Complaintpurchased vehicle on 8/15/2017. Started having electrical issues that have persisted consistently. Incidents include radio freezing, radio updates and problems still persist, full radio / screen replaced, lights on the cpnsole pulsing during a highway night drive, notice from starlink that my system was not working and I recently just had my battery replaced for the fourth time in 43 months of owning this auto. Most recently I couldnt start my car and was stuck at the South rim of the grand canyon. Had to get the auto to flagstaff Subaru to get the battery replaced. No one mentioned that this issue was recurring and widespread problem. When I got my car back to las vegas, I took the car in to the las vegas Subaru dealer on April 8, 2021. The car was picked up by me on Tuesday ap 13, 2021. I was told that they did an update and that the problem would be fixed. There is no way to tell if that is even remotely correct as there is a new battery (again the 4th battery) in this vehicle and who knows when and where I will get stuck next. The time periods between incidents are as little as a few months and beyond. I literally just read an article today about there being a class action lawsuit for this very same issue for 2016-2020 Subaru Outbacks. No one in the service department or at Subaru national 800 number mentioned this to me. After this 4th battery incident, I did make a complaint to Subaru's national office

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

The battery failed less than 3 years old. Completely died on November 6,2019. The vehicle was parked and would not start.

- Spotsylvania, VA, USA

On multiple occasions, I've arrived at my car after a reasonably short time away - each time overnight, parked in my garage - to find my battery fully drained. I wondered if I had left my lights on, and if that might have caused the problem. I found that the controls for my headlamps were in the off position. Next, I wondered if I had left a door ajar, or an interior light control switch in the on position. I never found a door ajar. I never found an interior light switch on. I take my car into faraway corners of the wilderness on occasion. I cannot risk battery drain when I return to my car after a day or two of adventure. To be safe after these incidents, I removed the lightbulb from the "way back" of my Subaru Outback. I did this to avoid accidentally draining the battery if I left that light on (easy to go unnoticed). Further, I keep each of the other interior light swich controls in the off position. I changed this from the "on when a door is open" position that I used to keep the switches in, again to ensure that I don't accidentally drain the battery. During my next maintenance visit with my Subaru dealer's maintenance team (an oil change, I believe), I discussed the battery failure with the technician. I asked the person if there was some way set a software control so that no light would remain illuminated with the engine turned off for more than some set period of time (for instance, 10 minutes, or a half hour). The technician said there was no way to set that for the car. I regularly check to ensure that I'm not leaving my front seat, or mid-seat lights on since my battery had drained on those occasions. I've always wondered, however, if the problem was some electrical issue with my car, rather than my own potential mistake. More and more, I think it may have been an electrical battery drain issue.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

My 2017 Subaru Outback has electrical problems causing the battery to drain. Within two months of purchasing my new vehicle in 2017 the battery died while the vehicle was parked for two days. Nothing was left on to drain the battery, something within the pre-designed electrical system failed draining my battery. This continued to happen periodically over the next two years until I decided to purchase an optima red top battery at my own expense since Subaru did not provide an answer to this problem. This should not have happened, when buying a new vehicle I do not expect the battery to die right away.

- Novato, CA, USA

Purchased new vehicle from teton motors in jackson, wy. Battery was replaced once under warranty and dealer thought it was a bad battery as it failed so quickly. Started having issues with car starting due to drained battery about 6 months later and we thought that we had left lights on in the car. We turned off all interior lights to try to ensure this did not happen again. During routine service we were informed that battery was bad as it would not hold charge and needed to be replaced. Also, dealership suggested us install a trickle charger as my wife does not drive the car very far for work. So we paid to replace battery and install trickle charger in early 2021.

- Jackson, WY, USA

Will not start with keyless ignition. First time 2018 when battery appeared dead and coukd not be jump started in our garage and coukd not unlock doors or emergency brake and could not be jumped, car towed and new battery installed. One week later same thing again dead battery in our garage and car tested by Subaru for more than a week and no cause determined. Third time April 1, 2021 battery dead after three short stops and driving less than 10 miles and radio could not be shut off at first. Tow truck driver said battery at almost full charge and duggrsted use key fob and press start and it worked.

- Camp Hill, PA, USA

This vehicle is driven circa 125miles/month. The battery is usually drained before use, and must be charged. It is typically ok until the next use, when recharge must recur. This means that the computer is always resetting itself. The reset causes the vehicle to fail state inspection. This has been a recurrent problem since the vehicle was purchased new in February 2017.

- Durham, NH, USA

When my car sits in garage for a week, the battery dies. I have taken it to Subaru dealer and they say there is no problem. But I continue to have problems with this car. I have documentation on the 6 times I have had to use road servic finally I bought a trickle charger to remedy this problem.E for a battery jump start and the receipts going to dealer.

- Marstons Mills, MA, USA

Battery died multiple times. Left overnight, dead the next morning.car could be jumped from another car but not from a lithium ion battery pack. After many aaa calls I took it to the dealer. They couldn't find anything wrong. After several trips to the dealership I just said I'll buy another battery.. I've had 3 batteries in 4 years.

- Cassadaga, NY, USA

I have faced battery issue with Subaru Outback numerous of times. The vehicle was purchased on 17feb, 2017 as brand new Subaru Outback 2017. I faced battery issue first in April 02, 2018. The vehicle didn't start all the time, I also got stuck car won't start, away from my home. I showed to the dealer and battery test failed, they replaced with same oem battery. The battery was still in warranty January, 2020 same issue re-appeared. The dealer tested battery and replaced with same oem battery again. I still believe there is issue with their battery and no surprise if I get stuck again with same problem.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

I have a 2017 Subaru Outback. I have replaced the battery 4 times and less than 5 years.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

The car has 30K miles and the battery drained out suddenly. The only solution was to purchase another battery from the dealership. I was told that battery had low charge. I think this issue is the same as other has been experiencing.

- Lawrence, KS, USA

My Subaru Outback is less than 3Y 9M after being purchased a brand new and it already got 5 (five !!!) new batteries replaced without being identified with any issues by Subaru technicians. The first time the battery died was when the car was only 7 month old on the original warranty. A new oem battery (#2) has been installed at the Subaru dealership. 14 months later this Subaru battery #2 is dead, replaced by a new aaa battery #3 that within two months was dead, extremely corroded. Once again I was forced to address the same issue, bringing the car to a dealership where a new oem Subaru battery #4 was installed and covered by a thick layer of petroleum jelly. The battery #4 has lasted only for 17 months. Thus a new Subaru oem battery #5 had to be installed. Every time I'm told the car has been checked, no issues have been found, though I had also reported that I kept adjusting the clock in my car every couple of weeks, it has been falling behind. It's hard to accept that Subaru technicians have not been able to diagnose the cause of the parasitic drain problem in my car. What is exactly going on with my Subaru Outback 2017 electrical system?too much frustration when I missed my working hours, medical appointments due to dealing with the car thatis not starting, as well as witnessing my car losing its value. All the documents are kept in a file, my notes are recorded.

- Boston, MA, USA

The electrical system keeps draining the battery. I have to keep a battery jumper in my car because the battery is constantly dead. I'm in my 2nd battery and having to jump star5 it at least twice a month and the car only has 30,000 miles.

- Solana Beach, CA, USA

Dead battery requiring tow service to charge battery 4/2018 and 5/2018. Replaced battery under warranty after testing at Subaru 5/2018. Dead battery requiring towing company charge times in 5/2020 and replaced battery on 5/14/2020. Dead battery now again in 4/2021 requiring towing company battery charge.

- Reno, NV, USA

I am experiencing repeated battery drain leaving the vehicle unable to start. The dealer says I am leaving something electrical "on" when I park it. It has gotten so bad that I carry a starter jump pack battery to get it going when the battery goes dead. The original equipment battery rating is 200 cold crank amps below the standard of 550 cca seen in most cars. This problem has been going on since I first purchased the vehicle new.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

Have the car 5 years, have had to replace the battery now twice. Once at 2 years and once a year and a half later. I own a 2014 VW beetle and still have not had to replace the battery.

- Lindenhurst, NY, USA

This car has had repeated electrical issues. The car is on it's third battery in 4 years. Suubaru paid for the last "aftermarket" battery based on my request and numerous complaints from others. The safety issue came up from the last problem: The key was stuck in the ignition. This too is a common problem. The dealer replaced the sensor in the gear shift mechanism to fix this problem. The safety issue is owners are posting workarounds on line to get around this problem. The workarounds get around the issue. However, by disconnecting wires the key can be removed in any position, including while the car is in gear and moving. That is clearly a potential problem. This repair was made approximately three weeks ago. Two days ago the battery was completely depleted and the tailgate would not function. I brought this to Subaru's attention. This time they said I was out of warranty and they would not assist (I was out of warranty on the ignition switch and battery issues). I believe there is a fundamental problem in this generation of Subaru's that needs to be investigated. A simple search of the Subaru Outback forum for key release problems will verify my assertion. Subaru needs to come clean on the electrical engineering deficiencies impacting safety and reliability.

- Richboro, PA, USA

Battery keeps draining even after being replaced key sensor also always goes off that key is not in car when driving

- Jericho, VT, USA

I recently started having issues with removing my key from the ignition. I could remove it most of the time after multiple attempts and messing with the shifter and steering wheel etc. But there was at least one time that I had an appointment and could not after 10 minutes, remove the key. I had to leave the key in the ignition with the car in the partially "on" setting. I took this into Subaru dealership to get it fixed on 25mar2021. I discovered that this is a known issue, but that Subaru decided it wasn't a safety issue. I had to pay about $500 to repair this issue. I beg to differ that this is a safety issue. Leaving the keys in the ignition because I could not remove them is a safety issue because 1) an un-licensed driver or youngster could have gotten in the car and started driving it; or 2) a criminal could have gotten in the car and waited for me to return with malicious intentions and 3) or the car could have simply been stolen. I also contacted my insurance rep and found out that if a car is stolen with the key in the ignition, that this would be a non covered claim. Even if it was physically impossible for me to remove the keys.

- Lawrence, KS, USA