The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the battery had failed on several occasions after starting the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery warning light intermittently flashed during the failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to three separate independent mechanics and had the battery replaced however, the failure persisted after each battery replacement. The contact then took the vehicle to a dealer where the technician discovered that the radio was causing an electrical drain on the battery which could render the battery defective. The battery was replaced for a fourth time and the radio was disconnected however, two weeks after the repair, the battery failed again and the vehicle was returned to the dealer where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

- Powell, OH, USA

For the past four years the car has insufficiently charged the battery. On two occasions the car would not start and had to be jumped. At first I attributed it to something I may have done like leaving an interior light on, but after the second incident I found out that other owners of the same car were having similar problems. I called the dealer and they said it might help to install a higher CCA rated battery.I replaced the original battery in 2018 with a higher rated Interstate CCA battery. That battery was also over time not being charged sufficiently and I took it back to the Firestone dealer who installed another Interstate Brand battery replacing it in 2020 under warranty. I called the dealership again and they said there was no reported issues with Subaru Outbacks insufficiently charging and that I just had to drive the car more frequently. So far the car has failed to start on 5 occasions, stranding either myself or my wife, twice in unsafe situations. I now routinely have to charge the battery in my garage about once a month to keep it operational, even after driving the car frequently. On 5/3/2021 I took the car back to the dealer for some service work. I asked again if there was any fix for the charging issue. They tested the battery and recorded that it "came up as deeply discharged". They said there was "No abnormal draw found ---vehicle charging normally."

- Crosswicks, NJ, USA

The issue I am reporting is an issue with the electrical system that is causing battery to drain to dear overnight. This past Sunday I experienced a completely dead battery without any warning lamps or messages and no prior symptoms to indicate battery was not charging. After replacing the battery the next day, the car started with no problem. However, the next morning that brand new battery was dead. After jump-starting and allowing to run for a period of time to recharge the battery, I turn the car off and restarted several times. Once again, the next morning the battery was completely dead. Upon replacement of the newest battery, I checked the vehicle to ensure that nothing was left on that would cause the battery to drain overnight. There appears to be some type of "parasitic drain" within the electrical system that is causing this rapid battery drain. Luckily, this did not take place while my family and I were traveling which would have potentially placed us in a position which would have put our safety at risk. After researching information regarding this on the internet, it appears to be a known problem with my year and model vehicle.

- Clover, SC, USA

Lately when i put the car in park I can not remove the key. I need to either play around with the shift lever or usually start the car, back up, and forward and try again until I get the key out. Not a good solution. I have been reading about the problem of the defective shift selector and the associated service bulletin # 16-112-18R. I would like to get this fixed rather than using the on-line suggestions of jumpering the switch which seems like a possible safety problem. Because this is happening due to a defective shift selector I think Subaru should be picking up the cost to make this right. The car has only 45,000 miles on it. I have contacted Subaru but ahve not heard back from them yet. The dealer cost to repair this is approximately $600

- Roseville, MN, USA

continual drain causing battery to go dead we are on battery number 4 since buying the vehicle new in August 2016 Have taken it to 2 different dealers and are told there is nothing wrong. Have been stranded multiple times both day and night causing unsafe environment while trying to wait for a jump start

- Daytona Beach, FL, USA

My battery dies often and doesn-??t seem to hold a charge as long as a typica new car I-??ve had to jump it 6 times in the last 8 months- Regarding the side marker lane assist- it has been diagnosed as a loose sensor and had been re adjusted by dealership multiple times but end up failing again a couple weeks later.

- San Ramon, CA, USA

During winter vacation in Upper Michigan my 2015 Subaru Outback did not start, (I'm from Illinois appox 45 miles west of Chicago) nothing electrical in it worked at all. Battery was totally drained. There were no problems prior to this happening. Went to try to start vehicle the next morning and to no avail. We did happen to find someone who was able to jump start our vehicle. Had to buy a new battery.

- Batavia, IL, USA

My 2016 Subaru OUTBACK has experienced 6 separate incidents where my vehicle battery was inexplicably drained, and hence the entire electrical system was shut down. I was unable to start it without an external boost in each occasion. Fortunately these incidents posed no safety threat to me or others as the car was parked at my home, or in a parking lot. Unfortunately, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by my Subaru Dealer, Gillman, in Schertz, TX although extensive diagnostics were performed on 2 occasions by Gillman. My OUTBACK has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps illuminated because of a total electrical failure, and no other symptoms of the problem prior to the 6 failures. The dates for the 5 incidents of total electrical failure are the following: (1) 6/18/2018 at 1240 Kahili Street, Kailua, HI. AAA replaced my original Subaru battery (I do not have original AAA receipt, but other documentation) (2) 10/13/2018 at 1240 Kahili Street, Kailua, HI. AAA replaced my battery. (3) 9/16/2019 at 306 FM 621, San Marcos, TX. AAA replaced my battery. (4) 7/27/2020 at 648 Sydney Circle, New Braunfels, TX. AAA replaced my battery. (5) 9/5/2020 at 648 Sydney Circle, New Braunfels, TX. AAA replaced by battery. (6) 10/7/2020 at 648 Sydney Circle, New Braunfels, TX. Gillman Subaru removed an aftermarket device for corrosion protection installed by SERVCO Subaru, Honolulu.

- New Braunfels, TX, USA

Battery failure numerous times, battery replaced 1/02/19. Battery drain several times during 2017 through 2021.

- Novi, MI, USA

Battery drains for any small electrical left on appears to be electrical defective

- Ketchum, ID, USA

On two occasions, car would not start. Road service was able to start it by jumping. Third occasion of no start a jump start did not work. The battery was about three years old. I was unaware of the five year warrantee so I brought the battery to a auto parts store to have it check. Was told it won't accept a charge but the charging system was good. I purchased a new battery but about a year later the same dead battery issue happened. Checking to make sure that I did not leave a door open or any electrical component on, I jumped started the car. BUT each time I start the car, I hold my breath hoping it will start. I even purchased a portable charging kit just in case I am unable to get road service.

- Camden, SC, USA

My car's battery dies frequently for no apparent reason. No faults have been reported by the dealer or repair shops during service calls. I had to purchase a jump starter in order to be able to start and operate my car.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

I have a 2016 Subaru Outback. I bought it 2019. I had the car 2 weeks 7/2019 and I drove it 25 minutes to train station. Turned it off and tried to start it and it was dead. Took it in and dealer replaced battery. On Saturday 4/3/21 went to start my car in my driveway and it was dead. Took it to dealer and they said I dont drive it enough.

- Wurtsboro, NY, USA

Battery is drained while parked.

- Kalispell, MT, USA

Battery drains much more quickly than normal. I have replaced it 3 times in 5 years.

- Galloway, OH, USA

The battery randomly drains down to the point where it won't start, if it has not been driven in a few days. We replaced the factory battery with a larger aftermarket battery when the car was less than a year old, because it kept going dead. The factory service dealer told us that they had never heard of this, so we ended up replacing the battery on our own. The new battery helped, but it's not a end all if the car hasn't been started for a few days. Sometimes it needs to be jumped in order to start it. This happens constantly and we know that it's an issue with the Outback's.

- West Springfield, MA, USA

Battery went bad after being replaced just 3 months prior. They didn't want to admit it.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

I have had to replace my battery twice already in 4 years

- North Pole, AK, USA

The battery barley starts the car. We have had to replace the battery two times. We have to carry a battery starter pack with use, because it will not start some times.so we have to jump it. We do not trust the car to start. The battery has good clean connections, it just seems to loose it charge when it sitting.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Frequent battery replacement in 2016 Subaru Outback purchased 9/29/2016. Dealer replaced the battery under warranty on 12/11/2017, dealer replaced again on 3/22/2019 with Subaru batteries both times. I replaced it again on 1/01/2021 with a walmart battery. Made this complaint on 5/15/2021. 3 batteries in 4 years and 8 months seems to indicate an electrical problem

- Palm Coast, FL, USA