NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2018 Subaru Outback (Page 2 of 12)

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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,229 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Subaru Outback electrical problems

electrical problem

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2018 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 2 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #211

Feb 122023

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2018 Subaru Outback battery is draining practically every day now. There must be something in the car that drains the battery constantly so in the morning I am unable to start. I needed to jump start the battery on multiple occasions now.

- Ringwood , NJ, USA

problem #210

Dec 062022

Outback

  • miles
Battery drainage Have had to have vehicle jumped twice now. Battery totally dead when I tried to start car and return home after appointments. Afraid this may happen while driving which happened to a friend of mine! Very dangerous situation!!

- North Port , FL, USA

problem #209

Jan 042023

Outback

  • miles
There is a known issue with certain Subarus where it is phantom draining the battery. I replaced battery in 2021 with AutoZone after being stranded. It too doed in June of 2022. I replaced it again. In Dec 2022 it started to die and found out about the class action lawsuit. I went to Subaru and they said since I already replaced the OEM battery, they couldnt help me. This should be a recall. I called Subaru of America who told me they couldnt help me and there is no fix as of today for the draining of the battery. They know about the issue. Why isnt there a recall?

- Apex, NC, USA

problem #208

Dec 292022

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In early September 2022, my friend, who owned a 2019 Subaru Outback, needed a AAA tow because the battery died. He told me that battery failure is a common problem with Subaru 2016 - 2020 Outbacks. I researched that assertion and found it well documented. Because my Outback was 4 years old and my family was planning a trip, I decided to replace the battery at my mechanic's shop (Sept. 14, 2022). On the night of December 29, 2022, upon exiting a restaurant with my wife, my car would not start. A patron of the restaurant came to my aid, and we jump started my car. My car ran for 30 minutes but would not start the next morning (December 30, 2022). I then jump started my car using my wife's car battery, and let the car run for an hour. It would not start immediately after shutting it off. My wife called Subaru, and the representative she spoke with gave her a case number to use at the Subaru dealership. The dealership gave me a January 2, 2023 appointment, and after jumping my car again, I brought it to the dealer. Later that day, by telephone, I was informed: 1- there is no fix for the problem in the 2018 Outback; 2- I was not due any compensation for the 3 month old dead battery because I did not purchase it at Subaru, and 3- that battery was barely holding a charge after a few hours on Subaru's charger. I was advised to go back to my mechanic to see if the battery is under warranty. It is, but that is not the issue. Whatever is causing the battery drain in the Outback will drain the next battery. I was lucky this time-- I was not stranded. But who knows the next time" Who knows how many people are paying for new batteries only to have them ruined by the Subaru electric system malfunction? Who knows what kind of dangerous predicaments this malfunction might cause" Subaru is aware of this widespread problem, yet they are unwilling to publicly recognize it and issue a recall. There is something unscrupulous about this situation.

- Saint James, NY, USA

problem #207

Oct 032022

Outback

  • miles
The infotainment system freezes randomly causing screen to freeze including while backing up. This causes it to appear as though the back up camera is working when in reality it is not. Serious safety concern if cross traffic or children are not seen.

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #206

Dec 122022

Outback

  • miles
Battery keeps draining. I replaced the original battery 6 months ago and it just drained again

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #205

Nov 232022

Outback 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Premature battery drainage. This problem is well documented in existing class action lawsuits. My original battery was replaced under warranty on 9/10/19, Invoice #19682 from Van Bortel Subaru of Rochester NY. 17264 miles on odometer. MY wife and I were recently stranded with this replacement battery failing with less than 10k miles on it. There was no pre-warning of the problem. According to the internet, battery drainage is a problem with 2017-2019 Outbacks and Ascents.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #204

Oct 052022

Outback

  • miles
After purchasing my 2018 Subaru Outback, I experienced 2 instances where my battery died in the first 2 yrs of ownership. After the second instance, where it had died while I was eating at a restaurant, I contacted the dealership right away. They replaced the battery with a new manufacturer battery saying the previous battery failed the testing. I paid $176 for a new one. This was in March 2021. While preparing to return from my summer home in the mtns to my permanent home on the coast, I spent at least an hour packing my car and trying to keep the door and hatch openings at a minimum. Well, my car battery was dead while trying to start my car for my trip home. I had previously purchased a portable battery pack at the cost of $100 with me, and was able to get it started. One should not have to go such lengths when traveling as doors and the hatch are almost always being used. My car is going in for service at the dealership for this particular issue, but they are only going to replace the battery of which I have been informed. My car has 35,000+ miles and is only 4 yrs old. I traded in my previous car because it had over 100,000 miles on it. But I never had these kinds of issues with it. Now I am hesitant to travel anywhere unless I have that battery pack as it is deemed not reliable! This is ridiculous!!

- Southport, NC, USA

problem #203

Sep 232022

Outback

  • miles
Battery draining issue. Jump starts required

- Louisville , KY, USA

problem #202

Apr 112022

Outback

  • miles
I bought a 2018 Subaru outback in January of 2022 from a Subaru dealership. Approximately 3 months after purchase the car battery died suddenly with no prior warning, so I jumped it, it started fine and I drove it to work. When I took my lunch break 3 hours later, my car was dead again. I jumped it, it stated fine and I drove home. same thing happened when I tried to go back into work, and when I tried to leave work for the day. During my lunch break on the way into work the dash light and display screen shut off completely while I was driving this happened a second time when i left work on the way to an auto shop. At the auto shop they ran diagnostic on the battery and declared it dead, unable to hold a charge any longer. I then payed 250$ bought a brand new battery and got that installed. Here I am 6 months later and I am having the same issues with the battery. This is a safety issue what am I to do if the battery dies while I'm driving and leaves me stranded in the winter.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #201

Sep 292022

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Entertainment Unit Defects Car Battery Fast Drainage

- Garnet Valley, PA, USA

problem #200

May 242022

Outback

  • miles
The battery has drained twice in the time that I have owned this vehicle. Once I was able to recharge the battery by jumpstarting and letting it run. The second time it required a battery replacement. This was approximately 12 months after the first incident. The electrical system also has unpredictable quirks related to the window functions and lighting. I am uncertain to other resulting irregularities that may be occurring under the hood. Currently, my car is being serviced for a radiator fan and motor replacement for the cooling system. The estimate for repair is $1747 + tax. This is potentially related to the electrical quirks related to the battery irregularities.

- Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, USA

problem #199

Jun 192022

Outback

  • miles
Battery failed and had to be replaced Wheel Bearing replacement

- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #198

Sep 102018

Outback

  • miles
The battery in my 2018 Subaru Outback has been replaced three times since I purchased it. I am the sole owner. The original battery was replaced within seven months of purchase due to continual battery drainage. The dealership replaced it with the same type of battery and I was not charged. When I went into the dealership expressing concern with the second battery also having to be jump started frequently when the battery was barely two years old, I was told that is the typical life of a battery for the newer electronic vehicles and because the area I live in has excessive heat, that also lowers the battery life. I have had to jump start my vehicle so many times, I stopped taking my vehicle on long trips for fear of being stuck somewhere. In August of 2021, during a cross- states road trip, the battery died mid-trip. I jumped it and had it replaced at my own cost, but not at a dealership. They gave me a 5-year warrenty on the battery. When I took the car into the dealership and had them run diagnostics, they told me that, "Yes, there was some kind of power draw, but then it couldn't be duplicated, so we don't know what the problem is. That will be $117." I think Subaru makes great products and my dealership has wonderful employees, but there is currently a Class Action Suit going on, and I wanted to support those who are filing. Subaru needs to acknowledge and fix the issue. And reimburse me the $117 plus the $169.56 for my third battery.

- Redding, CA, USA

problem #197

Aug 272022

Outback

  • miles
Battery is dying pre-emptively. Have gone through 2 batteries in one month.

- Dunnellon, FL, USA

problem #196

Aug 012022

Outback

  • miles
Subaru Starlink system flickers, selects apps and does all of this without ANY touching. At times, the backup camera is not working. Having a phone connected does not improve the problem.

- Perrysburg, OH, USA

problem #195

Aug 182022

Outback

  • miles
Persistent battery drain. Car was jumped a week ago because it wouldn't start at all. It has been sluggish to start (turns over a couple times before catching) since and had a major error with the rear hatch today despite starting up. Power rear hatch will alarm as open but then cannot be opened with key fob, button in car, or button on hatch. The rear alarm will ring consistently until car has been running for 10 min/reached 60 mph but restarts again at stop lights. It is currently scheduled to be looked at in 4 days, if it is able to be safely driven to the dealership.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #194

Aug 072022

Outback

  • miles
I bought this Outback new back in June of 2018. I just purchased the 3rd battery for it today 8/11/22. I-??ve noticed that the past 2 batteries have been corroded and barely last 1.5-2 years. It sounds like this is an issue with many other owners as well where the battery either doesn-??t fully charge or continues to deplete when the car is off and parked. The battery gets so low and is so corroded that it can-??t get jumped by remote starters and requires a jump from a started car. The shop I took it to to replace the battery said they couldn-??t get a read from their battery checker because the terminals had so much acid on them.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #193

Jul 222022

Outback

  • miles
Normal vehicle start. While leaving shopping mall parking lot, vehicle suddenly shut down; no electrical, no accelerator, no power steering, no engine. Was able to steer vehicle to safe location out of traffic path. Waited approximately 10 minutes, tried vehicle again, and it started / drove normally. Vehicle inspected afterward by dealer, who found no issues, and returned vehicle with no repairs made. Driver is 86 year old widow, who is terrified of being stranded in an unreliable car.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #192

Jul 152022

Outback

  • miles
The electrical system in our Subaru is draining the battery prematurely, which could cause us to get stranded.

- Moore, OK, USA

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