NHTSA Complaint #11408577 — 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, I'VE ARRIVED AT MY CAR AFTER A REASONABLY SHORT TIME AWAY - EACH TIME OVERNIGHT, PARKED IN MY GARAGE - TO FIND MY BATTERY FULLY DRAINED. I WONDERED IF I HAD LEFT MY LIGHTS ON, AND IF THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT THE CONTROLS FOR MY HEADLAMPS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. NEXT, I WONDERED IF I HAD LEFT A DOOR AJAR, OR AN INTERIOR LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION. I NEVER FOUND A DOOR AJAR. I NEVER FOUND AN INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH ON. I TAKE MY CAR INTO FARAWAY CORNERS OF THE WILDERNESS ON OCCASION. I CANNOT RISK BATTERY DRAIN WHEN I RETURN TO MY CAR AFTER A DAY OR TWO OF ADVENTURE. TO BE SAFE AFTER THESE INCIDENTS, I REMOVED THE LIGHTBULB FROM THE "WAY BACK" OF MY SUBARU OUTBACK. I DID THIS TO AVOID ACCIDENTALLY DRAINING THE BATTERY IF I LEFT THAT LIGHT ON (EASY TO GO UNNOTICED). FURTHER, I KEEP EACH OF THE OTHER INTERIOR LIGHT SWICH CONTROLS IN THE OFF POSITION. I CHANGED THIS FROM THE "ON WHEN A DOOR IS OPEN" POSITION THAT I USED TO KEEP THE SWITCHES IN, AGAIN TO ENSURE THAT I DON'T ACCIDENTALLY DRAIN THE BATTERY. DURING MY NEXT MAINTENANCE VISIT WITH MY SUBARU DEALER'S MAINTENANCE TEAM (AN OIL CHANGE, I BELIEVE), I DISCUSSED THE BATTERY FAILURE WITH THE TECHNICIAN. I ASKED THE PERSON IF THERE WAS SOME WAY SET A SOFTWARE CONTROL SO THAT NO LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF FOR MORE THAN SOME SET PERIOD OF TIME (FOR INSTANCE, 10 MINUTES, OR A HALF HOUR). THE TECHNICIAN SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TO SET THAT FOR THE CAR. I REGULARLY CHECK TO ENSURE THAT I'M NOT LEAVING MY FRONT SEAT, OR MID-SEAT LIGHTS ON SINCE MY BATTERY HAD DRAINED ON THOSE OCCASIONS. I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED, HOWEVER, IF THE PROBLEM WAS SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH MY CAR, RATHER THAN MY OWN POTENTIAL MISTAKE. MORE AND MORE, I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL BATTERY DRAIN ISSUE.