10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,597 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #234

Aug 012021

Outback

  • miles
I drove my Outback for 10 minutes. I stopped to run an errand that took 30 minutes. I then tried to start the car and it wouldn't start. All the lights on the dash turned on. I then tried several more times. It still would not start. Then I waited several minutes and it started. I drove it home. I have since tried to start it several times and it has started. The car has slightly less than 20K miles on it. This has never happened before. It was a very hot day - nearly 100 degrees and I was quite panicky that it would not start. I was worried I would be stranded. There was never any indication before that something like this might happen. I am going to call the dealership tomorrow.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #233

Jul 262021

Outback

  • miles
The ignition key becomes stuck in the ignition upon stopping the vehicle and placing the gear shifter into "park" and turning the vehicle off. Intermittently the key is unable to be removed from the ignition even though the vehicle is in the "park" position and turned off. Usually after starting and stopping the vehicle and moving the gear shift a few times the key can be removed from the ignition. This problem does not occur every time the vehicle is driven, but lately it is happening more frequently.

- Jefferson, MD, USA

problem #232

Apr 082021

Outback

  • miles
Our 2017 Subaru Outback has had multiple incidents of -?? Sudden Dead Battery -?? in the Mornings. We have had the Car Checked out at CarMax where we purchased it and we-??re told the Service Tech couldn-??t determine the Cause and we should take it to a Subaru dealership which we did-??. The Technician could not Identify the Cause either but suggested a New Battery which we chose not to do-?? No Service Representative acted ignorant to the facts that this is becoming a Known issue on a National Scale with Multiple Lawsuits being Filed for the Same problem-?? We now Carry a Battery Jumper and Always have the concerns that the Car will not start.. So far, the Battery continues to go Dead at various times after being parked overnight so I can jump start it from home-?? I read another complaint that mentioned the multiple lights/ warnings and Displays coming on the dashboard- We have experienced that same scenario-?? we see flashing lights and information that do not show during Normal Driving operation.

- Mcdonough , GA, USA

problem #231

Jul 082021

Outback

  • miles
At 15,000 miles my battery died while on vacation (July 2019). We were far from the main road. We were lucky to see a motorist who helped us jump start the car. I replaced it with a new battery. The battery died two weeks ago at 37,000 miles. Something is draining the battery but Subaru will not acknowledge it. This defect can have serious consequences for people who get stranded in remote areas and far away from towns and population.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #230

Jul 182021

Outback

  • miles
Battery keeps draining. The battery has now been dead three times for no apparent reason.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #229

Apr 212021

Outback

  • miles
Battery was dead many times due to a parasitic draw. Dealer installed new batteries at no charge. Dealer with the help of Subaru Technical could not find the cause. Auto is available for inspection. Dealer could not duplicate problem but was able to inspect on each occasion. There were no warnings that the problem would occur. Last case is #68469384405 hat was communicated to Subaru Techline

- Medford, NY, USA

problem #228

Jun 192019

Outback

  • miles
Battery drain due to electrical issues. Two replaced batteries in under 2 years.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #227

Jul 152021

Outback

  • miles
Car battery drains at an accelerated rate.

- Clifton, VA, USA

problem #226

Jan 292021

Outback

  • miles
I purchased the car new on 28 February 2017. The car was started and driven to the front of the dealership for me to pickup after purchase. When I went to start the car, it did not start. The dealer said a light was probably left on and the dealer replaced the battery. On 29 January 2021 my car required a jump to start. I drove to the dealership and they said I needed to replace the battery. From the time of purchase I have noticed battery problems such as slow start or difficult starting. Also I required more than one attempt to start after the radio was used without the engine running for less than 10 minutes. On 26 March 2021 I notice the clock was not keeping correct time, the keyless entry stopped working and other electrical malfunctions. I took the car to the dealership and it took 7 days to troubleshoot the problem. The dealership said the problem was the driver side approach light was shorted. I have also have passenger side front window automatic closing problems. The window closes all the way then immediately opens half way.

- Doylestown, PA, USA

problem #225

Jul 112021

Outback

  • miles
car was left in garage for 8 days, did not start upon return. no lights or devices were left on during that time but battery was completely dead. needed a jump from roadside assistance; incident follows pattern history of battery issues ranging from trouble starting and lack of power to quick drain of power if the car idles too long. Original battery that came with the new vehicle has already been replaced under warranty once. Manufacturer is currently facing a class action lawsuit based on the electrical system's inability to fully power down even when the vehicle is completely turned off, which drains the battery if the car isn't operated frequently. service center told me I just needed to drive it for up to 30-40 miles of constant speed e.g. freeway driving on a regular basis. this is obviously not practical and should not be necessary for normal operation of the vehicle.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #224

Jul 132021

Outback

  • miles
Random dead battery. Battery replaced. Random dead battery. Got a boost start battery for emergency. Random dead battery, etc. Car will not start you do not know when. No warning. Will contact dealer, again but they were dismissive of the issue last year.

- Rochester, MN, USA

problem #223

Apr 202021

Outback

  • miles
Purchased 05/2017. Within 2 weeks battery dead. Towed to dealer. Told okay. July 2017, dead battery. Charged, dead next day. New battery. 10/2018 new battery. 04/2021, new battery. Condenser for a/c was replaced 05/2021

- Whitehall, MD, USA

problem #222

Nov 052020

Outback

  • miles
The battery on this vehicle needs to be charged weekly, the battery tests fine, but something is drawing the charge.I have been charging the battery weekly for almost a year now.

- Villard, MN, USA

problem #221

Jul 122021

Outback

  • miles
On six separate occasions four times with out any battery drain and twice when I had charged my phone after turning off the engine the battery failed to start the car. It had to be jumped with a portable charger. The car has 62000 miles on it and no warning lights or any other indicators. On my last oil change 7/12/2021 it was tested and just crossed the line into the red and needs to be replaced.

- Clearlake Oaks, CA, USA

problem #220

Jul 122021

Outback

  • miles
received clean bill of health for battery after 10/24/19 service at dealership. AAA replaced battery on 10/31/19 when car would not start. Car would not start. Had to jump battery on 3/15/21. Car would not start. Had to jump battery on 6/20/21. Car would not start. Had to jump battery on 6/21/21. AAA replaced battery on 6/22/21 when car would not start. Blind spot monitoring turns itself off about 50% of the time. Repaired multiple times at dealership.

- Hillsborough, CA, USA

problem #219

Apr 102020

Outback

  • miles
My car wouldn't turn on in April of 2020. When I opened the hood there was corrosion around the top of the battery. The battery was dead and had to be replaced. I bought the car new at the end of 2017 from a dealership.

- Kingston, WA, USA

problem #218

Jun 092021

Outback

  • miles
We have had to get a third-party charge to the battery 3 times in the last 2 months. The car had been turned off so there should have been no battery drain.

- Camano Island, WA, USA

problem #217

Jun 292021

Outback

  • miles
Since I bought the 2017 Subaru Outback new from the dealer, I have experienced at least four instances when the car wouldn't start because of a dead battery. Once, (I assume) it was because the doors were open for a long time (a couple hours) while I cleaned the interior. The other three times were after I had driven it for a short trip, shut the car off, and returned to the car and it wouldn't start. There were no lights or auxiliary items left on. The most recent time (6-29-2021), it was parked for 20 minutes between trips and wouldn't start. I made a video of the engine compartment when I tried to jump start it and there is a loud noise coming from the engine. Something is running in the engine when the battery is too dead to start. It's loud.

- Dubois, WY, USA

problem #216

Jul 012021

Outback

  • miles
In May 2020 my car battery was replaced. The battery would not hold a charge after a few days of sitting. The dealer found no issues at the time. Today I had a similar issue. The car was parked in my driveway for 5 days, I was unable to start the car, the battery was dead and needed to be jumped. The vehicle is back at the dealership. I was told that if the battery failed, I would be charged for the replacement, as they do not prorate batteries.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #215

Jun 162021

Outback

  • miles
Purchased my 2017 Outback in 2016. I have had FOUR batteries in less than four years. We were stranded in the middle of the night on the freeway hours from home, for a problem that has been ongoing. Each time the dealer has given us a new battery instantaneously. Ironic, that they claim there are no problems, when this issue is well documented online. No warning, but each time different symptoms. Hatch beeping unexpectedly, car won't start after short trips, etc... First time was only 9 months after first purchase of vehicle, 2nd time was a year and a half later, 3rd time dealer downloaded software patch, and battery still didn't last past 22 months. Thankfully battery is warrantied 36 months. How many complaints does the NHTSA need for further action" Isn't two lawsuits enough"

- Lodi, CA, USA

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