2017 SUBARU OUTBACK Electrical System Problems

Battery drains too quickly. Lots of corrosion on battery terminals. Corrosion builds up over very short period of time. Risk of car not starting when needed. No warning lamps, or messages have come up. Battery problem could be related to other electronic issues like automatic windows, and cabin lights problems.

drove car to appointment, when tried to start just a few minutes later, vehicle was unresponsive anything electtrical would not work, had to be jumped off

I have been impacted by the issue with Subaru batteries. They drain when the car is not running and cause the vehicle to not start. I have replaced my battery multiple times now. This is a known issue with Subaru vehicles and is also the subject of a class action lawsuit against Subaru of North America.

the car battery gets completely drained after up to 24 hours of non use. this has happened repeatedly over the last couple months. replaced the battery and the same issue occurs with the new battery, completely drained after less then 2 days of not being used.

After replacing my battery today, I am on the third battery in 4 years. There is an apparent problem with parasitic battery drain with this vintage Outback. My car died at a gas station after getting gas. I work in an area with no cell coverage, so had this happened at work, I could have been remotely stranded. I had a local service center (not the dealer) confirm the battery drain. I had no warning message indicating an impending failure, but research shows that this is a known issue. I have contacted Subaru USA regarding potential software updates and/or component replacement and am awaiting their reply.

I am now on my SIXTH battery in my 2017 Subaru Outback, having had to replace it 5 times in the last 2 years. For a car that has less than 30,000 miles, is maintenanced regularly, taken care of and driven well, this is absurd. The dealership has acknowledged that there was a technical issue that was making the battery drain quickly, but even after reprogramming, the NEW battery still died a few months later. My research indicates there is a widely known issue with battery drainage on this model of car, and yet Subaru of America refuses to admit this or make it right, other than continuing to replace the battery again and again. I have been stuck in parking lots and away from my home, with two very small children, several times now and I worry about our safety as this continues to happen again and again.

Battery drains very fast. Sometimes the electrical system won't work properly; the trunk gate won't open, the auto up and down on the drivers side window controls may or may not work. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to this. There are no notifications that say there are any problems. Will have to replace battery soon.

The battery has started draining while sitting in a garage overnight. I had the battery replaced on 01/27/2022 at a reputable repair shop since the 2 year old battery was dead. This is the 3rd battery placed in this vehicle since I purchased it new in August, 2017. The charging and electrical system were checked every time and found to be working OK. The new battery drains overnight while the vehicle is sitting in a garage. I have placed a trickle charger to maintain the battery. However, I removed the charger and monitoring the voltage with the vehicle just sitting in the garage I see the voltage steadily dropping. Measurements as follows: Immediately after driving over 50 miles (11:25 AM)- 13.30 volts (13:20 PM) - 13.20 volts (16:00 PM) - 12.84 volts (18:00 PM) - 12.74 volts (20:00 OM) - 12.64 volts (05:30 AM) - 12.25 volts I have verified...

The battery drained suddenly and unexpectedly overnight. The last it was driven was during the day and I'm certain that no lights had been left on. This easily could have stranded me somewhere unsafe if the drain had not happened at home.

The battery drains prematurely due to defective electrical system.

Vehicle battery has failed for second time. Failure of battery to function and operate properly is a safety risk to the driver and other passengers in the vehicle for a number of reasons other Subaru owners have detailed in their vehicle complaints forms previously submitted. Original battery was replaced on 2 November 2020 under Subaru warranty. New battery has now failed on 22 January 2022, resulting in additional cost to owner to pay for towing service to transport vehicle to dealership for diagnosis and repair/replacement.

The battery in the vehicle completely drains if the vehicle is not started every day and run/driven for a period of time. I called the dealer where it was bought new by me and they told me it was a common thing that happens and just to make sure the interior lights went dark when the vehicle is parked. To me, that was a lame way to blow me off. I have talked to others that own these same vehicles and they have the battery drain issues as well. Being retired and owning 2 other vehicles, I do not drive the Subaru every day. On an average I have to jump start the vehicle at least twice a week. This is very discouraging to me since I paid so much for this car.

The battery is continually draining and requires the car to be jump started. This has been happening for the couple of years.

Car back door won't open, despite 3 new batteries. Remained locked so that couldn't remove equipment from back--Dangerous. Have been through 3 batteries in 26,000 miles....all that the car has been driven since it's purchase, new, in 2017.

Underlying and undiagnosed electrical issue is placing excessive load on battery to a point where battery can't recover. Have had issues on shorter drives and long drives. We are currently on 4 battery replacements in less than 18 month period. After a quick Google search is a common issue among other Outbacknowners. Best guess is something with a faulty design on alternator and/or electrical system which pulls power accelerating battery decay. Have taken to Subaru several times and they just say it is normal. This is not normal and very dangerous. We have been stranded several times. One time after a 7 hour drive on the other side of state (vacation).

The battery drains after not using the vehicle for 48hrs+. We've replaced the battery 3 times and have had to jump start the vehicle more than 10 times in the last 18mos. This causes a safety concern as there have been times where the vehicle wouldn't start in unsafe areas and late at night not to mention a major hassle to get transportation while stranded in the middle of an airport parking lot at night. This is happening temperature independent, cold and warm (60F+) with the only factor being if the car site for more than 2 days.

I have just over 33,000 miles. I already had to replace the battery. Its 60 degrees out this past week and with a 1 year battery the car doesnt start. I have had to get my car jumpstarted 5 times in the past 5 days because the battery goes completely dead. Not even enough power to unlock the doors. I have to use the manual key.

The battery in this vehicle consistently drains to the point it cannot start the car. It happened with the OME battery and all subsequent replacements. I reported it originally to Subaru on the date below but it has continued to happen and I have had to buy a portable charger along with new batteries to work around the issue. Leaving a door open for 15 mins or radio on for 4 mins without the engine running can be enough to cause the car needing a jump start to operate. Leaving an interior light on will also drain the battery but am less sure how long that needs to happen. I had been searching forms for a solution and saw I should report it here. This doesn't happen in my 2007 sedan so can't imagine this should be happening on this 2017 outback. I am also surprised the company has not...

The battery goes dead prematurely. This is a 2017 Outback and I am having to replace the battery for the third time already. Something is wrong with the electrical system.

I have had a number of unexplainable dead batteries. I have AAA and had battery jumped or battery replaced. In the last week I've had to call AAA assistance twice. Each time the battery and alternator test came back okay.

My battery has died seven times. I have received three battery replacements. Never a full solution. Windshield wipers never work properly either, despite changing brands.

Several times, sometimes overnight, car battery is dead when attempting to start. So far, I have found a .03A leak in the STOP circuit.

I purchased a used 2017 Subaru Outback Premium in January 2020 from Johnson Subaru in Raleigh, NC. It was a Certified car and had a brand new Subaru brand battery as part of the prep before the sale. That battery failed on Aug 23, 2021...less than 18 months old. A Subaru dealer agreed to replace it under the 2 year battery warranty. The free replacement Subaru brand battery that was installed in my Subaru Outback in August 2021 failed on November 28. 2021...less than 4 months old. The tests at O'Reilly Auto Parts on Nov 28th show the battery was delivering 0 volts. The alternator was tested, too, and it was providing 14 volts to the replacement battery. When Subaru installed this battery last August the Subaru Service Adviser told me that there was no warranty on a replacement battery because Subaru would only replace it once. Why aren't replacement...

Since purchasing this vehicle in May, 2017, I have had a dead battery 5 times. The original battery was replaced by Subaru in 2020 as it wasn’t holding a charge & a leak was found. I routinely drive my car a few times each week whether I need to or not as the dealership maintains that this is required to keep the battery charged. Today I attempted to start my car for another useless drive around town & it wouldn’t start. I cannot rely on my car being available to start when necessary.

The vehicle has an electrical problem or problems that drain the 12-volt battery leaving us stranded, unable to start the car. The problem or problems also lead to unreasonably short battery lifespans (average lifespan = 19-months). Subaru replaced the original battery under warranty after only 23-months. The Subaru warranty replacement battery (#2) died after only 12-months, and we paid for an emergency replacement through AAA at a cost of $145.88. Today, Subaru informed me that the third battery needs to be replaced after only 21-months at a cost of $198.80. The AAA battery (#3) remains under warranty, but it seems unreasonable for AAA to bear the cost of failures due to a faulty electrical system.

My battery is constantly dying. I upgraded the battery to a much larger one yet it keeps dying. If the car sits for more than three days it dies. If the car is driven for a very long time then it will stay working for about three days, then die. Today it is dead. It was dead yesterday. I jumped it yesterday, drove it around, restarted it to make sure, drove it around some more and then parked it. Today it is dead. The battery voltage is fine (a bit low, perhaps) at 12.8V, when charging at 14V. If I jump the car in my driveway, run it for a while, it essentially does not charge the battery. It is almost like the car is designed not to actually charge the battery unless you drive it a lot, which seems counter-intuitive. Engine RPMs doesn't seem to affect the charging ability...

Battery totally dead. No sounds or lights came on. The battery tested 500 miles before and was good. The car was functioning 7 hours earlier and then was totally drained the next morning.

In five years, we have needed 3 batteries. On two occasions we were stranded. Car would not start. Dealer changed battery on first occasion. New garage had to replace twice. The first occasion was during a service where battery was tested and failed. Third occasion found me stranded in a parking lot. There were no warnings. Car just failed to start without a jump. Something seems to be draining the battery and a solution has not been found. Car has approximately 41,000 miles. Doesn't feel reliable at this point. Thank you.

I am experiencing frequent battery drain and have already had to replace the battery once since purchasing the product as a new vehicle. I'm now on my second battery and experiencing the same battery drain issue. This issue has left my family stranded.

2 battery failures… First failure 15 Mar, 2018 (4,381 miles) and the second of which was 26 Oct 2021 (16,237 miles). Batteries were completely drained. The first battery actually failed when I attempted to start the vehicle. Instead of engaging the starter, the accessories light went out along with a strange audible sound. Because of this I had the vehicle towed to the dealership where they replaced the battery. Second….went to start the vehicle and battery was completely dead. No accessories…nothing. Jumped vehicle and drove for about 30 minutes. Noticed that window controls were not working correctly on the drivers control panel for the drivers and front passenger windows.

Battery is draining at a faster rate than expected. Replaced 2 batteries with 3 year warranties in 5 year time.

Battery Dies often if vehicle not driven for couple of days, or short trips

2017 Subaru Outback: The vehicle has become completely unreliable due to battery drain issues that result in battery failure. The battery has been replaced and upgraded and it continues to have issues. My children and I have been left stranded many times over the years. The dealer has tested the battery multiple times and the alternator, all tests have come back normal. The dealership has not offered other alternatives or have they been willing to do further investigations on the issue. There seems to be an electrical issue in the vehicle that has not been addressed by Subaru.

Battery prematurely dies. I have replaced it 3 times in the short life of the car. It's especially a problem when I'm running errands and make several stops, turning.off vehicle. It struggles to start and maybe by 4th stop, it doesn't start and I'm left stranded. There is something draining the battery and it's not reliable.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - The battery failed and car was inoperable. this happened after 2 years of purchase. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Me and family including children were left stranded in cold outdoors until help arrived. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - Yes the battery problem was reproducible and Dealer confirmed the issue and replaced the battery that was under warranty. The replaced battery also failed after 2 years and they replaced again with similar battery, which is prone to fail at any moment, according to my experience. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - The dealer inspected the battery and found unusable. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other...

Car has 22,000 miles on it and we are on our third battery. Just replaced second battery last week. Hopped in car to go run errands and car is completely dead. Second battery was bought in June 2019, third September 2021. Taking car to Subaru next week to have it diagnosed. Battery was dead with in three days.

Original battery died while away from home, replaced with new battery which then also died 5 months after installation. I do not feel I can safely use the vehicle with my family for fear of battery drain/dying while we are away from home. No warning lights or other indication anything is wrong. No aftermarket parts installed. Took car to Firestone for diagnosis and they said that alternator is working fine, no other issues identified.

I have to jump-start my vehicle several times a week, sometimes multiple times per day. The battery drains dead in minutes, even after an hour long trip. I have about 42,000 miles on my car and I'm on my third battery - about to purchase a fourth battery. I also had to purchase a jump box to store in my car due to being stranded several times with a car that does not operate. I leave all cabin light switches set to the OFF position, I do not use the trunk lift if the car is not running, I do not leave the headlights on, and I drive roughly 4 days per week. This is unacceptable, and dangerous - Subaru brands these cars as adventurous and outdoorsy, but I have been stranded in dangerous snow storm and I'm sure others have as well. There were never any system or dash...

AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICHLE IN DECEMBER OF 2019 IT HAS REQUIRED 2 NEW BATTERIES UP TO JANUARY OF 2021. THAT MEANS THIS CAR IS ON IT'S THIRD BATTERY. BOTH INSTANCES ENDED UP STRANDING MY SPOUSE. SUBARU COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND JUST REPLACED THE BATTERY IN EACH INSTANCE. EVEN AFTER I COMMUNICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SO REPLACING A BATTERY IS NOT THE SOLUTION. THEY JUST CLAIMED THE CAR NEEDS TO BE DRIVEN MORE FREQUENTLY. THIS SAME PROBLEM JUST OCCURED AGAIN TODAY, 8/26 AND REQUIRED ME TO JUMP START THE CAR. THERE ARE NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES. I'M CONVINCED THERE IS SOME SORT OF ECLECTRICAL DRAW ON THE CAR'S SYSTEM AFTER IT IS TURNED OFF THAT IS CAUSING THIS, BUT SUBARU REFUSES TO ADDRESS IT.

I have had issues with battery drain since purchasing the car. On 6-7 occasions the battery died through no identified cause. Once it was in the mountains where we went skiing for the day and returned to the car and the battery was dead. The other 5-6 occasions, I did not use my car for durations ranging from a few days to 3 weeks and when i went to use it, the battery was dead. It should not lose charge for that short of a duration of non-use. I took it to the dealer for an electrical and battery inspection and they found no issues. They refused to replace the battery since they said it was fine. I decided to replace it on my own dime due to the issues. But even after replacing it with a brand new battery, the issue has persisted. I've had to purchase a portable...

The battery have prematurely drained on me twice in the last two years.

I am having issues with my 2017 Subaru Outback on battery drain. 37,000 miles. I've had to replace the battery 2x (2019 and again today) and a failed battery right after getting it fixed by Subaru services. The battery drains much quicker than required.

Battery kept on dying. The latest happened after I drove it daily for 3 days, so it's an active car and no unattended light to cause drain. It's a well maintained, low mileage (17,800 miles) car and I'm the original owner. When battery died 2 years ago, Subaru admitted malfunction and replaced the battery. Since then I had multiple jump starts wasting time to call roadside assistance, missed school/ meetings and I'm afraid deadly risk if I'm off road to call for help.

The battery frequently goes dead, just a few days after the last drive. We don't believe any lights were left on, etc., but perhaps there is an unknown current drain. This happened at home, so it wasn't dangerous, except for the need to jumper to another vehicle. It could be dangerous if we were stranded away from home. Not reproduced by a dealer or service center. The battery was replaced once, already. No warning lights or symptoms before the failure.

I'm the 2nd owner of a 2016 Outback. I bought it with 28k miles on it in 2017. It now has 33k. However - I drive daily...just not far. There is zero excuse for my battery dying at 30k. I called Subaru - and they initially to me to 'buy the battery (Sunday) and we'll cover it. Upon meeting with Subaru mgnt - looking for my money back.....I'm then told "you're out of warranty last week". Something is very wrong with this electrical system and Subaru dealerships - as Subaru is walking away from it. I got stuck with the new battery bill - but Subaru is stuck with a major problem - one that'll come back to bite them hopefully!!! SHAME ON SUBARU.

I drove my Outback for 10 minutes. I stopped to run an errand that took 30 minutes. I then tried to start the car and it wouldn't start. All the lights on the dash turned on. I then tried several more times. It still would not start. Then I waited several minutes and it started. I drove it home. I have since tried to start it several times and it has started. The car has slightly less than 20K miles on it. This has never happened before. It was a very hot day - nearly 100 degrees and I was quite panicky that it would not start. I was worried I would be stranded. There was never any indication before that something like this might happen. I am going to call the dealership tomorrow.

The ignition key becomes stuck in the ignition upon stopping the vehicle and placing the gear shifter into "park" and turning the vehicle off. Intermittently the key is unable to be removed from the ignition even though the vehicle is in the "park" position and turned off. Usually after starting and stopping the vehicle and moving the gear shift a few times the key can be removed from the ignition. This problem does not occur every time the vehicle is driven, but lately it is happening more frequently.

Our 2017 Subaru Outback has had multiple incidents of “ Sudden Dead Battery “ in the Mornings. We have had the Car Checked out at CarMax where we purchased it and we’re told the Service Tech couldn’t determine the Cause and we should take it to a Subaru dealership which we did…. The Technician could not Identify the Cause either but suggested a New Battery which we chose not to do… No Service Representative acted ignorant to the facts that this is becoming a Known issue on a National Scale with Multiple Lawsuits being Filed for the Same problem… We now Carry a Battery Jumper and Always have the concerns that the Car will not start.. So far, the Battery continues to go Dead at various times after being parked overnight so I can jump start it from home… I read another complaint that mentioned the multiple lights/ warnings and...

At 15,000 miles my battery died while on vacation (July 2019). We were far from the main road. We were lucky to see a motorist who helped us jump start the car. I replaced it with a new battery. The battery died two weeks ago at 37,000 miles. Something is draining the battery but Subaru will not acknowledge it. This defect can have serious consequences for people who get stranded in remote areas and far away from towns and population.

Battery keeps draining. The battery has now been dead three times for no apparent reason.