Battery drained while camping 3 nights in a remote location, even though no lights (including interior dome lights) or other accessories (e.g., radio) were used. We did have the power tailgate open at times, which we now understand is badly designed to drain the battery. Dealer (and Subaru corp) did not provide adequate explanation for why a battery would drain (especially when only 3 months old). Same thing happened while camping a year later, after which we insisted (requiring considerable argument) on a larger battery. But same thing (drained battery, despite no use of aux elect) just happened on another 3-day camping trip this past week. (In all 3 cases, car was parked for 2-3 days with no lights or radio used, but with power tailgate opened at times for access to camping equipment.)

Battery drained while camping 3 nights in a remote location, even though no lights (including interior dome lights) or other accessories (e.g., radio) were used. We did have the power tailgate open at times, which we now understand is badly designed to drain the battery.

This is the third (!) time this has happened, and we just learned that the tailgate being open (even when dome light is not on) is likely the problem, because the dealer (and Subaru corp) have not provided adequate explanation for why a battery would drain under the conditions we have experienced. Apparently a class action suit is underway.

Bought a 2017 Subaru Outback new in October 2016. I'm currently on the third battery, and had to get the main electrical fuse replaced because something is draining the batteries to uselessness, but the dealer only looks for the simplest of answers. I only have 24,000 miles on the car that I've owned NEW since retirement.

After owning Subarus for the past 25 years I'm done! I had better luck with my 2003 Subaru Outback with the blown head gasket. I've had cars sit idle for months that have started upon demand. Subaru is making garbage, foisting them upon consumers, and then refuses to listen because of arrogance. Hope they go the way of Daewoo! Expensive trash!!

Car was off and tailgate was opened for about 10 minutes and the battery went dead. This is probably the seventh time in one year that the battery has gone dead. We have had the battery replaced. It didn't matter. The same problem recurs and the dealer claims "maybe you had the key close to the car". Yeah, and maybe aliens drained the battery. Or, how about the obvious?

There is a parasitic drain on the Subaru battery due to an electrical system design flaw that will allow the battery to quickly run down when the vehicle is off but electrical systems are in use. We've been stranded multiple times due to this "feature" and the dealer refuses to acknowledge the design issue to avoid massive recalls. Instead they are just slowly destroying their brand reputation due to poor design, but perhaps worse, not having the integrity to own up to the flaws.

Several days after I bought my Outback from a dealer, the battery died for no apparent reason. Then it died if I inadvertently left on an interior light. Then it died if I left the tailgate open too long. I was ready to return the vehicle. I started to carry around a battery jumper which saved me several times, and then had the idea to replace all interior light bulbs with very low wattage LEDs, plus the next time I went in for service the dealer replaced the battery with a more high-power one with many more cranking amps (under warranty). It's been almost 3 years now and thankfully I haven't had a dead battery since.

Update from Jun 20, 2022: Update: It's been 5 years and the more powerful battery that the dealer installed (under warranty) has not failed me. No more dead battery issues. Suggestion: Replace all your interior light bulbs with LED lights. Much less battery drain.

Beginning in December 2020, when the car was 4 yrs old, the battery started getting drained. After 2 incidents, we assumed the battery had gone bad and we replaced it. We continued to have issues with the car slow starting, or the battery being dead after a few days of sitting in our garage. We initially assumed there was a light on or the hatch had been left open.

In late Feb and again on March 8 we noticed that when we went into the garage at night the car would have some sort of fan or pump running. I started the car and then shut it down and the noise stopped. Then on March 29, the battery was completely dead again. I took it to Subaru and they told me that it was a command module that needed to be replaced because it was draining the battery. However, the command modules were backordered and we could not get the repair completed. They also wanted to charge me $100 for diagnostics.

Once again a dead battery... I had recall performed to update computer system and car went crazy... the window wouldn't work properly, lift gate wouldn't open, driver seat lost memory feature, I assume these things lead to battery issues but I'm not convinced. Jump started car, 3 days later battery was dead again. Called dealership to come and get it, they had it from Mon thru the following Tues afternoon.

Returned it saying they checked the battery and could not find any issues during the week they has the vehicle,, So I hope someone performed an exorcism while it was gone.

We will have the battery go dead usually after a short drive on a cool morning. Over the next few days it will repeatedly go dead. I carry a portable electrical jumper that usually works though after a few days the battery will no longer take a charge. With a new battery the problem usually stops for a few months.

I have owned this vehicle for 2 years and have replaced the battery 3 times.

We have had 2 visits with the dealer. They are very careful to never substantiate a problem with the vehicle and then do a computer reset. My 25 year history of Subaru ownership will definitely come to an end.