BATTERY DRAIN. A portable jump starter should be recommended as a must have for new Subaru buyers. It's become an extra appendage for us. It's not great fun having to jump start your car every time you need to use it. This is a BRAND NEW CAR! —Only a little over a year old and should not be having this problem! The car needs be jumped more than once on some occasions.

It's embarrassing and annoying. I read that Subaru is well aware of this problem since it's been reported since 2014. Complaints to the dealership offered little help (not their fault). They suggested driving the car more often or idle it while sitting to keep the battery charged. On my third visit to the dealership they offered to fully charge the battery which took a few hours but that didn't last long. Only a few days. Read somewhere that turning on the radio, air conditioner, etc, will keep the battery charging while driving. REALLY?

Driving a brand new car should be an enjoyable stress-free experience. Instead, we dread finding a dead battery every time we want to go out and whether we'll need to jump start it to get back. We don't have a garage so it can't be plugged in on a trickle charger. Since this could be a parasitic drain that the manufacturer could possibly fix with a software update, as long as we spend thousands of dollars buying their cars, they will not fix the problem.

Battery drain. This battery drained once before, last winter, from the radio being on for 20 minutes while the car was not running. It had no more problems until 3 weeks ago, and this car is driven only 10 or 20 miles per week. Last week the battery was dead after driving 20 miles, then sitting outside in cold for 3 days. It was jumped and driven 20 miles. Three days later the battery was dead again, and the car had to be jumped every time for days. The dealer said there was no electrical drain, and a battery cell must be defective; he replaced the battery.

This new battery was dead the next day and the car could not be jumped. A towing service was able to jump the car, and the dealer checked it again and said the battery was discharged, and he recharged it, and again found nothing discharging it. He also said this model has no outstanding battery or electrical/computer recall issues. The car has been sitting on the dealer's lot for 2 days now, and today when I went to retrieve it, the battery is dead again. Since today is the weekend, I won't have the dealer's response until tomorrow.

In summary, 2 batteries are discharging within a day or two or three of sitting: one battery less than 2 years old, and one brand new. I have to believe it is a problem with the electrical system.

Update from May 5, 2023: Resolved, not a battery/electrical issue. It was the rear cargo area light left on (by the overhead dome switch) inadvertently.

Car sat for a week without driving. Came out to a dead battery with temperatures barely below freezing. I recharged battery with a trickle charger. Still under warranty. Dealership denies there was any problem.

Since then, it has re-occurred at least three more times. Most recently, left the rear hatch open for 10 minutes while unloading some items. Battery was dead.

This is clearly the same battery/voltage controller issue as with prior years. I've never encountered a vehicle w/ such significant battery discharge issues.

Have to jump it to start every few days. Dealership was worthless. They said battery was severely discharged even after driving for about 1.5 hours at highway speeds to get there. They said nothing was wrong and I was the problem because I did not drive it enough. That's total crap. I drive it like I did my old vehicle for years without any problem. They never bothered to mention that this was an ongoing problem with these vehicles and there have been multiple lawsuits filed because of it.

I'm 71 years old and live alone in a rural area, I bought this new vehicle so I would have some peace of mind knowing I would be able to get in my vehicle and drive for help in case of an emergency. I went with Subaru because I THOUGHT they had a reputation for being dependable. Boy was I wrong. Subaru should have fixed this problem years ago. They should have done a recall and did whatever updates they needed to fix the problem instead of telling people there was NO PROBLEM. I was hoping this would be the last vehicle I have to purchase. It's definitely my LAST SUBARU!

Bought a 2021 Subaru Outback Limited new from dealership. Only has 2,500 miles on it since leaving dealership. Tried to start the car one day and battery is dead. Had it jumped by AAA. Made it out of my garage not even a whole block down, and the battery died AGAIN... halfway in an intersection!! The cops pulled up to see what the hell was wrong. Called AAA again. They jumped it once more. This time smoke came out of the battery. They ran some diagnostics and saw the battery was not holding any charge and found that it was LEAKING ACID!!

Of course, I had to pay to replace the faulty Subaru battery on the spot so I could get out of the intersection and not get hit by a car. For a battery to die and leak acid on a brand new Subaru with very low miles is beyond disappointing!! Did some google research and found out that there is a class action lawsuit against Subaru for installing faulty batteries in previous models. Apparently, they either did not learn their lesson or don't give a sh*t and are still installing it in newer models too.

Had I known this I would not have bought a Subaru. This was my first Subaru, thinking they had a good reputation. But now I won't be getting another Subaru if they show such disregard for an apparent problem that they have known for years. I can see why their reputation has been slipping over the years. Subaru, get your act together!!

Purchased this 2021 Outback Dec 2020. After about 6 months the battery died about once a month. AAA tested the battery and said it was good. It now dies anytime we sit in the car with the door open for less than 5 minutes. It also dies if the car sits in the garage for more than a day.

Something is draining the battery. I do not see any lights on or doors ajar. I feel I can't go anywhere for fear my car won't start. I have used 6 of my AAA jumps and have jumped my car myself several times. What good is a new car if it's not dependable? I want my old 2011 Subaru back!

Bought a brand new Subaru Outback in March 2021. Just delivered! Within 4 months and only 900 miles I had a dead battery! Ugh... I had it jumped and took it back to dealer. Got a new battery. Next day same problem. Back to the dealer! Another new battery on Oct 23 2021.

Everything was going great until January 6th, 2022. Georgetown Texas Subaru has had my car since. They have called me only twice to say they are still working on the problem. They even ask me about my driving habits and what I thought the problem was.

Personally I think it is the Star link system. It has notified me via text and email several times that the car needs service. What? No dash lights are on! Is it the red or green star link light that always stays on! I called Star link and ask them what details is the car transmitting to you. "Oh we can't see that" is the reply.

Last I heard from Cory Jensen the "service manager" is that star link and the district manager are working on a solution. What solution? A new brain for the car? I see other Outbacks zooming around town. Is it one out of 100 Outback that have bad electrical issues. Reading all of the past complaints, I realize I didn't do my homework before buying an Outback! I fell in love with it on my first test drive and everybody said what a great car it would be. Ha! Thank goodness I have a loaner Outback until the executives and technicians truly figure out what are they doing wrong in the design and function of the electrical systems!!!

Subaru Outback brand new vehicle, and weeks old the battery is dead. Saleman drove out to my home (!) with a jump starter, said if problem persists 'may need to replace battery'! Replace battery just off the lot??? What the?? Few weeks, later dead again. Turns out I've joined the legions of suckers who bought this doggie!

Update from Aug 5, 2021: The no-start has happened three more times since earlier entry. I bought a jump-box to start the machine and awaiting a solar panel to keep battery charged. Dealer Service worse than useless as they won't acknowledge that the vehicle has an unfixable defect.

We bought this 2021 Outback new in Dec. 2020. It has 4,000 miles on it. The other day, 6/11/2021, we got in to go someplace and the car went crazy. Beeps, rat-a-tat sounds, lights flashing, etc. Then nothing. The battery was DEAD. It took several tries to jump start it but we got it going, only to discover "idiot" lights on the dash. Check engine, flashing vehicle symbol, etc. It wiped out some functions too.

We called the dealer to get immediate service. We were told initially that they could get us in to look at it in a week and a half. (Said 6/23 was next appt.). I asked for a loaner, no loners available. After a period of time the service manager Paul Hall, called back and said to drive it down. (We live 40 miles away, some concern for driving distance with unknown problem).

They took it in to reset the program. (Approximately a 2hrs wait) but we were glad to have a "fix" for the moment.

NOW THE PROBLEM: This car will drain the battery if it is not started within 10-14 days!!! Subaru has had this problem since 2014 and has done nothing to my knowledge to remedy the situation. We are now going to resume travel as one example for periods of longer than these parameters. What am I to do at midnight in a parking lot with a dead battery? The service girl (Mindy) advised us to disconnect the battery while we are gone. NOT acceptable. HELP. I would NEVER have purchased this car if I had known about this issue.

I have owned the brand new car for 3 weeks - brand new and have had to get the battery jumped 3 times. I am concerned that this is not going to get better until either a better quality battery is installed or from doing some research Subaru fixes the "CAN" in the electrical system - which means the electrical system turns off when the car is off instead of what is possibly occurring which is it continuously is draining the battery.

Update from Jun 2, 2021: I filed a complaint with the US Dept of Transportation Vehicle Safety Hotline Information Center - they will file a formal complaint if they see a trend and file for recall - SO- PLEASE inform them if you are having any issues: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/vehiclecomplaint/

This is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

or 888-327-4236

Update from Jun 2, 2021: Subaru Manufacturers Hotline number:

800-782-2783