2017 SUBARU OUTBACK Electrical System Problems

The Vehicle's electrical system is actively draining the battery of power. This is a known problem by Subaru.

Battery is not holding a charge, causing electrical issues (windows not working properly, locks not functioning) and for the vehicle to fail to start. The battery is brand new and this is still an issue. 45,000 miles on the vehicle, there were no warning lights indicating a bad battery. This has not been confirmed yet by a dealership/mechanic/insurance.

The battery constantly drains completely when the car is not used for several days. We have been replacing or recharging the battery several times.

I bought the car new. 2 years later the battery died. I had to replace the battery again this summer. That’s 2 batteries in less than 5 years. I just received the notification about the electrical problem Subaru knew about since 2017.

Battery died prematurely. Also, there was a lot of corrosion on the battery that might have started a fire had the battery not died before further danger had happened.

Battery discharged on multiple occasions, necessitating jump starts and eventual battery replacement.

Battery was defective.

I have had to buy 2 batteries since I bought the vehicle!! I have 60038 miles on it- One within 6 months of purchase Subaru Tyler Tx and the second roughly one year ago Patriot Subara Saco,Maine I’ve had to get jumped by AAA at least 3 times in past 2 years No one can give me a definitive answer to why my batteries don’t last…

Our car battery does not hold a charge. One year ago January we had Triple AAA replace the battery after several problems starting. This year we have had 3 calls to Triple AAA to charge the battery. It starts right up when they apply the charger--alternator tests as working properly, battery tests OK once charged--but the problem keeps happening. I am now afraid to take it anywhere where I might be stranded. Got a card about a class action lawsuit against Subaru regarding battery drainage issues. I mentioned this to the Triple A tech who mused, "You know, I have had a lot of dead battery calls in the last year for Subarus." Since AAA changed that battery a year and a half ago, he said if it happens again, they will replace the battery because it is under their warranty. The Subaru dealership has not sent us a recall...

Battery constantly drains. New battery (8/22) will not hold charge.

Multiple battery failures with regular usage. Had to replace battery with AAA on a weekend evening. 10/6/2019 new battery cost $148.42, plus hours of waiting time. In 2021, two calls to AAA to jump start dead battery from regular usage.

The battery keeps draining. This is our second battery replacement. Had to jump start the car few times.

My battery has died on multiple occasions and it has not been user error. It dies about every 2 months if I haven't driven it long distances. I got a new battery and have the same problem. When I get it charged, I'm told it was completely drained.

NHTSA report We purchased this vehicle used on 9/11/2019 from Subaru of Spokane in Spokane Washington. The car has failed to start and required towing to the servicing Subaru dealership Carter Subaru of Ballard, WA where they have replaced the battery, (twice) and fuses. In three years, this car is on its third battery and has failed to provide reliable use, required towing, and two weeks of lost use. This is apparently a well-established issue--Subaru of America has lost at least one class action suit in NJ, as well as a Lemon Law case in California. However, these two dealers in Washington State are behaving as if they have never heard of the issue and are not forthcoming in fixing the problem so it does not reoccur.

I had a battery that was about 1 year old that died suddenly. I called Triple AAA and they replaced it, and 1 week later, the new battery died and the car wouldn't start, so AAA came and replaced it again. 3 days after that the 3rd battery died. AAA confirmed both times that there was nothing wrong with the alternator and everything looked fine. Looking online it seems that this has been a common issue with Subaru Outbacks.

Started car and all warning lights on dash were flashing. Turned car off and car would not start and there was a loud ticking noise coming from the engine bay.Contacted AAA and technician checked battery and verified that it was dead and he was not able to start the car and this time there was a different loud ticking noise with all dash warning lights flashing. Installed higher quality battery and the car would not start with the same result. Had car towed by AAA (9/12/2022) to our local Subaru dealer for diagnosis. After 5 days the Joint Box or BIU part #82201AL20A was defective. These are the Subaru code defects from the dealer are B1578, B1401 and B1411. Cost to repair including diagnosis is $956.02. Previous battery/electrical issue in 2018. Battery drained by electronic brake fixed under warranty.

Battery failure ( would not charge or hold a charge)

This is the same issue we are seeing with our other Subaru where we come out to drive and the battery is dead. We would jump the battery and be able to drive for the day and the next day the battery is dead in the morning. I replaced the battery several times over the last few year and the battery would die with a less than 2 month old battery. I was driving around in both cars with jumper cables permanently. After taking it to the dealer, the battery was in great condition, the alternator was charging properly and there is a known electrical issue with this model and year that is part of a class action lawsuit. I had to replace my rear gate module electrical unit because it was going on and off in the night and draining my battery. I will be looking to get re-eimbursed...

Battery drains completely when not driven for2 to 3 days

Battery has been replaced 3 times in two years.

Battery drains completely when parked for a week. Replaced the battery after it happened twice. After replacement, battery still drains after being parked for a week resulting in the vehicle having to be jump started.

My battery is constantly needing to be jump started even after replacing it twice. The battery tests are always good. If I open my trunk while the car is not running, I have to get it jumped. I’m currently unloading groceries and what not with the car running to save myself from having to get jumped.

Since I purchased this car, I had the battery drain to the point the lift gate would not open and kept beeping as if something was wrong with the car. I replaced the battery and the problem corrected itself. I am now having lights in the dashboard go out and the power windows stop working. There appears to be an issue with the electrical system.

Battery has paracitic draw caused by ECU problem. Battery dies if not driven every day.

Battery continually drains. I have had 2 replaced since May. I have contacted Subaru and they said I just have not driven it around enough after battery install. I have had them check for a drain, and they can’t find anything. There are no lights on or any other reason to drain the battery. This coincides with my key becoming stuck in the ignition. Waiting on a part to replace the ignition under warranty.

Frequent battery draining requiring battery to either be replaced or charged unless car is driven daily.

The power rear lift gate mechanism frequently does not work. Even when car is unlocked the rear lift gate refuses to open just giving a 3 beep warning. The back can be manually opened but not by me as it is extremely hard to lift. Sometimes the gate only opens partially, or only closes partially. After my husband manually moves the gate it does not close fully and does not lock so we have no guarantee objects from inside the vehicle will not fall out while moving. Additionally, if my dog is in the car and the gate is inoperable I cannot get him out. Today it only opened part way and I accidentally walked straight into the edge of the gate almost knocking me out! This is a problem that comes and goes - it worked today in Walmart parking lot but not when I arrived home. The dealer...

Battery drainage started to happen very frequently after that date. Causing us travel with Jumper cables all the time.

My charging system fails to keep my battery charged . This happens irregularly - even when the car has just sat in the garage for two or three days. We have not left the doors open or the lights on. It's very frustrating.

The battery of the car keep dying, leaving us stranded in what could possibly be unsafe situations. We have gotten the battery checked out numerous times at the dealership, plus got a battery replacement in October 2020 but it still keeps occurring. This is a 2017 Outback with less than 30,000 miles, so should not be happening.

Car has repeated failed to start due to drained battery. Battery is drained by system. This has occurred dozens of times since the car was purchased new. Date of most recent occurrence is listed below.

Battery found dead 2x First time July 2021, replaced battery Second time July 2022, car will not start

Battery continually found dead requiring frequent jump starts

Repeated battery drained issues. Multiple batteries replaced.

2 June 2022 Incident started with tail gate issues (would not respond when the button was pressed, beeped straight about 3-5 minutes). Took car to the dealership, they did the parasitic drain test, and found that the battery no longer held a charge. Replaced the battery and then tested for a draw. Found that there was draw from the DCM (data communication module). That is scheduled to be replaced as is the back up battery. Of note, the car was purchased new in July of 2017, and returned to dealer with a dead battery 27 February 2019 (7556 miles on the odometer) at which point the battery replaced. The car was taken to the dealership again for battery issues 4 January 2020 (they charged the battery) and 27 March 2020 (battery tested fine, and they jump started the car). All work on the car has been done by either Briggs...

Premature battery draining. This is the 3rd battery purchased for my 2017 Subaru Outback. The most recent battery was purchased on 05/11/2022. Today (05/28/2022) I went to leave for work and the entire system is dead. Not the first time I had this problem and as mentioned this is the 3rd battery purchased in the past 2 years.

The car failed to start after the battery drained when the car was turned off even though no lights, etc. we’re left on. No warning lamps/messages were provided prior.

Purchased vehicle new Dec 2016. Battery being drained on more than one occasion requiring jump to start. Had to call tow truck for jump until purchased charger to have in vehicle. Also corrosion accumulates on battery. Took to dealer first time and had checked out but no problem was identified. Happened again yesterday (05/19/2022). When this occurs there is a clicking sound from the fuse box under the hood. Found many complaints online referencing this problem with no resolutions. Understand there is a class action law suite in progress.

Battery is going dead after short periods of time. Replaced battery 3x in the last year and a half. After researching, this is a big problem with the 2017 Subaru Outback

After the Second battery gave us a problems I asked for a larger battery with extended warranty. They couldn’t do that so I bought an Interstate battery for $115 plus $125 bracket March 16,2022. We had paid Subaru $160 for the original battery replacement in 10/16/19.

The battery has drained on at least 4 occasions, resulting in 3 tow trips to the dealer. I left the vehicle there one time for 2 weeks while on vacation so they could watch for and analyze drain. Nothing was found they said. The dealer replaced the battery at least once and I bought a ‘platinum’-level toe one at at car parts store.

The battery doesn’t last as long as I think it should. The car is 5 years old and I’m on my 3rd battery.that doesn’t seem normal.

Battery unexplainable discharged itself overnight. The vehicle was not running, all doors were closed and locked, and all lights were off.

I started having battery issues with my car. I had my car at the mechanic for a regular state inspection. They told me that I had a bad battery that it had died numerous times. I was shocked because I had never jumpstarted my car in the past. I began to believe the dealership sold me the car with a bad battery. I knew this because I tried to drive the car out of the lot when I first purchased and the battery was dead. They told me to come back the next day and they would have a new battery in it. I guessed then that they never replaced the battery. So I then purchased a new battery from the mechanic. 6 months later my car wouldn't start. I had left nothing running in the car. The next day my car started. Then 2 months later, my husband drove...

Battery drains periodically. Jump gets me back up and running but this is a known Subaru Outback issue.

We have had to replace the battery on our Outback 4 times in 5 years. We have been told that we have so many Bells & Whistles on the Outback that frequently having to replace the battery is a common occurring problem..... The battery just dies with warning. I have been told by the Service Department that they have checked the system and that there is NOTHING wrong with the car. My daughter saw the recalls and problem list online and this is why I am lodging my complaint so others will be aware. This is the 3rd Subaru we have owned and this has never occurred with the two Foresters we owned.This is a SAFETY concern as the battery just dies without warning....anywhere, any time....

I have a 2017 Subaru Outback that has constant dead battery problems. I have purchased 5 batteries, the last one a month ago and today the car would not start again. Jumped it, drove it 30 min., and now it starts but don’t trust it to start tomorrow morning.

We purchased a new battery on 12/21/21. During the latter part of February thru March 9, 2022 we have kept the car in our garage and twice during this time frame the battery was completely dead. Requiring us to put battery charger on battery, charging for period of time in order to start car. We have had battery tested at service center where battery was purchased and they say there is nothing wrong with the battery and have refused to replace it. We have seen where other Subaru Outback owners have experienced similar problems. There must be some type of electrical issue with these vehicles that causes a drain on the batteries. This appears to be a problem that should be investigated on these vehicles. We should not be stranded knowing car has a brand new battery!

Have replaced the battery on three different occasions in our vehicle. Research shows that Subaru knows that this is an issue for 2015 to 2020 Subaru Outbacks and there is a class action lawsuit regarding this battery drain issue. The defect is called a CAN (controller area network) issue that drains the battery. Reading postings on the internet, numerous individuals who own Subarus with this issue have been stranded. There needs to be a recall regarding this issue that Subaru is well aware.

Vehicle battery drains intermittently for no reason. Subaru claims nothing is wrong but replaced the battery. The problem has not changed.