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The New Subaru Outback Feature Owners Dislike The Most And How To Turn It Off

There is one new Subaru Outback feature that owners despise. See what it is and how to turn it off.

The Subaru Outback is the top-selling model in Subaru of America's lineup, but it could be better. It has a fuel-saving feature that owners dislike the most. The new Subaru Outback owners tell me they despise the stop/start system on the midsize SUV more than anything else on the car. 

I have discussed before that the Auto-Stop-Start is one of the new Subaru vehicles' most controversial fuel-efficiency features. The Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, and Legacy all come with auto stop/start. Here is why and what you can do about it. 

2024 Subaru Outback siiting on a dealers lot

photo credit: Tucson Subaru

Many automakers use a system that automatically stops the engine when you come to a complete stop for more than a few seconds. It's designed to save fuel whenever the car stops at a stop sign, or you wait at a traffic light.

The frequent starting and stopping of the engine are tiresome to drivers who live in urban areas, especially if you commute in heavy stop-and-go traffic every day. And many Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, and Legacy owners say they don't like the car stopping and starting because it shakes the car every time the engine starts back up.

2024 Subaru Outback with auto stop/start feature

photo credit: Schumacher Subaru

Some drivers say they don't like the car stopping and starting because they fear the system could fail and the engine won't restart and leave them stranded. They also consider the extra wear on the engine and starter.

The SAE says it does save fuel.

Automakers use the system to increase gas mileage numbers, but do they save enough fuel to be worthwhile? I covered this information in a previous article, but it's worth repeating. According to a study conducted by the Society of American Engineers (SAE), turning your car's engine off is beneficial if it is going to be idling for at least seven seconds.

Within that range of time, enough fuel is saved to restart the car. So, fuel will be saved whenever the engine is shut off for over seven seconds. I know of one stoplight on my commute where I can sit for as long as two minutes. After a period of time, the fuel savings add up.

Why is it worse than other automaker's technology?

Subaru's stop/start system shakes the car more than any other automaker's. A recent San Diego Union-Tribune column says Subaru is among the worst for engine vibration on restart. They say Subaru's Boxer engine design, in which the horizontally opposed pistons create more significant side-to-side movement and more vibration.

How to turn off Subaru's Auto Start/Stop 

There is good and bad news. You can turn off the auto/start system. 

The Auto Stop-Start can be disabled on the 2020-2021 Subaru Outback, Forester, Legacy, and Crosstrek. It's different for each model, and the problem is that you cannot permanently turn it off in some models like Forester. 

The new Outback and Legacy do have a feature on its new 11.6-inch touchscreen menu, and you can turn off the system. On the home screen, push the car icon button to change the settings and click "Others," allowing you to turn off the Auto Stop-Start system.

The bad news

The bad news is the system will always default to an on position once you turn the car off. So, whenever you return to your vehicle, you must manually disable the system.

The Auto Stop-Start on the new Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, and Legacy is the most disliked feature on Subaru models. But it will save fuel if you live in an urban area. 

Your turn:

What is your experience with Subaru's auto Stop/Start System? 

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this Subaru Outback story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

For additional articles related to the 2024 Subaru Outback, here are a few of my top stories you may enjoy. 

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Check out: How to turn off Subaru Auto Start Stop YouTube video from Alex Prestigiacomo

I am Denis Flierl, a 12-year Torque News senior writer with 20+ years of Subaru and automotive journalism experience. I enjoy bringing you, the Subaru fans and customers, the most up-to-date Subaru news, reviews, and new model information. You'll find the latest Subaru stories on the Subaru page. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blogSubaruReportAll Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierlFacebook, and Instagram.

I’ve got you covered! - I cover all Subaru all the time - It’s called the “Subaru Report.” Check back daily for my expert Subaru analysis!

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photo credit: main image Tucson Subaru

Comments

John (not verified)    November 16, 2023 - 9:05AM

In reply to by Peter Rosser (not verified)

Aggravating in rush hour stop and go traffic.
I understand the benefits, particularly in long idling situations, but in stop and go traffic there was nothing more annoying than the engine doing a constant on-off, on-off, on off, on off.
You should be able program the computer to longer idle times before it turns off the engine.

David (not verified)    November 17, 2023 - 6:42PM

In reply to by Peter Rosser (not verified)

It is easy to to permanently turn it off by disconnecting a plug in front of the top of the radiator. This will bring up an error on the dash indicating that the bonnet is open, no big deal but it works, not only on the Outback.

Doug (not verified)    November 13, 2023 - 11:09AM

In 30 days the engine was off 4 hours
And 2.216 gallons of gas
If I could not see results i probably wouldn’t like the feature

Jesse (not verified)    November 13, 2023 - 11:35AM

As a teenager in the day, I grew up driving our family's 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne. I got my driver's license using this car for the road test. It had a 6-cylinder, 3-speed manual transmission. No power steering or brakes. No A/C and an AM radio, for those who remember AM. A stripper of a car.

Without a doubt, the vehicles today are far safer and cleaner than ever before. The vehicles today are the result of meeting government regulations. Not an anti-government rant, just a statement of fact. Lives have been saved as a result of this safety equipment.

Now to the stop/start feature on today's vehicles. Three years ago I was in the market for a new vehicle. I didn't want a CVT transmission. That transmission was put into use for improved gas mileage. A turbo engine was acceptable, but really didn't want that either. A stop/start was a no go but with one caveat........a self-defeat button made the stop/start feature acceptable. The stop/start feature was not demanded by the consumer, it was forced upon the consumer without any input. In fact, the defeat button has been added in response to customer input. As far as saving gas goes, my 2020 SUV is 3 years old with almost 24,000 miles on it. Now that's saving gas.

Timothy J. Bezpiaty (not verified)    November 13, 2023 - 1:54PM

You're kidding me, right? So u just wasted my time reading your article (which are usually worthwhile) just to tell me about the factory off switch I've been using since day one of ownership re: the '24 Outback? You disapoint me Dennis. Now, I did glean some new information so it wasn't a total loss. Mainly the reason the Subaru's are so much more vibratory on restart than any other newish car I've experienced. The question that prompts then is why the same amount of vibration is not felt upon startup of the older Subaru's I've known? Like: '97 Legacy wagon, '07 WRX wagon, '05 Legacy GT turbo wagon, 09 STi and 15 Forester XT. Are the new 2.4's more prone to this than other Fuji Heavy Industry boxers? Overall the '24 is very impressive. It has the best front seats I've ever sat on. Excellent side bolstering yet extremely comfortable to the human form. One of the quietest interiors which let's u hear things in familiar music u didn't kno were there. On the negative side the interior eyesight is an irritating safety nanny. The smallest glance away prompts audible finger wagging immediately. How about a "real" fix for that?

Udit Minocha (not verified)    November 13, 2023 - 7:15PM

Don't mind when the car restarted. The engine restarting is noticeable and think the shaking is over blown. My main thing is the wearing out of the starter. There are short lights around town when I turn off the on-off thing and there are long lights when I wish I didn't.

Michael Fleet (not verified)    November 13, 2023 - 10:08PM

My istop was disabled when I plugged a trailer plug in, just the plug with no wires connected. A 2018 Outback. For some reason, "just like magic". Mike Fleet NZ.

RE Miller (not verified)    November 15, 2023 - 4:19PM

Saved 2 gallons in 50K miles. How much does a new OEM starter cost? How much fuel does it take to manufacture a starter? Nonsense. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

Michael Robinson (not verified)    November 16, 2023 - 6:26AM

I have a 23 Crosstrek, I don't care for the auto start/stop personally.
I don't turn it off, I figured out that if you just don't press the brake in hard it doesn't trigger the auto stop. I assume there is a switch that triggers if you press the brake a certain distance.
So to those that can't stand it, play with your brake foot a little and find that sweet spot to avoid triggering it.
Also if you turn your heat or a/c on high that also appears to override the auto start/stop feature.

Hope this helps someone.
Happy driving!

F Weathersbee (not verified)    November 16, 2023 - 3:43PM

My 2021 cross trek sport start stop will not operate if I'm easy on the brake pedal when stopped, try it.

Kathy (not verified)    November 17, 2023 - 7:21PM

How do you turn off the weather notices? When the temperature drops to 37 , it says roads may be icy. I live in Minnesota, 37 is tshirt weather. Also severe storm warnings never go away when the storm is 50 miles to the East.

Walter Smith (not verified)    November 19, 2023 - 6:15AM

While the auto-start/stop is annoying, I dislike the front-end collision avoidance feature more. It only activates when they vehicle in front of me is turning and will be out of my way before I reach where it currently is. Like the auto-start/stop feature, it defaults to on every time the vehicle is shut off and restarted. I have gotten into the habit that, as soon as I start the vehicle, I turn off the auto-start/stop and the front-end collision avoidance. Then, before backing out of the garage, I turn off the rear obstacle detection. Every time.

Ds (not verified)    November 20, 2023 - 9:20PM

Of course this is the most hated feature in every car. I rent cars frequently for work and it is the first thing I figure out how to shut off.

DSS (not verified)    July 9, 2024 - 1:26AM

I absolutely don't like the auto start on/off!!!!
However, it is not just Subarus auto on/off that I dislike. I actually dislike them all on every car on every model.

ONE BIG ISSUE I have with my forester is the back up feature. I live on a hill so when I back down my driveway the auto brake engages. 1. This is actually quite dangerous when pulling out of my driveway because not only is my driveway a hill with a 8% incline but it is also on a **blind corner**! 2. I am really starting to worry about getting whiplash because of how hard the car jerks when it stops.
I know I can turn this feature off manually every time I start my car. For situations such as mine, Subaru really should make this feature able to permanently disabled. Other than that big issue that might someday get myself or someone in my family seriously injured I love the forester!!