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.
There has been an ongoing problem with the vehicle electronics the dealer has reprogrammed the electronic controls 4 times in the year since I bought the car. The last reprogramming was due to a NHTSA recall. The system was better for a couple of months since the last reprogramming but on Monday 4/19/21 at 5:58 pm the same problem reoccurred the electronic screen in the middle of the dash went black as I was driving at 65 mph southbound on I-95 in baltimore Maryland. The screen and all it functions were off for 4 minutes until it restarted with the initial screen that appears when I start the car. It is a warning screen with a green area to press that I agree with the warning. For 4 minutes I was driving with no access to the controls that are under the direction fo the main screen. The dealer had told me I should take a video of the dash if this happened again but it is hard to take a video while driving in the express lanes at 65 mph. This is a serious problem that after all these reprogramming activities should have been fixed. When the dealer had installed the revised programing I asked what to do if the same thing happened again and he suggested that I take a video then told me that it won't happen again. Well it did happen again. I imagine I am not the only person to find this reoccurring but I can't be sure of that. It is most disconcerting to think that all of the safety controls that I purchased the vehicle to obtain are out of use for 4 minutes as I am driving on the highway. I had the radio on while driving and suddenly it went off I looked down at the screen and it was black completely off. I assume that all of the safety functions the screen controls also were off. It stayed that way for 4 minutes and then restarted as if I had just started the car in my driveway. I don't know what to do but I believe that this is a safety issue that keeps recurring.
The battery suddenly drained. This happened a few days after I had a trip of over 750 miles. I did a jump start and then drove the car for over 20 minutes. The next day the same thing. Took it to Subaru service, they checked the car and could not find a problem just charged it. The next time again the same problem. This time Subaru service kept the car overnight and then changed the battery. Its a few months now but I always have this lingering feeling that it might happen again, specially reading the news reports of this happening after some time.
Battery is dead. Car was parked in my garage and not used for several days. When I tried to start it on wed April 14, 2021 the battery was dead. No lights has been left on. All doors were closed when car not in use.
Battery repeatedly dies after very short periods of time, no lights left on or doors left open. Vehicle battery has died a total of 4 times in 7 months when left overnight.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
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We just bought this car. Used, less than 7K miles. I haven't even made a payment yet. My wife called me from the turn lane of a busy intersection with hundreds of cars speeding past. She was driving and stopped to turn left at a red light. When she went to go, the car turned off and would not start - although it appeared there was power; radio, lights, all working. A police officer and a passer-by pushed her into a parking lot after 20 minutes. When I arrived, it appeared the battery was not cranking the starter. I had her get jumper cables and yes, it started right up. No indication that the battery was having issues, no warning lights. I turned the auto stop-start off while I drove it to the dealership who couldn't even talk to me because they were to busy. Fortunately, it started up and made it home. Took my son to his baseball game and after sitting for 3 hours, would not start, got a jump. Took it home, let it run a bit, in the morning, would not start. The internet is full of people complaining about Subaru and this exact issue. This sould not be happening in basically a new car.
On 3 occasions the car would not start after being driven. The dashboard lit up, radio worked, but no starter or engine noise. Subaru says there is nothing wrong with the car or battery. This appears to be a common Subaru problem.
Experiencing a dead battery. 3rd time this month. Vehicle only has 7090 miles on it, once jumped lasts a week or 2 and then repeats problem. Dealer just says to call roadside assistance.
Bought the vehicle brand new and woke up the next day to it not starting. The car was sold to us with a bad battery and missing parts according to the dealership. Almost exactly a year later our transmission blew for no apparent reason while getting off the highway and completely stopped running. Now the vehicle has a cracked windshield when no rocks or anything has hit it.
After the car sits for 1 to 2 days without being driven the battery is completely drained. After recharging the battery and getting the car started there has been nothing left on (I.e. dome lights) or opened (I.e door ajar) which would have created a slow drain on the battery. This has happened 3 times since Jan 2021
My car battery failed in September then again in October. I wasn't quite sure what the issue was but it didn't seem to be back:back. Then at the end of February- 5 days in a row I had to have my battery jumped. Dealer saw it and claimed it was a dead battery and only needed charging. At the end of March (today), the car's battery failed again. I reported the issue to Subaru. They said they would do an analysis on the battery. A towing service came to jump my car. At all times, without a jump the car will not turnover. I also noticed- maybe related maybe not- the car's calculation for mileage is all over the place. Specifically, within 30 seconds it can go from 3 mpg, 55 mpg, 7 then several hundred; it makes no sense.
After driving the car, parking, and turning the car off for a short time, the car will not start. The battery is dead and has to get jump started. Something drains the battery. This occurs randomly, bur has happened to me 3 times, twice at around 7,000 miles and once at 8,800 miles. After the second time it happened, the dealer looked at it and said the rear dome light was left on. While I never used the rear dome light, I accepted the explanation. However, with this latest occurrence, I am certain that no lights were left on. I will take the car to the dealership to see if they can determine the problem. I am concerned because I cannot depend on this car to start whenever I go to drive
Electrical power failures Subaru Outback 2020 on 5 different occasions in the past 10 months our new 2020 Subaru Outback has failed to start and we have been stranded. There was no electrical power. Every time: 'the car had been driven regularly, including on the prior day. 'when we tried to start the car, the battery was dead. We had never left lights on, doors open etc. 'the car jump started easily and then would behave normally for weeks or months. Episode 1 5.15.20 local dealership tested and found no problems episode 2 5.22.20 local dealership replaced battery episode 3 1.11.21 to 1.19.21 local dealer had car for 8 days. They worked with Subaru national headquarters engineers. No problems found. No loaner car provided episode 4. 3.21.21 jump started. Subaru contacted. I kept the car waiting advice from Subaru. Car went well for 2 days episode 5 3.23.21 died again. Subaru contacted. I kept the car waiting advice from Subaru. Have not restarted. I want the car replaced.
Vehicle has had multiple documented incidents of the infotainment system crashing or going dark and being unresponsive. Today during another episode the vehicles adaptive cruise control could not be turned off. The vehicle would not come out of cruise and continued to drive at speed. Placed vehicle in neutral while on the highway to restart the engine and electrical system. The entirety of electrical controls were unresponsive. The infotainment crashing and becoming inoperable are a relatively common experience, but this is the first time we experienced loss of vehicle control.
On March 1, 2021 vehicle had 4992 miles on it and vehicle would not start. Had to call roadside assistance and have vehicle jumped. Took to dealer, they said battery, alternator and starter, tested good. On March 17th, vehicle had to be jump started. On March 18th, vehicle had to be jump started twice in the same day. On March 19th, vehicle had to be jump started and taken to dealer. Vehicle now has 5192 miles. On March 19, 2021, a case was opened with Subaru of America.
My car has 6700 miles and the battery completely died. After having it jump started by csaa, I drove it to Subaru. The service manager acknowledged that Subaru was having electrical problems with their cars.
Battery dies. The car is little over 1 year old, the battery died and it had to be towed September 2020, dealer charged it up, the battery died again in January 2021 and dealer replaced with a new battery. The control panel has gone "black" several times no status shows.
I attempted to start the car in the morning and the battery was too weak. I charged the battery and let the car run 15 minutes. Four days later, when I attempted to start the car, the battery was too weak again. I found reference to this as an issue possibly known to Subaru of America with recommendation to report to NHTSA.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ellicott City, MD, USA