BATTERY DOES NOT HOLD A CHARGE. DRAINS IN A DAY JUST SITTING IN MY GARAGE. CAN'T GO ANYWHERE FOR FEAR IT WILL NOT START. PROBLEM SEEMS ELECTRICAL MORE THAN THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY TESTED GOOD AT THE DEALER.
COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT
Subaru Outback electrical problems
2,277 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.
Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.
26 crash reports35 fire reports7 injury reports
Reports by model year
YearTopic reportsRecallsInvestigations
20265
00202512
00202416
00202317
20202251
40202175
402020258
602019363
302018265
302017391
412016309
412015127
51201432
100201323
120201237
161201167
160201033
180200923
130200834
80200720
80200642
70200528
9220048
10220037
14220024
4020013
3020008
1019998
1019986
2019974
4019961
20Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
4830–25K
23925–50K
14350–75K
8275–100K
83100–150K
41150K+
1,071 reports with mileage · 1,206 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What owners actually said
2,277 reportsBATTERY DRAINS UNEXPECTADLY AND SWIFTLY. TURNED OFF MOTOR AND LEFT KEY IN IGNITION WHILE WE SAT OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. WE WERE STRANDED IN THE DESERT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.
BATTERY OFTEN GOES DEAD. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY 3 OR 4 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2015. BATTERY DIED IN GARAGE AND IN PARKING LOT.
I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2016 DUE TO IT DRAINING SO LOW IT COULDN'T BE CHARGED. PURCHASED A BATTERY VIA AAA
BATTERY DRAINS QUICKLY. CHANGING BATTERY DOESN'T HELP.
OVER 4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP (NEW WHEN PURCHASED IN FEB 2017) HAVE EXPERIENCED 6 OCCURRENCES (FIRST IN JAN 2018) OF VEHICLE FAILING TO START DUE TO DEAD BATTERY. ORIGINAL BATTERY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN AUG 2019. AS OF TODAY (03/15/2021) BATTERY IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN BY DEALER AT MY COST. NO OTHER PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED BY DEA…
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OVER 4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP (NEW WHEN PURCHASED IN FEB 2017) HAVE EXPERIENCED 6 OCCURRENCES (FIRST IN JAN 2018) OF VEHICLE FAILING TO START DUE TO DEAD BATTERY. ORIGINAL BATTERY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN AUG 2019. AS OF TODAY (03/15/2021) BATTERY IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN BY DEALER AT MY COST. NO OTHER PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED BY DEALER. VEHICLE ALWAYS STATIONARY WHEN PROBLEM OCCURRED. APPROX 42K MILES ON ODOMETER.
BATTERY FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AFTER PLAYING RADIO 15 MINUTES, AFTER TAILGATE LEFT UP FOR 1/2 HOUR. DEALER REPROGRAMMED ECU TO INCREASE CHARGING, WOULD NOT START AND DEALER SAID ALL NORMAL ON 1/12/19@ 18,301 MILES. I REPLACED IT WITH THE LARGER CAPACITY BATTERY AT AUTOZONE. SINCE THEN NO BATTERY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, I AM STILL A…
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BATTERY FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AFTER PLAYING RADIO 15 MINUTES, AFTER TAILGATE LEFT UP FOR 1/2 HOUR. DEALER REPROGRAMMED ECU TO INCREASE CHARGING, WOULD NOT START AND DEALER SAID ALL NORMAL ON 1/12/19@ 18,301 MILES. I REPLACED IT WITH THE LARGER CAPACITY BATTERY AT AUTOZONE. SINCE THEN NO BATTERY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, I AM STILL AFRAID TO PLAY RADIO OR HAVE TAILGATE UP FOR A LONG PERIOD.
BATTERY GOES DEAD WHEN DON'T DRIVE IT WEEKLY. PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER IN JUNE 2020. HAVE HAD AAA OUT TWICE TO JUMP THE BATTERY. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY AAA AND DEALERSHIP TO DRIVE THE CAR OR START IT AND LET IT RUN FOR 30 MINUTES EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS TO KEEP BATTERY CHARGED BECAUSE ELECTRONICS DRAIN THE BATTERY. CAR WAS IN GARAGE.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE BATTERY IN OUR SUBARU OUTBACK. THIS LAST ONE ONLY LASTED 2-3 MONTHS.
VEHICLE DID NOT START DUE TO DEAD BATTERY. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE SEPARATE DATES DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. ON 12/14/20 THE CAR WOULD NOT START WE CHARGED THE BATTERY AND GOT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CHARGED THE BATTERY AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND WE DROVE IT HOME. ON 1/18/…
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VEHICLE DID NOT START DUE TO DEAD BATTERY. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE SEPARATE DATES DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. ON 12/14/20 THE CAR WOULD NOT START WE CHARGED THE BATTERY AND GOT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CHARGED THE BATTERY AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND WE DROVE IT HOME. ON 1/18/21 WE COULD NOT START THE CAR WE CHARGED THE BATTERY AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT FOR OUR PEACE OF MIND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY SENSOR AND KEPT THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO START IT AND DRIVE IT AROUND TO TRY AND RECREATE THE ISSUE. THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. ON 3/6/21 THE CAR DID NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE BATTERY AND THE BATTERY FAILED THE LOAD TEST. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. WE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THEY WERE FIXING THE SYMPTOM AND NOT THE PROBLEM, WE ALSO DISCUSSED ERRATIC BEHAVIOR WITH THE REAR GATE ALL THREE TIMES THESE ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED. THE DEALERSHIP THEN DECIDED TO REPLACE THE POWER REAR GATE ECU AND LATCH & ACTUATOR REAR GATE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM WE HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR OF SUBARU VEHICLE AS OURS AND SUBARU HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE WILL CONTINUE AND WE DON'T FEEL WE CAN SAFELY DRIVE OUR CAR FAR FROM HOME BECAUSE OF ITS UNRELIABILITY AND POTENTIALLY PUTTING US IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS . THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS 8800 AND IT IS A 2019 MODEL.
Related Official recalls
522V473000 · Electrical System:wiring; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm)
Jul 1, 2022
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Outback vehicles. The engine wiring harness may have been damaged, resulting in a loose electrical connection to the engine control unit (ECU).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine wiring harness and ECU, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-22.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Outback vehicles. The engine wiring harness may have been damaged, resulting in a loose electrical connection to the engine control unit (ECU).
Consequence: A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine wiring harness and ECU, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-22.
Electrical System:wiring
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Outback vehicles. The engine wiring harness may have been damaged, resulting in a loose electrical connection to the engine control unit (ECU).
Consequence: A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine wiring harness and ECU, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-22.
19V297000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Apr 11, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
18V773000 · Electrical System:software; Fuel System, Gasoline
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.
16V738000 · Electrical System
Oct 13, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.
13V061000 · Electrical System; Equipment
Feb 25, 2013
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year 2013 XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory. Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs. If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year 2013 XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory. Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs. If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button.
Consequence: The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
Electrical System
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year 2013 XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory. Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs. If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button.
Consequence: The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Related NHTSA investigations
0No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.