trips when car sat for 2+ weeks. Last time, car sat for 3 weeks. Car was started with jump but didn't hold charge. Replaced battery 3rd time Jan 2021.
- Eagle, CO, USA
Purchased vehicle in August of 2015. Have had the battery replaced multiple times as follows:/20/2018 (608805)/01/2019 (630860)/18/2020 (641572) as of 01/05/2021, the vehicle battery is dead again and at moore Subaru in richmond, Virginia for service. Each time the battery has been dead, it has been parked (driveway or work) and when trying to start the vehicle, it would make a clicking noise. This time (1/5/21) the battery was completely dead (doors wouldn't open, no noises when trying to start). When the battery died in may of 2020, moore Subaru had the vehicle for approximately 5 days to see if they could determine the problem. They ultimately found nothing more than a potentially bad battery.
- Glen Allen, VA, USA
Vehicle battery has unexpectedly gone dead three times since March 2020. This is after a new Subaru battery was installed in 2019. I understand this is an ongoing problem with Subaru Outbacks (2016-2020). My dealership told me it requires software updates which don't seem to working. My vehicle has 16000 miles on it.
- Fairfax Station, VA, USA
Premature battery failure has happened on a number of occasions. Whether at home or after a short trip, the car becomes unable to start without assistance. The vehicle won't start as if it has dead battery but then operators normally for a period of time after a jump start from another vehicle or after being placed on a battery charger.
- Dunwoody, GA, USA
The battery has gone dead at least 3 times, even after fresh replacement. The first time was due to rear inside light being switched on (according to the Subaru service technician). The second time was while out running errands. The third time was after being parked for two days. The battery is less than a year old and should not be drained from power like this.
- Magnolia, TX, USA
At about 71,000 miles, there is an intermittent problem with removing the ignition key from the lock. The vehicle is always stationary when this problem is noticed.
- Pittsford, NY, USA
Battery drain issue when the vehicle sits for more than three days will have a weak start. Battery will drain if radio is on with car not running in between 15-30 minutes. My second battery is ready for replacement in 4 years. Two year battery life is unacceptable. Attaching picture of when this happened to two Subaru Outback at the same time. Upon research many Subaru owners have this problem
- De Pere, WI, USA
Car repeatedly stopped working because of dead battery. Car was purchased new in 2016. First instance was when lift gate was left open over night in garage, 2 years after purchase. Second instance was when overhead lamp was left on overnight in garage. Third the same as second in a parking lot. Last instance was today when I drove a few miles, parked car for an hour and the battery was dead after that. Lift gate was opened 10 minutes before attempting to start the car. Aaa restarted the car in all four instances.
- Port Townsend, WA, USA
Battery drains prematurely. The vehicle is 5 years old and is in need of a 3rd battery replacement. The vehicle has been jump started 4 times over the years.
- Union, NJ, USA
Key will not release from ignition switch when parked after driving. Requires multiple shifting from park to drive and back to park before key will release. Frequency of occurrence is now every other day. Vehicle has 48,500 miles on it currently.
- Kingston, RI, USA
- Liberty, MO, USA