NHTSA Complaint #11361508 — 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK

ORIGINAL OWNER, PURCHASED NEW 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED IN EARLY 2015. WE HAVE REPLACED BATTERY FOUR TIMES AND HAVE HAD TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE ~ 25 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. THERE IS CLEARLY A PARASITIC ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE BATTERY THAT IS WIDELY DISCUSSED IN ONLINE FORUMS BY FELLOW OWNERS BUT NOT ACKNOWLEDGED BY SUBARU OR ITS DEALERS (PRESUMABLY TO MITIGATE LIABILITY RISKS AND AVOID REPAIR COSTS). WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE DEALERS ADDRESS THE ISSUE BUT THEY GIVE US BS ANSWERS LIKE "YOU DON'T DRIVE THE CAR ENOUGH", "YOU MUST HAVE LEFT LIGHTS ON", OR "THESE NEWER CARS HAVE SO MANY NEW ELECTRICAL FEATURES THAT IT IS TYPICAL FOR BATTERIES TO DIE" .... ALL OF WHICH ARE CLEARLY BS AND AN ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR A FLAWED ELECTRICAL DESIGN THAT CONSISTENTLY DRAINS ALL BATTERIES. MOREOVER, PART OF THE FLAW IS A SYSTEM THAT WAS DESIGNED TO ONLY RECHARGE THE BATTERY UNDER CERTAIN HIGHER SPEED DRIVING CONDITIONS ... WHICH ARE RARELY ACHIEVED WHEN DRIVING SHORTER DISTANCES AT LOWER SPEEDS IN CITY APPLICATIONS. EVEN WHEN DRIVING THE CAR REGULARLY, MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK THE BATTERIES ALL EVENTUALLY DIE WELL SHORT OF THEIR INTENDED LIFE NEEDLESSLY REQUIRING JUMP-STARTING, TRICKLE-CHARGING TO TOP OFF BATTERY AND/OR REPLACEMENT (WE ARE ON 4TH BATTERY FOR THIS VEHICLE). SUBARU SHOULD SHOW ITS "LOVE" BY STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX DESIGN PROBLEMS THAT ARE AFFECTING SO MANY CUSTOMERS.