NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
265 reportsClear category filter16,660 miles · Apr 12, 2021
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING TO THE STORE AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, UPON RETURN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING TO THE STORE AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, UPON RETURN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,660.
NHTSA ODI #11407784
31,000 miles · Apr 5, 2021
Electrical System
DEAD BATTERY ISSUES - IF DOORS OR LIFTGATE IS OPEN FOR EVEN SHORT AMOUNTS OF TIME THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. HAVE HAD TO HAD IT JUMPED 6 OR 7 TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO. THAT LEADS TO ISSUES WITH LIFTGATE AND PASSENGER WINDOWS, REQUIRING DEAL RESETS. ISSUE STARTED AT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #11406571
600 miles · Mar 31, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceSteering
WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE OUTBACK I HAD TO HAVE THE INFOTAINMENT HEAD UNIT REPLACED TWICE. I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE RADIO WILL COME ON BUT THERE IS NO SOUND, THE RADIO WILL TURN ON FULL BLAST AFTER A HANGING UP FROM A CALL, BACK UP CAMERA WILL BE BLACK UPON BACKING UP, SCREEN WILL FREEZE, STEERING WILL LOCK …
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WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE OUTBACK I HAD TO HAVE THE INFOTAINMENT HEAD UNIT REPLACED TWICE. I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE RADIO WILL COME ON BUT THERE IS NO SOUND, THE RADIO WILL TURN ON FULL BLAST AFTER A HANGING UP FROM A CALL, BACK UP CAMERA WILL BE BLACK UPON BACKING UP, SCREEN WILL FREEZE, STEERING WILL LOCK UP WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND AFTER MY 36K MILE MAINTENANCE NOW MY CAR IS MAKING A STRANGE HUMMING NOISE. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. SUBARU NEEDS TO PROVIDE MORE THAN A PUNY EXTENDED WARRENTY. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND THEY KNOW IT.
NHTSA ODI #11405830
14,836 miles · Mar 30, 2021
Electrical System
BATTERY ON CAR JUST GOES DEAD. PUT 3RD BATTERY IN CAR BEFORE IT WAS 3 YEARS OLD. SEVERAL TIMES, WE NOTICED THAT REAR HATCH MOTOR DOES NOT SHUT OFF - JUST KEEPS RUNNING. THEN IF YOU START CAR AGAIN & IMMEDIATELY TURN IT OFF - REAR HATCH MOTOR STOPS RUNNING. BEEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES & SENT LETTER TO SUBARU CUSTOMER ADVOCAC…
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BATTERY ON CAR JUST GOES DEAD. PUT 3RD BATTERY IN CAR BEFORE IT WAS 3 YEARS OLD. SEVERAL TIMES, WE NOTICED THAT REAR HATCH MOTOR DOES NOT SHUT OFF - JUST KEEPS RUNNING. THEN IF YOU START CAR AGAIN & IMMEDIATELY TURN IT OFF - REAR HATCH MOTOR STOPS RUNNING. BEEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES & SENT LETTER TO SUBARU CUSTOMER ADVOCACY DEPT - THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE CAR HAS A PROBLEM. OFFERED TO PAY FOR EXTENDED LIFE BATTERY. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE OVERNIGHT - HAVING BEEN LOADED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT TO LEAVE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING ON VACATION - CAR WOULDN'T START AND BATTERY COULDN'T EVEN BE RECHARGED. ONE TIME BACKED CAR OUT OF GARAGE, TURNED IT OFF, THEN WHEN TRIED TO START IT 5 MINUTES LATER, BATTERY WAS DEAD. WE WERE ABLE TO RECHARGE IT, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE IT FAILED THE BATTERY TEST AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. VEHICLE DEEMED UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO US, AS YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT WILL START. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO GET TO ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEM - JUST PUT ANOTHER BATTERY IN CAR. CAR HAS 25,000 MILES AND WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 2/24/2021. ATTACHED ARE DETAILS FROM 2 DEALER VISITS AND LETTER TO CUSTOMER ADVOCACY DEPT. FIRST TIME BATTERY FAILED, WE REPLACED BATTERY BECAUSE IT WAS IMPACTING OUR VACATION. WE HAD EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT BATTERY ON 7/19 DEALER VISIT, AND BATTERY THEN DIED ON 10/19. SUBARU REFUNDED US THE COST OF THE BATTERY.
NHTSA ODI #11405580
18,000 miles · Mar 30, 2021
Electrical System
CHRONIC DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED 4-YEAR-OLD COMPLETELY DEAD BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY, WHICH WAS ALSO DEAD WITHIN 3 DAYS. RESEARCH SHOWS THERE IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH SUBARU BATTERY DRAIN, POSSIBLY WITH REGARD TO A FAULT WITH THE REAR LIFT GATE. HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE BUT WAS SENT TO VOICE MAIL AND HAV…
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CHRONIC DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED 4-YEAR-OLD COMPLETELY DEAD BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY, WHICH WAS ALSO DEAD WITHIN 3 DAYS. RESEARCH SHOWS THERE IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH SUBARU BATTERY DRAIN, POSSIBLY WITH REGARD TO A FAULT WITH THE REAR LIFT GATE. HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE BUT WAS SENT TO VOICE MAIL AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK.
NHTSA ODI #11405533
9,000 miles · Mar 26, 2021
Electrical System
BATTERY FAILED AT 9,000 MILES
NHTSA ODI #11404999
6,000 miles · Mar 22, 2021
Electrical System
BATTERY FAILING TO START CAR, RECEIVED NEW BATTERY FROM SCHOMP SUBARU SUMMER 2019 AFTER REPEATED JUMP STARTS, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, CONTINUING WITH SAME PROBLEM AND TODAY I AM STUCK AT HOME WAITING FOR MY SCHUMACHER PORTABLE CHARGER TO RECHARGE.I AM ARAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL STOP WORKING.I WAS…
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BATTERY FAILING TO START CAR, RECEIVED NEW BATTERY FROM SCHOMP SUBARU SUMMER 2019 AFTER REPEATED JUMP STARTS, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, CONTINUING WITH SAME PROBLEM AND TODAY I AM STUCK AT HOME WAITING FOR MY SCHUMACHER PORTABLE CHARGER TO RECHARGE.I AM ARAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL STOP WORKING.I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T DRIVE IT ENOUGH. I LEAVE THE CAR IDLING
NHTSA ODI #11404312
30,000 miles · Mar 18, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
THE BATTERY SEEMS TO DRAIN VERY QUICKLY AND WITHOUT APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER RECENTLY REPLACED THE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY BUT DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY IT HAS GONE BAD SO QUICKLY. I WAS STUCK A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH A SUDDENLY DEAD BATTERY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE DRAINING HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND I GO OFF THE …
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THE BATTERY SEEMS TO DRAIN VERY QUICKLY AND WITHOUT APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER RECENTLY REPLACED THE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY BUT DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY IT HAS GONE BAD SO QUICKLY. I WAS STUCK A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH A SUDDENLY DEAD BATTERY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE DRAINING HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND I GO OFF THE WARRANTY IN ANOTHER MONTH. I HAVE READ THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR OUTBACK. THIS OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE.
NHTSA ODI #11403774
3,600 miles · Mar 18, 2021
Electrical System
BATTERY DOES NOT HOLD A CHARGE. HAVE TO JUMP BATTERY AFTER SHORT PERIODS OF NON-USE
NHTSA ODI #11403696
33,113 miles · Mar 17, 2021
Electrical System
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. …
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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.
NHTSA ODI #11403451
Official recalls
3Jul 29, 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Dec 31, 2018
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the rearview image will not display while backing up the vehicle. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTZ-85.
Nov 1, 2018
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTW-82.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
Consequence: The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTW-82.
Fuel System, Gasoline
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
Consequence: The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTW-82.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗