10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 3,369 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Battery failed. 12 months, 5000 miles Battery Information: 620 AMPS LN2 20HR 62 AH 82110AN00A
- Argyle, TX, USA
On May 27, 2021, my 2020 Outback would not start after driving approx. 20-25 min. and being shut off approx. 15-20 min. I called my dealer, they sent technician & loaner car. He was able to start the car with a battery booster after trying several other things. My husband & I drove directly to the dealer, approx. 30 min., to have battery checked out. They did a Battery and Electrical System Analysis which came back with a "Good Battery". The next 2 days, no problems. On May 30, 2021, the car would not start 2 different times at our home. My husband used the battery booster both times to start. On June 1, 2021 I sched. an appt. for 6/2 with dealer to find problem. I checked in at 12:53, out at 4:15. It took 3 hrs. 22 min. to decide that the battery had failed and replaced.
- Lancaster, WI, USA
Car driven regularly 6 days a week. Battery completely drained overnight and needed replacement.
- Higgnaum, CT, USA
Our car would not start. Lots of clicking and lights on the dash. It was parked in the garage and was driven the day before. Car has around 900 miles on it. I ordered a 1.5 amp charger/maintainer online. AAA came the following day, diagnosed it as a low charge on the battery and jump started it. I let it sit for 1 hour. Battery charger/maintainer arrived and it has been charging all night and all this morning. I researched online and found out this battery has been an issue with Subaru since 2017 and a service bulletin was put out. See link: https://www.torquenews.com/1084/subaru-hit-new-lawsuit-over-outback-wagon-dead-battery-issue?page=2 We researched more on the internet and now need to make sure we take extra precautions as to how far we drive, where we drive to etc.
- Petaluma, CA, USA
Electrical issues started August 15, 2020 when car would not start. Requested jump without positive results and after sitting for 3 hours in a parking lot, it started. Took to dealership and they found nothing wrong. Fast forward to 2021, driving on Interstate at 65mph and again at 70mph when radio turns off by itself, then front driver monitoring system light comes on, the side collision prevention light comes on, the RAB light comes on and another warning light that I was unable to catch. Lasts a few seconds then goes off. The next morning after the car sat for approximately 16 hours, it would not start. Dealership stated it was the battery and replaced battery on May 6, 2021. It sat at dealership 2 days and would not start when went to pick it up. They stated dome light left on, charged battery and gave it back to me. Third time when warning lights came on, took in and they stated they couldn-??t find anything thus couldn-??t fix something they couldn-??t find and gave it back to me (May 19, 2021). Now on May 28, 2021 same issue, dead in driveway. Car has 22,285 miles on it.
- Northlake, TX, USA
Battery dead when parked in garage at home. No lights or other systems were left on. Had to jump start, drove several miles to recharge. Next time tried to start, battery was dead again. This happened 3 or 4 times (eg: 3 or 4 different days), before finally brought to dealership to have battery replaced under warranty. It is at the shop now, so I have no documentation as of yet. Moderate weather in the 50s-80s outside, so weather not a factor. Car has about 8500 miles on it. I hear this is known problem with Subaru outbacks. Glad battery was dead in garage. at home, and I was not stranded somewhere remote, unsafe or in bad weather
- Eden Prairie, MN, USA
Battery problem. There was no risk at this point but having these kinds of battery problems could result in not being able to start your car in unsafe conditions, cold weather, etc. After sitting and listening to SiriusXM Radio and charging my iphone with the engine off for approximately 10 minutes my car would not start. It cranked a bit and then the display lights all started flashing. Other attempts to start resulted in just the lights flickering. I called the service center and was told that leaving the accessories on for more than 5-10 minutes could result in a dead battery. There was no indication of the problem until this happened for the first time. I have a neighbor with an older Forester who also has problems with battery draining even while the car is off.
- Bismarck, ND, USA
Problem with a dead battery on a car less than 1 year old
- Succasunna, NJ, USA
The battery was drained on our new Outback 2020 after only 10,000 miles. Had to have it replaced already. I read today that there is a lawsuit against Subaru in New Jersey where I bought my vehicleand its on my model and year for this exact problem with the battery getting drained. The first time it occurred the vehicle was stationary. When I returned, it would not turn on. Had to give it a jump and when it happened again I called my nearest Subaru dealer and took it in, and had it replaced.
- Sparta, NJ, USA
Car wouldn't start, dead battery requiring 4 jumps by 9-10 months after purchasing new. Resulted in multiple strandings. No known reason for recurrent dead battery.
- Dayton, OH, USA
My 2020 Subaru Outback is equipped with the "auto-start-stop "feature. From the beginning this feature would routinely not function, displaying the icon indicating auto start stop was disengaged. When attempting to utilize this feature I learn two more deliberately hold down firmly on the brake pedal and I could engage this feature at times. Nine times out of 10 the auto start stop feature does not engage when I stop in drive with my foot on the break at a traffic light or at a stop sign. Very often, the feature turns off my engine and immediately restarts with a rumbling of the engine and an abrupt "kick" to the steering wheel. Even when the feature engages and shuts off the engine as expected, the duration of stop mode is a limited to no more than 20 seconds which defeats the original intended purpose of fuel consumption and emissions reduction. Occasionally at a traffic light, such as when waiting to make a left in front of oncoming traffic, the feature does not engage at first stop and after inching forward and ready to make the turn this feature well abruptly stall the engine and strand me momentarily in front of oncoming traffic.
- Newburgh, NY, USA
In the first year of ownership of my 2020 Subaru Outback, I have experienced many glitches in the operation of the electronica safety devices. The latest has been returning to the car and finding the battery fully discharged despite nothing being left in the "on position". yesterday, after fully charging the battery, four hours later the battery was found to be fully drained. I boosted the car and began to drive it when at the first traffic light the auto-start-stop feature shut the car off and I could not re-start in the middle of an intersection.
- Newburgh, NY, USA
Continual battery problems. Had to jump at least 4 times in less than a year after buying the car new. Finally wouldn't take a jump and dropped off the car at the dealer where I bought the 2020 Subaru. They said there were known battery problems but I needed to drive the car at least every 2 days to keep the battery operational. The solution was a new battery and an ECM update.
- Fort Collins, CO, USA
Parked the car at lakeside park and went for a hike. Returned 2 hours later and the car would not start. No lights or doors were left open. Finally called roadside assistance and they were able to jump start the car. There was no reason the battery should have been dead
- Springfield, OR, USA
The 2020 Outback has died 3 times in less than 5 weeks (once at the dealership). After the second time (at the dealership) the battery was replaced. Three days later the new battery is dead.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
Took car to dealership 4/21/21, they removed battery charged it and tested it, stated battery was good. Today, 4/27/21, tried to take car out and it won't start.
- Reno, NV, USA
Had the car 18 months battery went dead; understand that this is some kind of national issue with Subaru batteries draining prematurely
- New Smyrna Beach, FL, USA
My 2020 Subaru Outback is less than one year old and has less than 10,000 miles. The battery has been dead two times in the past month. Both times the car was garaged and nothing was left on to drain the battery
- Brookfield, WI, USA
The battery keeps dying. Subaru tested the battery it's fine. Told me to get a battery tender or to drive for an hour or so every couple of days for the alternator to charge up. In less than a week the car battery had to be jumped 5 times. Started 4/15/2021 thru today 4/21/2021.
- Reno, NV, USA
- Huntington Beach, CA, USA