I replaced the initial battery on 10/22/2018 with a battery recommended for this vehicle. 4/17/20 I replaced the battery again. On November 15, 2020 the car battery was completely drained. I purchased a power pack to keep in the car for emergencies. On December 2, 2020 the car battery was completed drained again. Luckily, I was stationary when these incidents happened. After these two incidents, I am taking it to the dealership tomorrow. I travel for work to some remote places and am no longer confident in this car's performance.

- Hayes, VA, USA

We are reporting this today, but this issue has gone on for 2 years. Purchased an Outback used from the dealer. Battery continually dies, leaving us stranded at home or away from home. Subaru dealer says the battery test good, and tell us we just need to drive the car more often. This car is driven daily, so that is not the problem. Dealer says they don't know what's wrong with it. After searching for similar issues from other owners, it's evident Subaru is covering this up. Unfortunately without Subaru willing to fix the issue and not telling us how to fix it we're stuck with the car in its current state.

- Bloomington, MN, USA

Car was purchased brand new from dealer. It rained within a couple days and discovered the wipers didn't work. Dealer fixed. Multiple times the battery has died. Dealer no help at all and blames it on battery. Replaced the battery in 2017. Still often have battery die and we always turn off the car entirely and lock it. Once it even died after my family spent all day at the beach and we were stranded.

- Houston, TX, USA

2016 Subaru Outback - this started back in March 2020 when we reduced travel due to covid-19. If the car is stationary/parked and not driven or started the battery will go down within 7 to 10 days. At that time the car remote will not open any door or tailgate but the security dash light will still be blinking. The car was parked with the built in Subaru alarm set. The car can be opened with the key but the alarm is not triggered as normally would happen. The interior lights do not light when the door is opened. The head lights are turned off on the column control. No lights are remaining on externally or internally when the car is stationary/parked. The car must be charged or battery replaced (already replaced the battery once) before it can be started. After the car had been charged and the door is opened the built in Subaru alarm system is triggered - the remote will now work and shuts the alarm off.

- Olive Hill, KY, USA

This is the second time we've had to replace our 2016 Outback battery. It begins with a sluggish start and then eventually, the battery won't turn the engine.

- Seattle, WA, USA

I am the original owner having purchased the vehicle on 10/13/2015. I have had 4 batteries since initial ownership: 1.10/13/2015 2.10/21/2017 (Subaru replaced under warranty) 3.4/14/2019 (purchased battery from csaa) 4.10/28/2020 (replaced by csaa) it appears to have a defective electrical system.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

Purchased the vehicle, certified pre-owned, in 2018. After only one year of ownership, the battery died and it was replaced. In 2020, have now had the battery die on three occasions: 1) after vehicle engine is off, radio is on for short period of time (less than 20 mins), having just driven for ~5 hours 2) 1 week later, after daily driving, doors are open for ~15 mins from loading up the car - at this point we took it in to the dealer, but they could not replicate the issue. 3) 1 month later, after radio is on for ~1 hour 30 minutes, managed to start vehicle 3 times during that 1.5 hours, but on the 4th attempt it did not work. Meanwhile 6 other vehicles, of various makes and models, who also had their radios on for the same amount of time, were able to drive away without issue.

- Moorestown, NJ, USA

My 2016 Outback battery is constantly going dead for no reason what so ever. If it sits for one day without being driven, the battery will be dead. I can switch out the battery and it will fix the issue for a few months, then back to the battery being dead if the car sits for one day without being driven. It's not the battery, it's the car! it's happened to me more times than I can count.

- Sunman, IN, USA

Vehicle's battery continues to drain for no apparent reason. This has been an issue since we bought the vehicle. The vehicle was take to Subaru for warranty service and they deemed there was not an issue. We have replaced the battery twice and the same issue persists.

- Coeur D Alene, ID, USA

Purchased this vehicle 3/2019, started having problems with the battery dying in a few months, even having the hatch open during cleaning would drain the battery. We would jump it with another vehicle and the battery would drain in a few days whether we used the vehicle or not. I have been stranded alone in not a safe environment N more than one occasion. Took the battery in to be checked and they said it was fine. Purchased a battery tender and would leave it hooked up and then finally that no longer functioned. Had to purchase a new battery. We will see how long this one will last before the same thing happens. Since we live far out of town we rely on this car to be in tip top running order for any emergencies we may have. Not the case, sorry to say, but I really expected more from Subaru and rightfully so. They have earned an amazing reputation so surprised they know about the problem and won't fix it.

- Prineville, OR, USA

We purchased a 2016 Outback in 2019 with relatively low mileage and within the first few months of owning the battery failed on us multiple times and the car required a jump in order to start. This happened when on grocery trips, outside our house in the morning, and even multiple times in the middle of winter when returning to the airport after a business trip. After seeing a mechanic, purchased a new battery and still encountered the same issue. We saw a second mechanic, and purchased a new alternator recently and continue to have frequent battery failures, sometimes as often as once per week, requiring a jump to start the car. This seems very odd given the newness of the car, battery, and alternator and we believe there is something defective with the car wiring. This month we had an independent mechanic look at the car and he could find no issue with the battery or alternator, his thought was it could be due to faulty vehicle wiring. We then researched and heard there is a class action lawsuit for our model / year against Subaru for this and believe our vehicle is impacted. This happens very often, we now have purchased a portable battery pack so we can jump our car as needed and again the issue happened this morning.

- Auburn Hills, MI, USA

Battery is drained prematurely. Possibly by a drain from the ECM. I had to replace the battery after only 1 year of use.

- Moorestown, NJ, USA

Battery dies when parked in garage, sometimes only after sitting overnight. Careful to be sure no lights are left on or doors ajar. I'm now on my third battery in 4 years. Replaced oem battery with up sized group 34 to increase cca and reserve capacity. Also purchased a lithium ion jump starter to carry around in case of dead battery. The upsized battery began failing again after 2 years. Replaced with upsized agm battery. Can't trust the car to safely Transport my wife and grandchildren anymore.

- East Longmeadow, MA, USA

I am not able to remove the key from the ignition switch when the vehicle is in park. The vehicle is stationary yet when traveling I need to leave the key in the ignition, restart the car stressing my ignition system, or move slightly in reverse and back to park to remove the key. Each time is different, sometimes I can remove the key, sometimes I cannot.

- Cary, NC, USA

My keys kept getting stuck in the ignition because of an electrical malfunction that caused the steering column to be unable to detect when the car was put into park. I had the entire gear shifter replaced. This seems to be a far too common problem on this model of Subaru Outbacks. This is the number 1 car complaint and thousands of folks on forums report the same issue.

- Skokie, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while her vehicle was in the driveway of her residence, the vehicle failed to start without warning. The contact asked a neighbor for assistance with the vehicle. The battery was taken out of the vehicle and taken to an independent mechanic where a new battery was purchased. (battery type interstate 25-550 fitment 6). The battery was replaced by the technician. No dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, informed the contact that no knowledge of the failure was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000. Consumer stated battery died a year later after replacement.

- Mount Pleasant, SC, USA

With 39000+ miles on we are on 3rd battery. Waiting for relative to help..husband disabled and had to cancel dr appt today as it would not start...scared to go anywhere for fear it will not start. Not good.fortunately most times it has been in the garage. Always garaged.

- Little Falls, MN, USA

Subaru service department bertera Subaru of hartford stating ignition switch plate needs replacement $650 job multiple occurrences with other vehicles of same model year

- Brooklyn, CT, USA

I have had 3 batteries replaced in the past four years. Periodically the battery just drains unexpectedly and I am stuck wherever the vehicle happens to be parked. This is not a result of lights being left on, doors open, radio on, etc. Subaru replaces the batteries under warranty, but will not acknowledge that there is an electrical problem and I never know when the car will get stuck because of a drained battery.

- Williamston, MI, USA

We have had 2 major issues with this car: 1- multiple episodes of battery failure requiring a jump start over the last year. This has happened when the car was not used for a week, but also randomly after a drive. Just happened 4 days ago after a 30 minute highway drive- when we came back out to the car after 15 minutes, it wouldn't start. We jump started it, and it was fine for a few days, but now dead again in my driveway. The car often has a shuddering and occasional stall when starting it. Most worrisome, I was recently driving with my daughter and after we exited the highway, and slowed down for a toll, the car lost it's acceleration, despite rpms revving. We pulled to the side of the road, turned the car off and re-started, and it ran regularly home, but this was frightening.

- West Hartford, CT, USA