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.
The entire electrical system stopped working while parked in garage probably because the battery completely drained. Since the car was parked, there should have been no mechanical or electrical activity. Because this car depends so much on electronic control almost nothing can be operated. Locked doors cannot be opened (the car automatically locks all doors while in motion except the driver door), the tailgate cannot be opened and, of course, the engine will not start.
Touch screen began to get bubbles underneath factory glass and is causing spontaneous touch-activation and inability to use touch screen. This also affects navigation and other issues. Might cause an accident.
Starlink Infotainment System has malfunctioned. I took the car to Bert Smith Subaru in St. Petersburg, FL and the assessment notes the screen has started to delaminate rendering the touchscreen and system inoperable. The dealer estimate to replace the unit was $2862.79. My 2019 Outback 2.5 Limited is equipped with the Harman Gen. 3.0 Audio and Navigation head unit. This is the same unit that was part of a class action involving 2018 models which resulted in Subaru issuing an extended warranty that covered replacement of the unit. I submitted a complaint to Subaru of America asking for the same coverage of an extended warranty or replacement of the head unit. (Case #220617-169688)Subaru offered to pay $2,000 toward the cost to replace the unit. I feel they should cover the entire amont since this is an obvious defect.
The car battery was completely dead (no warning light or anything) after ~3 years and 45k miles. When we replaced it, the new battery died within 2 days and less than 150 miles. The mechanic who replaced our battery said that the new one was also completely dead.
First of all, I took my car in for an oil change 2 months ago, and they found nothing wrong with my car. However, yesterday, I attended a meeting away from my home. I was in the meeting in the morning for 2 hours. When I returned to my car, without any previous warning whatsoever, it would not start. My car is only 3 years old. I tried to open the hatch to get my jumper cables, but it requires electricity, I also wanted to roll down my windows because it was so hot, but they also only work with electricity. So I could do nothing but call for help. I was lucky that I wasn-??t stranded on some remote place where there was no phone signal. I would not feel comfortable going somewhere on my own in my car, until I know exactly what is causing this problem because I don-??t think it is safe -?" and I could be stranded. I had to have my car jump started again this morning. So tomorrow morning, I am taking the car in to have the battery checked. On December 10, 2019 I took my car in to a Subaru Dealership because I had, had another problem with my Subaru Outback, where I opened my back hatch on two separate occasions, but I could not get it to close (in the rain). I believe I called StarLink for help. However, somehow, by random actions just turning the car off and on, and pushing the -??close-?? button on the back door, it finally worked, but I still don-??t understand how or why. I ended up stranded at a grocery store and an airport when this happened. When I took it in to get checked at a Subaru dealership, I was told they could find nothing wrong with it.
Battery drained. Will not hold a charge. From what I-??ve been reading it seems there is a problem in the electrical system that is draining the batteries of these cars.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary, he was unable to start the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he jumped started the vehicle and started up as needed. The contact stated he continued to experience the failure. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the battery replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure and the battery was replaced for a second time. The contact stated he continues to experience the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,563.
After 4 days of not driving..the battery is drained. This has happened several times. Battery tested by mechanic and has no problem. Must carry jumper cables or a battery charger
There have been numerous problems associated with battery drain and improper function of the vehicle's automatic lift gate. Starting with the first dead battery situation on 12/25/21, there have been a total of 6 dead battery situations with this relatively new, certified pre-owned vehicle. Two new batteries have been provided through a AAA membership, but neither new battery has addressed the situation. The vehicle was taken to its place of purchase (Kendall Subaru of Eugene) on 02/02/22 to have a battery charge test conducted which was described by the dealership as the first and only course of action for the problem. The car passed Subaru's battery charge test and continued to have battery problems. Other than dealing with numerous dead batteries, improper function of the lift gate has also caused frustrating and unsettling conditions. For example, sometimes the automatic lift gate function on the vehicle's trunk won't work and the trunk will stay open. After force-closing the trunk, sometimes a loud beeping noise persists during driving of the vehicle for seemingly arbitrary and lengthy periods of time. Following is a list of dates when battery problems with this vehicle have occurred: 12/25/21; 12/27/21; 1/25/22; 3/21/22; 4/4/22; 5/22/22
Battery got drained many times, especially after leaving car not running for a couple weeks. One time car did not start. Had to replace battery for a better one. Better battery (Optima) works better but still drains.
Battery drained by approx 50 % in a 12 hour period preventing car from starting. No lights, radio or other electrical feature could be activated. This is the 3rd occurrence of this feature since I purchased the vehicle on 9-28-2020. Supposedly Subaru dealer, Patrick Motors, Worcester, MA replaced the battery in 2020 at that time.
Not driven in a few day (2-3), the battery is dead and need to be jump started again an again!!! VERY FESTRIGHTION!!! Purchased the car (lease sales) 3-1-21 apx. Should have been fix under warranty then before sales, problems very sense. Had to personally buy a jump-starter and charger for my safety. EXPENSIVE!!! as a safety
Rear tailgate fails to open consistently making it impossible to enter or exit the vehicle from the rear, through the rear tail gate door (the 5th door). Nine times we have brought vehicle back to authorized Subaru dealerships over the last two years of ownership in Hanover Ma-Planet Subaru; San Francisco -Serramonte Subaru and lastly in San Diego- Kearny Mesa. The rear tail gate does not open consistently while pressing the open button on either of the key fobs or from trying the driver's side interior release button or while attempting to use the hatch release button at the exterior rear of the vehicle. Many times we have tried all three standard methods to open the rear tail gate but with no success making this rear tail gate feature on this mid size SUV useless. This problem has been verified at Planet Subaru, Hanover, Ma and at Serramonte Subaru S.F. Could not duplicate it at our last appointment in Kearny Mesa San Diego in 2022 but it still continues to be a real problem. On multiple occasions, the car battery had been inadvertently drained because the rear tail gate did not close completely and the dash warning light confirmed this to be the case. Subaru adjusted the closing mechanism/replaced it and this seems to have solved the closure issue but not the opening function of the tailgate. The problem surfaced soon after our initial purchase of vehicle in July of 2020. Car is available for inspection.
The battery died for no apparent reason. I have since discovered that there are/has been class action lawsuits against Subaru for this very reason. This has the potential for putting family members at risk by stranding them. There were no signs or warnings before this occurred, and the dealer told us there was nothing wrong.
The battery has gone dead 4 (four) times. The dealer checked it twice and said nothing was wrong with it. We have had to replace the battery ($178.07) but it also went dead. Three times, the car was in our garage, had been driven within a couple of days and the keys were not left in the car. Once it died when I had driven to the next town and had popped into a store for not more than 10 minutes and my husband had to leave work to come jump the car. We have found out that this is a persistent problem with some Subaru models and we feel the dealer did not disclose this. We now have to keep the car on a trickle charger ($74.18) and have to remember to disconnect when we leave and reconnect when we get back. Also, the passenger window cannot be lowered from the driver's side and the dealer didn't even look at it.
Battery keeps dying, replaced once already battery keeps draining, Simmons Rockwell Subaru of Elmira NY stated that the battery on the subaru won't last a week if the car isn't driven.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lakewood, CO, USA