Subaru’s Worst Feature, Auto Stop-Start Truths Revealed

It has become a habitual part of driving my 2022 Crosstrek to reach to the dash and manually disable the auto start/stop feature EVERY time the engine is started. The sensation is too harsh when shutting off (feels like an engine stall) and there's too much of a delay to resume motion. The wear and tear on starter and battery surely will have some affect. The higher capacity battery will also be more expensive when replacement is needed, I'm sure.

2019 Forester Sport owner and I hate the A.S.S. but found out if I have my rear defrost on then the A.S.S. will never engage. And even on hot days my older version of A.S.S. definitely won't let my AC run full blast and turns to vent mode and is ridiculous.

The auto start/stop is the feature on my 2024 Crosstrek Limited that I strongly dislike.
It is the first thing I turn off when starting the car.
I wish the default setting could be changed. I don’t want some Big Brother controlling the start/stop default setting.
Some day EV and charging stations will evolve to the point that auto start/stop will be a thing of the past. But not today.

Agree with most of the negative comments, and habitually turn it off when starting the car. The worst part is definitely a stop sign at a busy crossroads; that pause can seem like forever when trying to cross busy traffic.

I have my Outback for three months and no only do I hate the stop/start feature, the car is a gas guzzler. It can’t even get 19 mpg. I hate everything about this car except for the comfort. I regret my decision to buy it.

I have a 2021 Forester Touring
I had to replace my starter 4 months ago. I had about 46,000 miles on my car. I was on a major highway turnimg left. Not good Many tries it worked. Took to my
Dealer replaced the starter.

"The auto start-stop has a sensor to determine if the ambient temperature outside the vehicle exceeds the temperature inside. If it is, the car engine will not shut off." This is absolutely not the case with my 2021 Forester. I guarantee you I'm not keeping the inside of my car at 90-100 degrees here in the summer, and the car regularly auto stops if I forget to disable it every time I start the car. I'll also echo the concerns about the stopping causing safety concerns when I need to move quickly from a paused position and that it has on several occasions caused the whole car to shut down and have to be put in park and restarted--not safe.

I have a 2023 Outback. The feature is annoying due to the effect it has on the steering wheel. At times, when the engine starts automatically, it will literally jerk the wheel out of your hands. This is shocking and sometimes painful. I wish I'd known how aggressive it was before I bought it.

I really dislike the auto start/stop on my Outback. Whole car shutters n sometimes steering wheel even jerks a bit. Can't wait until my lease is over n I get something different. This is our 4th Subaru, but will be our last. Should be an option I don't have to turn off every time.

I turn off start stop as soon as engine turns over. For the wear and tear it puts on battery starter and engine it's not worth it to save some gasoline and emissions.I also read whether true or not that start stop could be causing more problems.The TCV which has a design problem anyway could be breaking down sooner with what was called pooling.Whatever not worth it to me I hate it

I like it. I had the car for a year and the counter shows it turned off the engine for over 7 hours now. For me that's a significant enough environmental saving. I will disable the auto-stop sometimes when stuck in slow moving traffic coming to a halt too often, but otherwise I leave it on. When you're used to its behavior, it's easy to get ready to move and I don't feel like I'm losing a lot of reactivity. It's a outback, not a race car 😅

I bought a adapter the disabled the stupid feature completely. $100 well spent.

The auto stop start feature has to be creating more wear and tear on the starter. If companies mandate this stupidity, then the starter should have a lifetime warranty.

i agree!!!
auto stop/start should not be default feature, it should be an option to turn on, if desired.
another "feature" is TPMS. it cannot be turned off and if it fails [inevitably will], it is an expensive excercise to get it running again!

I bought 2020 xv Subaru new. It has A button, I always use the button. I would check the next Subaru made sure it has A.
Thank you

I have a 2015 Forester, and I try not to use the Stop Start function for a short stop. It can be very sensitive though, and hopefully the newer models have an improved system that works for the driver.

Denis. Did you state whether or not the Autostart Stop feature puts wear on starter motor or battery?

I intensely dislike the start/stop feature. It is noisy, uncomfortable and shakes the car when restarting.

I do not believe it saves significant fuel. Thank God, it can be turned off either by pressing the dash button, navigating the menus or turning on the rear defroster.

I would like to take the idiots who dreamed up this feature and drown them.

Just got my Crosstrek a few weeks ago. I didn't think I would like it. But honestly, I did save almost a gallon if gas on the first tank. So, I guess it does work.

I don't like the start stop feature on our 2019 Subaru Forester. The obvious problem is the jerk you get when it turns on. Many times it stops and starts when I am at a red light and my foot is on the brake. The dealership had no clue why it does that.

I have a 3year lease on a Subaru forester. I have to have a portable jump start because the start stop future drains the battery so the car will not start again.
I talked to a service rep and he told me that the next time it happens I need to call Subaru road side assistance and have them come and tow it to the dealership.
This is something that is impractical because the dealership is over 50 miles away.
I do not have time to wait for an hour to have them drive up here and tow it down to Datona beach just to find out I need a new battery. the Battery I can only imagine would cost over 100 dollars.

I have a 2024 Impreza with 2.5 liter. I always touch the icon you mentioned in the article. I live in the country and traffic moves well through the small city and villages in my area, so I prefer to keep the engine running.

Make start/stop on Crosstrek default to OFF!

I have a 2021 Subaru Forester Limited with auto stop technology. Last year (2023) I had to have the original battery replaced do to cells were dying and not putting out standard power. I asked Subaru maintenance specialist what causes to replace the $450.00 battery. I received an answer that I have been using too much auto stop system where it wore out the battery.

Hi Dennis,
I drive a 2020 Forester Subaru. I purchased it a year ago.
What is the best way to keep it working at top performance?
Who else can service my car other than Subaru?
Thank you for the information.
Delbra

The auto start-stop system is garbage!! I stop at a stop sight and then need to get out into traffic and I step on the gas and nothing happens. To me this hesitation is very dangerous! You should be able to switch the system off permanently.

My concern is engine wear with oil draining out of the engine to the pan during stop cycles. Could this increase extra wear of the engine?