NHTSA Complaint #11341113 — 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK

OUR 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, WITH FEWER THAN 800 MILES, FAILED TO START FOUR TIMES (6/1, 7/1, 7/10, & 7/13). DURING THESE INCIDENTS, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED, THE DASHBOARD PRODUCED A CLICKING SOUND, THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK, AND THE TAILGATE BECAME INOPERATIVE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SUCCESSFULLY JUMP-STARTED THE CAR EACH TIME AND TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING -- ONE IN SEATTLE AND ONE IN TACOMA. TWO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SERVICE PROVIDERS SAID THEIR MOST FREQUENT SERVICE CALLS REQUIRING A JUMP-START WERE FOR "LATE MODEL SUBARUS. ONE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE RECEIVED MORE THAN 100 SUCH REQUESTS DURING THE PAST THREE MONTHS. THE TACOMA DEALER FILED AM URFCA REPORT WITH SUBARU HEADQUARTERS AFTER THE THIRD INCIDENT. DURING THE FOURTH INCIDENT, THE BATTERY FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE TACOMA DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY ON JULY 13, 2020. AFTER RECHARGING THE BATTERY, IT TOOK A FEW DAYS OF BEING PARKED BEFORE THE BATTERY FAILED. DURING THIS LAST INCIDENT, I INTENTIONALLY LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER OVER A WEEKEND, WHICH WAS LONG ENOUGH FOR THE RECENTLY CHARGED BATTERY TO DRAIN ENOUGH TO FAIL TO START THE CAR. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THESE CARS NEED TO BE DRIVEN AT LEAST 30 MINUTES PER TRIP TO SUFFICIENTLY RECHARGE THE BATTERY. WE'VE OWNED FIVE SUBARU OUTBACKS, AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS ADVICE BEFORE, NOR DID THE DEALER'S SALES REPRESENTATIVE CALL THIS TO OUR ATTENTION WHEN WE PURCHASED THE 2020 OUTBACK. OUR LIFESTYLE, COUPLED WITH THE COVID-19 VIRUS, ONLY REQUIRES ONE OR TWO TRIPS PER MONTH LASTING MORE THAN 30 MINUTES. THE CAR SITS IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO TO THREE DAYS WITHOUT BEING STARTED. WE ALWAYS LOCK THE VEHICLE, TURN OFF ALL LIGHTS, CLOSE THE TAILGATE, AND KEEP THE KEY FOB IN THE HOUSE, WHICH IS MORE THAN 500 FEET FROM THE DETACHED GARAGE.