NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2018 Subaru Outback (Page 8 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 8 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #91

Dec 192020

Outback

  • 17,715 miles

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

This is the second time in two weeks that our vehicle has failed to start. A week ago it left us stranded at a walmart, and today in our driveway...there isn't any electrical device in the car that will energize. The car won't even respond to the vehicle key fob. We can't find any recalls on our vehicle...but we notice you have several complaints (401) with many being electrical issues ' failures. This vehicle was stationary during both of the described issues. I think this time total battery failure has occurred. Please note there weren't any indicators warnings that the battery was going to fail. This vehicle is less than three years old, with just under 18,000 miles never driven anywhere in snow areas while deicers were in use. Will be contacting Subaru this am for assistance

- Zephyrhills, FL, USA

problem #90

Oct 032020

Outback

  • 40,000 miles
Battery consistently drains and car will not start. Battery is new, replaced in 2020. Car has been parked for less than 12 hours when it will not start. Car has been jumped, taken to dealer who state "nothing is wrong with it", then within 1-4 days usually happens again. Has happened multiple times since 10/03/2020.

- Burlington, NC, USA

problem #89

Nov 062020

Outback

  • 90,000 miles
Battery does not charge and requires replacement every 200-300 miles.

- East Helena, MT, USA

problem #88

Nov 132020

Outback

  • 8,000 miles

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

Phantom liftgate opening. The liftgate opens by itself with the vehicle locked, draining the battery, and does not sound an alarm. This has happened several times, at random times of the day, with the vehicle parked in our driveway. Subaru has replaced the battery but it has continued to happen. So far, we haven't had any opportunistic thefts from but we are concerned about that since locking the vehicle seems unreliable.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #87

Nov 062019

Outback

  • miles
The battery has died randomly over the last 2 years. We finally replaced it after being fed up with being stranded in different locations. Most recently, it died twice within a week. Both times I drove to work, parked and 2 hours later, the car had to be jumped to start. I took the car to Subaru and they wanted to charge me $250 to insert the same battery.

- Foboro, MA, USA

problem #86

Mar 052019

Outback

  • 8,000 miles
Battery dies prematurely, if vehicle is not driven for a few days, or if parked and rear hatch is opened and closed a few times. Dead battery left me stranded five times since 3/5/2019. Battery tested well at dealership three times, so was not replaced under warranty until it failed a draw test.

- Franconia, NH, USA

problem #85

Oct 242020

Outback

  • 10,500 miles

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

2018 Subaru Outback, only 10,500 miles, battery keeps draining, and finally would not crank the engine. This happened 10-24-2020 (sat.) dealer white bear Subaru would not answer his phone in service department. Called Subaru roadside assistance, they would not tow to a Subaru dealer, only a nearby independent repair facility. I rejected that, and since it was the weekend, I had to purchase a Napa aftermarket battery, even though Subaru warranty was still in effect. Cost me over $160,00.

- Cottage Grove, MN, USA

problem #84

Oct 212020

Outback

  • 40,000 miles
Car lights came on after sitting not running. Went to start the car, but not enough power to start it. Battery light was on. The next day, the battery was completely dead. I had to jump start it so I could go buy a new battery.

- Madison, NH, USA

problem #83

Sep 122020

Outback

  • miles
Battery died many times. Car is just under 3 years old, with 18,000 miles still under warranty. Dealer said the car must be left that they needed to test. The cca rating is 300 something. A friend in Colorado has a 2019 forester with a cca of 620! very similar engine, both models are touring. Could it be that vehicles in less colder areas are fitted with inadequate battery cca so Subaru can save a few dollars" also the rab light came on while driving at highway speeds. How is that ok" the infotainment screen has frozen multiple times. When it did the volume of the radio could not be lowered..I was parked when it happened, (radio was loud) then started driving and couldn't lower it.. please note: These electrical issues occurred at different times... I have no idea if they're related

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #82

Apr 212020

Outback

  • 18,268 miles
The battery in my 2018 Subaru Outback has died 3 times in the past 6 months. The first time I was parked close to a local mechanic and after jumping and testing the battery he deemed it dead and replaced it. 2 months later, while parked and idling as I waited for my husband at an appointment, the car shut down and went dead. It would not restart, but after I waited a few minutes it restarted. A month ago as I was driving about an hour from home, all the dashboard lights went on and the safety (eyesight) system disabled. I took the car into the dealer the next day and also told them about the dead battery and asked them to check the electrical system for a drain. This morning (exactly one month since dealer service) the battery was dead again. After jumping it and starting the car I discovered that the rear liftgate will not work. I have tried from inside the car, outside using the button on the liftgate and remotely with the key fob, nothing. After a a quick internet search I see that this battery drain is a common complaint with this model/year and that Subaru just replaces the battery rather than address the underlying problem. This is not acceptable, I should not have to worry about whether my car will start every time I get in it.

- Northport, NY, USA

problem #81

Sep 252020

Outback

  • miles

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

One day in April, the battery was spontaneously completely dead. At the time it seemed that leaf debris shorted the circuit of the battery causing connections to corrode and the battery to be destroyed. The dealership replaced the battery because it was within warranty. The new battery now is having issues within 6 months of installment. Within a 4 day period the battery has been drained 2X inexplicably (9/23/20 and 9/26/20). The first time it could be jumped to allow vehicle use, but the second time it could not. The Subaru dealership advised it is likely a bad cell in the battery and wants to replace the battery.

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #80

Sep 162020

Outback

  • 31,000 miles
When the power tailgate is left opened for a prolonged period, the battery drains. The shortest hours left opened was 4 hours. Took the vehicle to the dealership, and the battery was tested to be normal (rated 550 cca, measured 504 ca, voltage 12.74V, temperature 90F). The instruction provided by the dealership was to run the car every day to keep charging the battery. The car is equipped with the memory height to keep the hatch open, and that feature is useless when the battery keeps draining.

- Dekalb, IL, USA

problem #79

Sep 122020

Outback

  • 54,000 miles
Battery in my 2018 Outback continues to be dead when I go to start it after sitting overnight. Just took it to the dealer and they called and said they did not find anything wrong. They are keeping it overnight to see if it is dead in the morning. In the past week I have had to jump start the car 5 times because it was dead. Just called Subaru and filed a complaint about the problem. This is my 4th Subaru and never had a problem like this.

- Bucyrus, OH, USA

problem #78

Sep 172020

Outback

  • 2,000 miles
The electrical system of the car drains the battery after a few days of not using the car. The car was purchased brand new in July, 2018. The car has a battery problem from the beginning. First time when the battery died I charged it myself and I took the car to the dealership for inspection. At the dealership they couldt find any issue. Since that time the car's battery drained completely six times preventing the car from starting. If the battery was not connected to a battery tender it went completely dead after a few days. Last time when the battery drained it couldn't be charged with a charger and also the car couldn't be jumped. After investing in a new battery and installing it on the car the battery drained again completely after a few days when the car was parked in the garage and not used.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #77

Mar 012020

Outback

  • 11,000 miles
Purchased this car in Feb 2018. Despite the pandemic of 2020, mileage is somewhat similar, driving trips are similar since getting the car. The battery has been dying over and over since earlier this year (Feb/March 2020) for no apparent reason. On many occasions, after sitting in the driveway for a few days, a week, a day - the battery would be dead. Brought it to Subaru and they told me some crap about not driving it for periods of time could cause this (a week?!). they tested my battery and said it was better than perfect. Now it's going back in to them because it is still happening and now they are claiming it's due to low mileage. They know more about this than they are leading on and are blaming the vehicle owners' driving habits instead of getting to the root of the problem.

- Dover, NH, USA

problem #76

Aug 142020

Outback

  • 37,500 miles
Battery doesn't hold charged when parked over night. Can't start the engine after a few hour drive and park over night. Now I have to let the car engine running for a few hour everyday to keep the battery charged up enough to start the engine. Has to jump the car many times already. Gonna call the dealer and ask what are my options tomorrow.

- Lewisburg, PA, USA

problem #75

Aug 152020

Outback

  • 31,000 miles
Dead battery overnight and liftgate random opening when vehicle is parked in the garage.

- Stroudsburg, PA, USA

problem #74

Aug 132020

Outback

  • 65,000 miles
My Subaru Outback 2018 to date is on its third battery, third battery replaced 8-7-2020 is dead today (8-13-2020). Vehicle parked in driveway.

- Zachary, LA, USA

problem #73

Aug 032020

Outback

  • 17,000 miles
Vehicle has 17,000 miles, battery has died at least 6 times. Battery has been found drained in the am after being parked in garage. Dealer replaced battery at 16,000 miles. Battery problem still exists. Subaru tries to explain problem by stating interior lights are left on or key was left to close to car. Tests show there was no parasitic drain on battery. Subaru does not want to fix or admit the problem.

- Sea Girt, NJ, USA

problem #72

Jul 022020

Outback

  • 33,000 miles
During vehicle operation, both stationary and in traffic, the driver window intermittently does not close normally. Upon activation to raise the window when in open position, it rises only partway, then bounces back down. Only after repeated efforts, using multiple maneuvers of the power control, sometimes requiring pulling over on the highway so as not to further drive distracted, can one finally raise the window. This is a safety issue in that it requires driver attention during vehicle operation. It is also a hazard when needing to close the window rapidly to avoid dust, debris, weather precipitation, or strangers approaching the vehicle. We have taken it to the dealer to fix it on multiple occasions and each time are told that 1) nothing was wrong (again, it is an intermittent issue that we have documented with video 2) it was software-related and that they updated it to fix it and 3) it was the power window regulator and assembly (replaced twice). None of these efforts have solved this issue and the dealer has not been forthcoming with a reasonable solution over the past 2+ years while we are approaching our warranty expiration.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

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