10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
23,070 miles

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problem #293

May 042024

Outback

  • miles
The battery is dying very quickly The DCM Data Communication Module is draining the battery causing the vehicle to become stranded This is the fifth battery in this vehicle Subaru is aware of this issue but refuses to find a solution to fix

- Wilmington , MA, USA

problem #292

Mar 012024

Outback

  • miles
Front Passenger Side window will not roll down. The electrical button on the driver's side is not functioning to allow it to roll down. This was a similar problem with the back passenger side window which was taken care within the first year of purchase.

- Frazier Park, CA, USA

problem #291

Jan 252024

Outback

  • miles
Since owning this new Subaru vehicle, I have replaced the battery once. Today I had the car towed to the dealer with them diagnosing the car telling me it needs a certain module that has been draining the battery. Due to this problem, I have had to take an Uber to work. When the vehicle would not start, I had AAA come out and was told that the battery had 13% power on the one call out and 20% on the second call. In speaking with the tow truck driver for AAA he told me that this battery problem has been going on for a while with the 2015 to 2020 Subaru's. Now the dealer wants to charge me nine hundred and fifty-eight dollars to replace the module. If there was a problem with the module, why was I not told sooner about it? It seems to me that the factory battery is not strong enough to hold a charge and they are blaming it on the module. There were no warnings or messages telling me there was a problem with the battery.

- Sicklerville, NJ, USA

problem #290

Oct 242023

Outback

  • miles
Dead battery issues and DCM battery issue

- Cedar Lake, IN, USA

problem #289

Oct 142023

Outback

  • miles
We have had multiple incidents on this MY16 Subaru Outback draining the battery over the past several years. Sometimes the battery is dead after a couple or few days of driving. There seems to be a battery / electrical management (current draw when vehicle if off) issue as noted in multiple incidents and there was even a class action lawsuit. The SW update associated didn't resolve the issue. One can find many others with similar problems with Subaru Outbacks. (note: our MY17 Crosstrek also is experiencing the same issues). We have changed multiple batteries, needed multiple battery charges, required to buy a battery charger, buy a multimeter, and still have continued issues. Subaru corporate and the local dealership have done little/nothing to resolve the continued issue which causes disruptions in personal schedules, and just hope we don't have a dead battery/vehicle in a dangerous situation.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #288

Oct 102023

Outback

  • miles
Ignition key cannot be removed quite frequently. It requires restarting engine, jiggling shift lever to finally release. I see a Subaru TSB 16-112-18R has been released for this issue.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #287

Feb 142023

Outback

  • miles
Key remains stuck in ignition upon putting vehicle in park and shutting vehicle off. Failure comes from faulty switch in the selector lever assembly. Unable to remove key from vehicle for several minutes at a time. Failure acknowledged in TSB 16-112-18R

- Clarence Center, NY, USA

problem #286

Aug 212023

Outback

  • miles
My key keeps getting stuck in the ignition, and forced me to have to leave the key in the car while I went in to a store, when i got back someone was in my car. I realize that this is a different type of safety issue, but it truly is a safety issue. I am having to leave my key in my car everywhere i do because it doesn't come out, , eventually it will come out randomly but not everytime I shut the car off. this should be a recall issue for Subaru's that have this problem. I have read many complaints about Subaru owners with this issue happpening to them. I am not the only one. Thank You!

- Longmont, CO, USA

problem #285

Apr 012022

Outback

  • miles
Passenger window will not go up like it should. Gets to the top of the window and rolls back down. Will not go up unless we do short tiny bursts on the up button slowly to make it stay shut.

- Ashland, OR, USA

problem #284

Aug 122023

Outback

  • miles
Car has has 4 new batteries since I bought it new. Had to have this car jumped at least 12 times and some times at night late in downtown Portland where I have not been in a safe location. Once in the snow after hiking to come back at dusk with only one person around at trailhead. Got lucky the jumpstart worked. Apparently today after having it towed to a shop before we take a 9 hour road trip, the mechanic found that it is the voltage regulator in the alternator. Apparently a known issue with Subaru. Ridiculous that I have spent probably over $1000 or more on this issue, and been stranded multiple times and inconvenienced family and friends on this issue countless times.

- Ashland, OR, USA

problem #283

Nov 172022

Outback

  • miles
Something is draining the battery when the car is not in use. This left me stranded and that is a safety issue. On 12/01/21 I had a new battery installed at the Subaru dealership. The battery wasn't dead at the time but I had the car long enough that I thought it was time for a replacement. Late last year my husband took the car for an emission inspection and when they turned the car off, it wouldn't start and they had to boost it off and the same thing happened a few times when the car was parked in the garage I took it to the dealership and they said they were unable to make the battery fail so they could not replace it at no charge. I had them check more items and they said everything was fine. We bought a new battery 3/17/23 and exactly 3 months later it was dead again. From reports online people seem to think it's the starlink system. At the time they had to have an upgrade, I took the car to the dealership twice to upgrade 3G in starlink and Starlink never worked again. There are no warning lights, the battery just dies.

- Snellville, GA, USA

problem #282

Jun 212023

Outback

  • miles
The software is designed not to allow the alternator to charge the battery fully. Subaru was made aware of this issue and came out with a software update which they are charging $200 for. This is a defect that causes the car to die every time the car is turned off, they should be updating the software for free.

- Saint Augustine , FL, USA

problem #281

Feb 062023

Outback

  • miles
2016 Subaru Outback has a flawed electrical system that drains the battery. We are on our 3rd battery. Prior to a road trip in Nov. 2022 we had our car fully serviced. Day two of the road trip we had a dead battery. Got a jump and had a new battery installed at Reno Subaru dealership. We went on another 7 day trip in Jan. 2023, left our car at the airport only to return to another dead battery that is less than 2 months old. After doing a little research and making several calls to the Reno dealership and our hometown dealership, we now understand there is a serious problem with Subaru's electrical system. Even newer models will experience the same issue if left sitting for several days. This has been a known issue for years and presents serious personal safety issues for Subaru owners. Especially if you find yourself stranded in a dark parking garage late at night! Shame on Subaru!

- Ogden, UT, USA

problem #280

Jan 252023

Outback

  • miles
Per my subaru code for checking a depleting battery after not using vehicle for 3 days and then not being able to start car without a jump they said i would owe $29 to check battery as it was not a subaru battery. The code i received is sb37469152. After checking battery which checked out ok their solution to my problem is to buy a battery tender and plug it in after i go someplace. I am 93 years and don't go out everyday so this is a real problem. Never heard of such a issue. UNBELIEVABLE

- Stevens Point, WI, USA

problem #279

Jan 202023

Outback

  • miles
THE BATTERY is completely unreliable - I have had 3 batteries since I purchased the car in 2015 - REPEATED RECURRENT DISCHARGE WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE - SUCH AS LIGHTS LEFT ON - PARASITIC DRAIN IT SEEMS In recent research have discovered this is not a new issue and there is a class action lawsuit settlement - I did not exclude myself and somewhat now wish that I had, in order to attempt to get some buy back incentive from Subaru. Beginning in 2019 - and maybe prior though I had not recognized it as a chronic issue then - I have encountered recurrent issues of complete battery discharge after time periods ranging from 5 to 24 hours. Estimate at least 1 to 2 discharges per month requiring cable jump, and many more times when the car was very difficult to start (almost fully discharged) To minimize risk as consumer I have bought a HALO Bolt - but Subaru should be held accountable to fixing primary cause of this chronic issue for so many of us.

- Yorktown, VA, USA

problem #278

Jan 122023

Outback

  • miles
There is a great possibility of being stranded with this car. And in winter weather, it could be deadly. The car is draining the battery abnormally quick. I have a less than 1 yr old battery and if my car sits a day or two the battery goes dead. The battery will take a charge and then work, but then is drained in a day or two. I have also read there is something going on with the CAN system in these cars. Please help if you can. Thank you.

- Hinckley, MN, USA

problem #277

Dec 212022

Outback

  • miles
Have had to replace the battery 2 times in the last 4 years. And currently have an app that shows the strength of the battery in addition to its cells. If the car is not driven in two to three days then the battery depletes energy. There has to be something going on from the numerous times that this has occurred in the last few years. It is not only a very huge risk when this can happen in unfamiliar locations, nto only mechanically but also personally. Works after charging but charging is not always an option. Should not have to rely on this either. I believe replacing the battery by the company should not be our option and should be further investigated...Please! Thank you!

- Mankato, MN, USA

problem #276

Dec 052022

Outback

  • miles
Battery drains on its own after about a week of light use (driving <10 miles daily)

- Green River, WY, USA

problem #275

Nov 052022

Outback

  • miles
Summary of Electrical system issues: 1.pertaining to battery draining and 2. eyesight randomly goes out and other dash board lights flash and later goes away. As well as, 3. Windows that can not completely close at times. Details: I purchased 2016 Subaru outback - 4 cylinder in 2019 with 64,000 miles. By 2020, the car experienced random dashboard lights indicator flashing that would resolve itself ( flashing light) in a few days. One issue was the eye sight would randomly inactivate while driving and resolve after turning off car for a half day or a day. However it happens often. Dealer Car repair shop said it could not duplicate. Besides the dash board lights issues; the passenger front window and moonroof would not go up to completely close at random times. Rendering the windows useless to use. These issues continued on and off from purchase thru to-date. The biggest issue came in 2021 & 2022, when the battery would drain. A jump of the battery seem to resolve the problem. Auto store would jump battery and show CCA and CA and Alternator output proficient for the battery. On random times the battery would have the same draining issue. I am not convinced it is a battery issue for these incidents. I believe it is related to an electrical issue for all of these issues. Risk: The components installed and advertised by the Subaru brand influenced me to purchase the vehicle over other vehicles because of its safety records and longevity of the vehicle. This is clearly a false and fraudulent marketing. The Subaru has failed to provide my confidence as a consumer of its safety record. I am extremely uncomfortable driving the vehicle more than 30 miles locally because of fear it will breakdown or I will be stranded. Even locally, I have had to purchase a AAA membership at an extra expense to ensure some means of assistance. Recently, within 2 days I have had ti use my membership for a drained battery. I am now seeing many Subaru owners make similar complaints.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #274

Sep 122018

Outback

  • miles
Vehicle only has 42,000 miles and I'm already on my 2nd replacement battery. Continuous battery drain by the Controller Area Network (CAN) causes premature/sudden battery failure. My battery is already groaning on morning starts and the temps are only in the 40s. Subaru needs to correct the problem, not just help pay for replacement batteries. There's no telling where you'll be when the battery dies.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

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