Updated Subaru Drained Battery Lawsuit Settlement - What Owners Need To Know

Our 2021 Outback Touring XT had the battery die 4 (or was it 5?) times up to April 8, 2023. Went to the local dealer where I purchased it asking them to take a look at it. To my surprise they put in a new heavier duty 750 CCA RC 120 unit. While in the waiting room another Outback owner came in with a dead battery issue. He was told the cargo light had been left on when they were told they could leave now, the vehicle was running. Now that I've found this page, I will be able to make informed decisions going forward. We do go 7-10 days, at times, without driving anywhere, but that's what we do. I don't see an EV in my future.

Sadly, I have a 2005 Subaru Outback LL Bean wagon. I started having parasitic draining just recently. Actually it started right before I needed a new battery and have had to jump it every morning for the past couple months. I don't drive it everyday but the charge doesn't last but a day and I see there's no class action including the 2005. I've always had weird things go wrong with my CD player, radio and now I have a CD jammed in there and I assume it might be the CD player but I heard that the fuse for that also is for the air conditioner and I live in the desert and cannot go without an air conditioner. Anybody have any suggestions?

I have a 2021 Impreza with same battery issues and a few other electrical problems showed immediately. Still trying to get last issue resolved.

I am so angry with Subaru and the dealership I have been dealing with. I carry a jump starter. They tell me it is the bluetooth draining the battery and they want $700+ to fix it. I doubt that that is even what is draining it. Subaru needs to do the right thing.

I have only owned my 2017 Forrester since last July and it only has 62,000 miles and I've already replaced 3 batteries. Clearly the battery isn't the issue and I'm pissed. I have been stranded at my farm 3 times and have had to pay over $700 for towing. Subaru needs to fix this problem ASAP! I have never owned a new car; I always bought used Hondas, and my crappy old Hondas never broke down on me like this Subaru has. So much for the dream car--wish I would've just bought another crappy used Honda.

2018 Subaru legacy I premium has the battery drain issue. Subaru starlink says software update failed. Had unit replace due to bubbles on touch screen. Removed DCM caused no starlink, no front speaker, voice assisted call and navigation all no longer work put the DCM back in. Removing the DCM is not acceptable solution for me.
I bought a halo jump starter. Annoying to have to jump it each morning. Better than constantly buying batteries

Bought a pre-owned 2021 Forester in February of 2023. It’s May and the battery has died twice already. After reading all the information on Subaru’s issues and lack of action to fix, I am regretting this purchase.

You must include the 2021 Outback under battery issues. I am on my third with a vehicle still under 25,000 miles. The first one failed at under 5,000 miles. It was replaced as defective with no mention of systemic problems.
The second one was replaced at under 20,000 miles. Looking at the system this time, they did a thorough examination that cost the dealership $400.00. It is too early to claim it was fixed.

A second and more crucial breakdown was in the braking system, which could have easily been a fatality with a less skilled driver. As I approached stopped traffic at a signal, the brakes failed at 55mph on a highway. I brought the car to a stop by dangerously making a U-turn out of the risk of crashing.
The next incident had a worse outcome. I exited a freeway onto a transition road with a lengthy line of stopped vehicles. Without the ability to brake, I attempted to thread a narrow gap between the cars and a concrete barrier. Too narrow at one place, I sideswiped the concrete wall damaging the passenger side. At another dealership, they too could not replicate the failure. Having been in police driver training, the idea was accepted that what happened was not driver error. The service advisor noted she had not seen a company warning about this issue. It remains a problem so I'm returning the Outback to the dealer.

Excessive Battery Drainage

The 1st 4 years of my 2019 Outback went without incident. During 2023 there have been three times when my Subaru Outback has completely drained the battery overnite while sitting in my driveway.

The 1st time(last spring) I had a new battery installed by AAA. After all it was four years old, so I wasn't surprised. The 2nd incident this past summer and I had my local Subaru dealer check things out. No definitive diagnosis was made.

Number three was a couple of days ago and Subaru is still assessing the problem.

It was suggested that I don't drive enough! Wrong. My driving habits have not changed in the last 20 years.

There is a problem with my 2019 Subaru Outback and Subaru insists it is my problem and I should buy a trickle charger to attach each evening. This is an absurd response!

This letter will be posted on as many forums as I can locate.

I have a 2019 Crosstrek on my second battery and looking at my third. The sub runs 6 days a week with plenty of time to charge the battery. Every morning the battery is low on power. If I don't use the sub for 2 days it won't start.

I am experiencing the same problem and w/ 2020 Subaru Impreza and the Garcia Subaru dealership in Albuquerque,NM advised me this am that the vehicle needs to be startred every 2 days- really?