Battery does not hold a charge. Have to jump battery after short periods of non-use

- Durango, CO, USA

Purchased a 2018 Subaru Outback 5/03/18. At 19,860 miles on 12/21/19 the battery died. I jumped it, got it to the dealership. They did whatever diagnostics on it, recharged it and had me pick it up. When I went to get it, it was dead in the dealership parking lot. They then put in new battery. I went back down to pick it up. On 3/15/21, only 13 months later, my new battery was once again dead. I had been in my driveway parked for a week or possibly less. I picked it up 3/17/21 after Subaru had to again replace the battery. Bottom line I was told by the dealership to carry jump cables because it will keep happening due to the electronics! it seems I can only upload 1 repair invoice so I uploaded the most recent battery replacement invoice. I have 2 others.

- Champlain, NY, USA

02/26/2021: Car wouldn't start after being stationary. Had to get assistance to have battery jumpstarted so I could get home. 03/01/2021- car wouldn't start in driveway. Roadside assistance contacted and they were unable to get battery to charge. Husband purchased a jump box and got the car to start. He drove it to local Subaru Agency and battery was tested and they said it was fine. Dealership replaced battery was replaced as it was under warranty from original battery being replaced in 12/2019. There have been other electrical issues with this vehicle prior to this date (12/2019 and 02/03/2020).

- Clemmons, NC, USA

The battery is draining and has left us stranded once. The dealer ship replaced the battery once with the same Subaru oem battery, but the draining persists.

- Ballston Spa, NY, USA

At 27K miles, my car was getting slow to start. I took my car in to the dealership at almost 30K and they had to charge my battery for 1.5 hours. Two weeks later, my car was beeping and I had to pull into a shop who said the charge of my battery was too low to detect. I had to replace my battery.

- Smyrna, GA, USA

Battery continues to die. Battery will not hold charge. Car has less than 11000 miles on it.

- Chicago, IL, USA

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- Hermantown, MN, USA

Vehicle parked in the garage overnight. Battery keeps dying without known cause. Nothing left on. I've had 2 new batteries installed in the last 4 months and they keep dying without explanation. Sometimes fine for a couple of weeks, then it dies every 2-3 days. Nothing is left on. Class action law suit needed!!!

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

Car was purchased in June 2018. Peridically over the first two years of ownership the battery would die and the car would require a jump to start. Since the onset of the covid pandemic - with the car left unused (in a garage) for more extended periods - the battery dies frequently, each time requiring a jump to start. Now, if the car is not started at least once every 1-2 days the battery will be dead.

- Lake Orion, MI, USA

I started my car when I was 0 degrees outside. It started but after driving 15 minutes I shut it off. Started it 10 minutes later and the battery was nearly dead. I had to drive the car home in limp mode. This is the 2nd battery in my 2018 Subaru and the car is only 2.5 years old and has 54,000 miles. The battery in these cars are know to die quickly and Subaru won't resolve the issue.

- West Allis, WI, USA

After just under 2 years of ownership, I started noticing that the battery was a bit weak when starting. Since it was out of warranty due to mileage, I took it to a private mechanic for it's 60K mile check up. He found the battery was weak and replaced it. Since then, I an still having the low battery issue. If I do not start the vehicle in 2.5 days, the battery is too week to perform.

- Olympia, WA, USA

Purchased the automobile with about 7,200 miles on it with extended warranty. Battery failed at 8,000 miles. We replaced it with a new premium battery from aaa.. new battery worked for 8 months then drained overnight. Aaa recharged it and said alternator worked. When driven or backed up after recharging, automobile beeped constantly for approximately 1/2 mile and stopped while in motion. Beeping stopped when vehicle stopped, but started again when vehicle moved forward or backed up. Left with Subaru dealer overnight. Battery was completely drained this morning when service technician tried to start it. Service tech said they could not diagnose problem. Per my internet research, this seems to be a common problem. Subaru should fix it, but seems to be dragging their heels on this issue. Our Subaru is unsafe and not driveable in its current condition. Please investigate and provide assistance. The vehicle has been stationary when the battery drained. The beeping occurred when the vehicle was in motion on a highway and city street. It restarted when the vehicle resumed motion. The beeping continued while the vehicle was going straight or turning while in motion. It stopped when the vehicle stopped. Steering did not feel normal. It was a little sluggish and less precise than normal.

- San Rafael, CA, USA

We have had repeated issues with the car dying, the battery being totally dead, and being stranded because of it. In May 2018, 3 months after we bought the brand new car, the car's engine would not turn over and had to be towed to the dealer. It was there for awhile, and ultimately we were told it was a bad battery, and they replaced the fuse box. There was no diagnosis for what occurred. Then in July 2019 at 23,000 miles, the car continued to hesitate to start. The dealer tested the battery, it failed, and it was replaced, again. On January 19, 2021, at 45,000 miles, the car would not start and we were stranded in a parking lot. The lights and radio were on but the car's engine would not turn over. Again, the dealer said the battery was the cause and replaced it. When I inquired how likely would it be that we got a bad battery this many times, we were told it happens frequently. Again, we were told there was no way to diagnose why the battery continues to fail. There must be something else going on with the vehicle; this is absolutely unacceptable. At other points in time, the vehicle's entertainment system would not work, would not turn on or off, and carplay would not be recognized. This has occurred intermittently and has never been diagnosed. We are aware from internet research that we are not the only ones experiencing this issue, as it seems owners of 2017-2020 Outbacks and Subaru have had these same issues, and have been told it is a bad battery each time.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

Battery discharged after map light left on overnight and it is supposed to turn off after 20 minutes. Vehicle had just been driven prior to the light being left on and is driven every day.

- Richmond, CA, USA

Battery died 2 times within 3 months of purchase (bought used, Nov 2020) first time with light left on overnight and second time after not driving for less than 1 week

- University City, MO, USA

Electric system fail. Repeatedly the windows wont work, blue tooth goes down. But more concerning when sitting waiting in a parking lot the whole car will shut off. Not a sign of life. Cant turn car on, no radio no lights, no use of key fob - nothing. Car can be jumped and back in action. Had the egi control replaced and other parts. But the very next day - again while waiting in parking lot - which we do a lot of in the pandemic - no windows operated, rear life did not work and then suddenly the whole car shut down again. Had to have dealer come jump car and back to shop

- Baltimore, MD, USA

Premature dying of battery at around only 20,000miles. We suspect flaws of the battery or electric issues. We did find lawsuit on 2016-2020 Subaru Outback on this matter.

- Irvine, CA, USA

The battery keeps dying for no reason. Thr first time it occurred was in October 2020. We jump started the vehicle and drove it. It died again two days later. We replaced the battery with one from an auto parts store. Approximately 5 weeks later in December 2020 it did the same thing. We went to start it up and it wouldn't start. We jumped it and drove it for approximately 30 minutes. Went out the next day and it wouldn't start again. Took it to the dealership and they stated the problem was the battery so I paid for a replacement. Exactly a month later, January 2021, I went out to start the car and the battery is again dead. I will be taking it back in to the dealership this week.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Battery discharges after car sits for a few days or after short trips. The problem has continued even though I replaced the battery. Highly annoying. Have purchased a portable jump starter so I don't get stranded. I have used the jump starter to start the car at home and while away from home.

- Twin Falls, ID, USA

The battery keeps draining when not used and then the car refuses to start and I need to get jump start. This can be dangerous if the car needs to be moved urgently

- Ridgewood, NY, USA