New Subaru Ascent Owners Say a Glitch In the SUVs Tailgate Could Leave You With a Dead Battery

Have you experienced this problem with your Subaru Ascent?

It is NOT the rear entry light that is draining the battery. Even with the light off an open rear hatch draws from 2 to 4 amps of current that runs down the battery. Subaru says this is normal and so far has not adequately addressed owners concerns. Many owners leave their hatch open at dog shows or camping and end up with dead batteries as a result. A more capacity battery helps but does not correct or solve the problem. The constant 2 to 4 amp draw when the hatch, or any other door or hood is open is the problem. There is a Facebook site dedicated to this issue also.

The problem with the battery going dead on the 2019 Ascent is not from the cargo light. It is the sensors in the hatch that draws 4amps if left open. It does not time out! You can drain their crappy battery in a few hours. I have gone through two of those so far. Its a design flaw and they won't admit it.

Glad to see this issue getting some attention, but there is an error in the article. It is not a cargo light draining the battery. It is apparently a sensor in the power lift gate that never times out. This would be the sensor that reverses the lift gate if something gets caught in it when it is closing. Clearly something that only needs to be active when the power gate has been activated. The battery drains even if a clip is used in the latch to trick the car into thinking the gate is closed. Seems like a simple programming glitch so it is disappointing when Subaru insists that it was designed this way on purpose.

This happens for the outback as well. The cargo light is not on the timer like the interiors lights, so you can drain your battery if you accidentally leave the cargo light in the on position.

Definitely not the light. I camp a lot, and I'm very grateful that I already had the habit of keeping a jump-starter with me, although I've started storing up front instead of in the tool compartment.

My 2018 Outback’s battery dies in less than 6 hours when the tailgate is open and all lights off. Apparently the motor draws about 10 amp hours with the tailgate open.
As I show dogs, I often need to leave the tailgate open for extended periods of time.
Two concerns-1. Where does the heat from the lift gate motor go? 2. How can I work around the problem? I certainly will not be getting another Subaru unless this major problem is fixed.

Just replace the taillight bulb with an LED. That'll be the end of the issue. I got an entire set of LED'S for all the interior lamps for less than $20.00.

It is not the light! It is sensors for the tailgate.

We are two months away from purchasing an Ascent. I'm glad that this information has come to light before we put our cash down. Subaru intentionally plays into the marketing theme of their SUV;s and wagons as being designed for adventurers. That means camping folks!
If you've ever been camping, you know that the rear hatch is open and stays open - alot! In regard to this design flaw, what was Subaru thinking? I can just see some millennial design engineer, who's never camped in his life, scratching his head and saying, "how do we get out this one?"

My wife and I just purchased a 2019 Ascent and we love it. We drove it all the way to Las Vegas and back recently without issue. When we got to the resort we had the car valeted and 3 days later retrieved it to do some site seeing...NO ISSUE. Then his past Tuesday (23rd of July) my wife need to leave to go to a doctors appointment and the car would start...the battery was dead. We hadn't driven the car since Sunday. We had to call Suburu roadside service to jump-start the car even though we were at home. The guy came out and told my wife that he has heard of this happening and suggested that we put on the PARKING brake (switch) before we shut of the car, which is strange since it is all electronic and I didn't think you could enable it after it is shut off. So far, the battery hasn't drained....but we will be buying jump starter. If this is a known issue, Suburu needs to figure it out. My father-in-law has a 2019 Outback no issues, my sister-in-law and the crosstek, no issue.

Was all set to buy an Ascent until I learned about this problem. It's a deal breaker.

I, too, have a 2019 Ascent and only left the hatchback open for 10-15 minutes as I was loading up the car. Closed the hatchback, got into the car and... car battery DEAD with my dogs LOCKED INSIDE and no way to get them out in 100 DEGREE WEATHER!! Dogs were in crates that faced the hatchback too! INCREDIBLY SCARY SITUATION!! And... the "SOS"/Starlink does NOT work if the car won't start either! It's a BIG PROBLEM for some with dogs like Subaru advertises!! SO PO'd!! (Car has less than 2k miles on it!)