A New Lawsuit Is Filed Against Subaru - More Dead Batteries Surface

Need some help! I totaled my Forest because the accelerator stuck. I understand you had a n article about that. May I see it?

My panel just fell off on my 2019 Subaru Accent. What junk is coming out of subaru these days.

This has been an ongoing issue with any Subaru model that has a power lift gate and it also affects 2020 Forester. I have previously contacted Subaru and per their factory service rep, " We are aware of the situation but currently there is no work around". One work around I found is to trick the computer but closing the lift gate latch when the gate is open. I use the end of a bungi-cord to close the latch and the car thinks the gate is closed. This shuts off the computer and decreases the power drain. Your have to manually close the gate and then cycle it open and closed for the gate to latch again. When camping I also carry a solar trickle charger and a Noco battery jump starter just in case my battery fully drains again. I have not had any problems since I have been using this method.

My Subaru 2017 3.6 R. Battery died. Charge went down apparently because I didn't drive in 2 or 3 days. Advance auto said battery needed charge.

I have a 2018 Subaru Outback Limited with the exact same problem as your other Subaru owners in this story. If I leave the rear liftgate open it kills the battery over a short period of time. Even if I make sure that the interior light is in the off position. It's happened to me 3 times now. So I've even hon out and spent over 200 dollars to buy a CTC 1500 amp lithium ion booster pack to keep in the car because I can't trust the battery to do its job. Really, this is rediculuous. I'm 70 years old and have owned many new cars over the years and none have ever had this kind of irritating and inconvenient problem. When the car was brand new, the battery was replaced at the Subaru dealer after only a few months of it's initial purchase. JT

I've replaced the battery in my 2015 outback 3 times!

I have a 2020 Subaru outback touring.thank you for info.

I've noticed a similar problem in my 2018 legacy in two scenarios
1. If I turn on the electronic parking brake and don't drive the car for a few days, the battery drains.
2. Turning on the emergency blinkers also drains the battery fairly quickly
I'm managing right now by not using the electronic parking brake since my driveway is level ground but am concerned if I have to use it for a extended period of time. Same with the emergency flashing lights. This needs to be addressed at some time. Thank you for this information.

2019 outback dead battery while loading car....lift gate open

Yes we have also experienced many dead batteries!!! We have a 2019 ascent. We have had a dead battery on the ferry in the grocery store parking lot and the home driveway sevn times times we have had to jump the battery and they say it is normal. I have never had a vehicle die while just trying to pack up the trunk for a trip before this. It is quite unnerving. We have children and pets and bought this car to adventure into the woods and travel. Quite unsettling and unreliable if your battery could die from maybe a door left open the e brake left on or music playing for 15 min.

I have a 2020 Forester and I have had a problem with my battery not charging. The dealership said I needed to drive it at least every two to three days. I told them I am 71 years old and we are in a pandemic (it was in the middle of it) and I don't need to drive it that often. The reason I bought a new car was so I could have dependable transportation. If not for that I would have kept my 2002 Toyota that had over 250,000 miles and had never failed me.

I've had issues with the driver's window. On several occasions I have tried to close it, either auto or manual, and it has gone most of the way up and then came back down. This seems to happen on days when it rains. I've also had problems removing the key from the column. I'll turn the engine off and it will not go all the way to the off position. I have to restart the engine, turn the wheels back and forth and then I can remove it.

This is a very strange issue with Subarus in general. I do roadside assistance and see this issue frequently and even experienced it on my own 2018 WRX. However, I believe the issue is not with the car or the electrical components but, more so with the batteries. I owned my car for about a year and a half when I took my vehicle to Subaru for a recall on the exhaust manifold bolt tightening. While there they tested my battery and told me it was in need of replacement. Knowing the issues with Subaru batteries, I declined and bought my own AGM battery. Since then I haven't had a single issue even after the car sat for a month.

What most people don't know(this includes the people that work at your local dealership) is that all new cars have changed the changing parameters of the alternator. They use a sensor on the negative terminal of the battery to determine how much load is being put on the battery and the computer then makes an adjustment in the voltage output of the alternator. If you do not have a heavy load on the electrical system it will only charge at 12.6 volts not 14-14.5 volts. This will create a condition known as sulfates. Sulfating will not allow your battery to take a full charge and diminishes the reserve capacity. The reserve capacity is how long it takes you battery to drain when load is applied and the engine is off. Add this to the industry's lowest rated reserve capacity and it is a huge headache for customers that expect their vehicles to work as their past vehicles always did.

Tips:
1. Don't think that a replacement warranty battery from Subaru will fix your problem. Go to any battery supplier(other than Subaru) and get the replacement battery for your vehicle. Check the RA rating look for 90 to 120 minutes.

2. Drive with your blower motor on high. This will force the computer to max out the alternator preventing sulfating.

3. Don't listen to the radio or use the phone with the engine off. Most Subarus will turn the headlights on when in auxiliary power mode and drain the battery very quickly.

4 if you have an Outback or Forester be very careful with the light in the cargo area. If it is on the roof the switch is situated in a way that it can be bumped into the on all the time position when removing items from the cargo area. If it is turned on it will not go off automatically, it only shuts off if it is in the on when doors are open position.

5. Lastly, if your battery drains and your passenger window is inoperable, this normal. There is nothing wrong with the window motor or switch. It simply needs to be relearned. It must be done on the passenger door by simply, rolling the window all the down and holding the button for 5 seconds after it is down followed by rolling the window up and holding the button for 5 secs after it is up.

I've had issues with my original battery and to have it replaces. I also have electric issues too and the battery that is in my car now has battery corrosion on all terminals. I own a 2017 outback. I've had electric issues with the car since I've owned it. Another problem is that sometimes I can't get the key out of the ignition. I have to restart the car several times and then it finally comes out.

I had issues with the battery of my 2016 subaru too. Researched it, bought a bought a different that was recommended... not a single issue since

Same problem with 2014 Outback 3.6. Subaru dealer for years denied this was a problem and charged me over $300 to do a parasitic test. While I am waiting in the showroom I spoke with another owner having teh same problem. I go back to the Service Manager and say that he jsut told me that they are not seeing this problem with other cars and I came to learn that 2015 was in for the very same problem. You lied to me. he jsut shrugged his shoulders and said he would let me know when my car was ready.

Then the car abandoned me ont eh side of the road all electrics dying and the tranny locks in gear. Towed to a different dealer they and a Subaru tech from Ann Arbor went through every connector and module in the entire car. Said they found a defective fuse and charged me $2.80. Since that day I have not had a single problem with battery drain and I have had the same battery for almost 4 years now. Prior to that visit I had already burned through three batteries.

Don't even get me started with the false shifting problems anyone with a non-CVT tranmission has from that same period. Again Subaru denies this is a problem even though I can replicate it on any day and have even been able to demonstrate the problem in other Subarus. Subaru's response it is shifting as designed.

I will not be buying another Subaru.

I have been having an issue with the tail gate malfunctioning and not opening or closing. Could this be related?

My 2017 Forester had the same problem. Bought a new battery. Unfortunately totaled that car in deer hit last fall. Love my Honda CRV though, it is a superior vehicle.

2020 Outback -- 7500 miles -- began having dead battery a few months ago. Jump started and took to dealership last week. Was told that they couldn't find anything wrong. Battery was at full charge. Dead again today -- after 5 days.
I am sure they knew about this problem with the electrical system!!

I have a 2007 Forester and bought it used. I had driven a Jeep for over 25 years!
Immediately I had trouble with the battery and bought a good one to replace.
I have to sit in my car every 2 days for 15 minutes to keep the battery charged if I do not drive it.
With my Jeep I could leave it at the airport for a month and it would start right up.
Subaru has a serious issue with battery connections.
Love the Subaru, but not the battery.
I know an older model, but keep it up.

So many problems with my Outback battery!! Been left stranded, late to appointments. Dealer was helpful, but still having issues!!

battery in 2018 subaru outback has failed 3 times now on fourth battery in 3 years only 9000 kms dealer keep saying no known problem

2016 Outback battery dead at 18 months,replaced by AAA- guy said “Subaru batteries are too small and are crap”. No problems since (daughter has car). 2019 Outback battery dead at 23,000 miles after not being used for 3 days. On charger now, going to dealer soon. No interior lights were left on, no tailgate use, etc. we will see what they say.