2017 SUBARU OUTBACK Electrical System Problems

Battery drain due to electrical issues. Two replaced batteries in under 2 years.

Battery was dead many times due to a parasitic draw. Dealer installed new batteries at no charge. Dealer with the help of Subaru Technical could not find the cause. Auto is available for inspection. Dealer could not duplicate problem but was able to inspect on each occasion. There were no warnings that the problem would occur. Last case is #68469384405 hat was communicated to Subaru Techline

Car battery drains at an accelerated rate.

I purchased the car new on 28 February 2017. The car was started and driven to the front of the dealership for me to pickup after purchase. When I went to start the car, it did not start. The dealer said a light was probably left on and the dealer replaced the battery. On 29 January 2021 my car required a jump to start. I drove to the dealership and they said I needed to replace the battery. From the time of purchase I have noticed battery problems such as slow start or difficult starting. Also I required more than one attempt to start after the radio was used without the engine running for less than 10 minutes. On 26 March 2021 I notice the clock was not keeping correct time, the keyless entry stopped working and other electrical malfunctions. I took the car to the dealership and it took...

On six separate occasions four times with out any battery drain and twice when I had charged my phone after turning off the engine the battery failed to start the car. It had to be jumped with a portable charger. The car has 62000 miles on it and no warning lights or any other indicators. On my last oil change 7/12/2021 it was tested and just crossed the line into the red and needs to be replaced.

The battery on this vehicle needs to be charged weekly, the battery tests fine, but something is drawing the charge.I have been charging the battery weekly for almost a year now.

Purchased 05/2017. Within 2 weeks battery dead. Towed to dealer. Told okay. July 2017 , dead battery. Charged, dead next day. New battery. 10/2018 new battery. 04/2021, new battery. Condenser for a/c was replaced 05/2021

Random dead battery. Battery replaced. Random dead battery. Got a boost start battery for emergency. Random dead battery, etc. Car will not start you do not know when. No warning. Will contact dealer, again but they were dismissive of the issue last year.

car was left in garage for 8 days, did not start upon return. no lights or devices were left on during that time but battery was completely dead. needed a jump from roadside assistance; incident follows pattern history of battery issues ranging from trouble starting and lack of power to quick drain of power if the car idles too long. Original battery that came with the new vehicle has already been replaced under warranty once. Manufacturer is currently facing a class action lawsuit based on the electrical system's inability to fully power down even when the vehicle is completely turned off, which drains the battery if the car isn't operated frequently. service center told me I just needed to drive it for up to 30-40 miles of constant speed e.g. freeway driving on a regular basis. this is obviously not practical and should not be necessary for normal operation of...

We have had to get a third-party charge to the battery 3 times in the last 2 months. The car had been turned off so there should have been no battery drain.

My car wouldn't turn on in April of 2020. When I opened the hood there was corrosion around the top of the battery. The battery was dead and had to be replaced. I bought the car new at the end of 2017 from a dealership.

received clean bill of health for battery after 10/24/19 service at dealership. AAA replaced battery on 10/31/19 when car would not start. Car would not start. Had to jump battery on 3/15/21. Car would not start. Had to jump battery on 6/20/21. Car would not start. Had to jump battery on 6/21/21. AAA replaced battery on 6/22/21 when car would not start. Blind spot monitoring turns itself off about 50% of the time. Repaired multiple times at dealership.

Since I bought the 2017 Subaru Outback new from the dealer, I have experienced at least four instances when the car wouldn't start because of a dead battery. Once, (I assume) it was because the doors were open for a long time (a couple hours) while I cleaned the interior. The other three times were after I had driven it for a short trip, shut the car off, and returned to the car and it wouldn't start. There were no lights or auxiliary items left on. The most recent time (6-29-2021), it was parked for 20 minutes between trips and wouldn't start. I made a video of the engine compartment when I tried to jump start it and there is a loud noise coming from the engine. Something is running in the engine when the battery is too dead to start. It's loud.

In May 2020 my car battery was replaced. The battery would not hold a charge after a few days of sitting. The dealer found no issues at the time. Today I had a similar issue. The car was parked in my driveway for 5 days, I was unable to start the car, the battery was dead and needed to be jumped. The vehicle is back at the dealership. I was told that if the battery failed, I would be charged for the replacement, as they do not prorate batteries.

Purchased my 2017 Outback in 2016. I have had FOUR batteries in less than four years. We were stranded in the middle of the night on the freeway hours from home, for a problem that has been ongoing. Each time the dealer has given us a new battery instantaneously. Ironic, that they claim there are no problems, when this issue is well documented online. No warning, but each time different symptoms. Hatch beeping unexpectedly, car won't start after short trips, etc... First time was only 9 months after first purchase of vehicle, 2nd time was a year and a half later, 3rd time dealer downloaded software patch, and battery still didn't last past 22 months. Thankfully battery is warrantied 36 months. How many complaints does the NHTSA need for further action? Isn't two lawsuits enough?

The battery seems to die frequently. I am on the second battery after having purchased this car. I now carry a portable charger in the car just incase the car dies in transit. Just today, I ran a quick errand, got to my destination. Decided to repark my car and it would not start.

Battery drains all the time when car is off OR in accessory mode: This vehicle was purchased new. The battery has died quickly multiple times throughout the life of the vehicle. My husband and I realize that we have had the car jumped many, many times for things that should have not caused the battery to drain. We also looked on this nhtsa site, realized this is a problem with other similar vehicles and a class action suit is pending. For the past year we have learned to not keep any electrical on when the car is not running. The last two times: within the last month. I was waiting to pick up my child from an event, I turned the car totally off but left the key in the ignition. This, I found out later, caused the battery to drain in 10 minutes and I was stuck. Two weeks...

I am the original owner of a 2017 Subaru Outback Limited. There is an undiagnosed drain on the electrical system that causes the car not to start. The first time I replaced the battery, but two months later the car wouldn't start after being left in the garage over the weekend. I had to call AAA to jump the car. The Subaru dealership couldn't find any issues with the electrical system or the battery. A month later, I drove it to work and the car wouldn't start when I got in it to go home and had to be jumped to start. About three weeks later we made a six-hour road trip, parked the car at the hotel and not only would it not start in the morning, it was so dead that the back hatch wouldn't open so I could get the jumper cables out of the spare tire...

I have had multiple issues over the years with the battery 2017 Subaru Outback keeping a charge and I have required a jump multiple times. My latest issue is over the last 3-4 months I have required a jump and while researching the issue, I came across Chimicles action lawsuit for the same problem I've been having. Please include my information in any database where information is being collected. Feel free to reach out to me if more information is needed.

Vehicle’s battery keeps draining unexpectedly. Vehicle takes multiple attempts to start in heat, battery has been replaced by Subaru certified dealer after inspection and is still occurring. Vehicle has only been in my possession for a month and a half. No warning lamps. There are MULTIPLE dates for this occurrence.

After the transmission is in park and the key is turned to turn-off the engine, the key will not advance to the "LOCKED" position and cannot be removed. Also, the steering wheel does not lock. This apparently can be remedied by repeatedly shifting from drive to park forcefully. Also, disconnecting the car battery seems to allow turning the key to "LOCKED."

Ignition key fails to be removed after placing car in park. Key is locked in the ignition column. Steering wheel lock is not the culprit. User must turn key to accessories and continually shift car from drive to park in order for computer to recognize the car is in park to release key.

Battery losing power. Bought new battery in 5/2020, recharged in 1/2021 and again in 5/2021. AutoZone has stated it's a good battery, but is being drained by something. No lights have been or other known things left on after turned off car. The lights do not dim when driving either. I have read a lawsuit has been filed regarding it could be an electrical problem with the Subaru. I have been stranded 3 times with this problem.

Battery completely drained. Replaced with new compatible battery that drained completely again in two days. Can jump start but otherwise no power to anything (locks, dash, etc). Nothing left on in car to drain battery.

- I have been stranded multiple times waiting on a jump because the battery has drained and died for no apparent reason. - OEM Battery on my 2017 vehicle was replaced under warranty at the end of 2019. At the end of 2020 (one year, and less than 10,000 miles later) I was stranded in a parking lot waiting on a jump after sitting in the car with the radio on for 45 minutes. I took the car to an auto parts store for testing and it "failed." - In May of 2021 I went to get in the car after 3 days of not driving it and the replacement OEM battery was completely dead. To the point that it wouldn't even unlock the car doors using the key fob.

subaru battery drain problem for my 2017 outback

Car will not hold a charge. Have seen dealer and called Subaru of America. Problem remains unresolved.

The electrical system regularly drains the battery. I have replacement the factory battery TWICE with an aftermarket high end battery and the issue still occurs. Car will be completely dead.

Car on battery number 3...should not be. Something wrong.

Car on battery 3... Should not be Problem somewhere

The battery keeps needing to be replaced. The battery dies in 1.5 years or less . This is not good. The dealer says they gave me a bad battery and the system looks fine, but this has happened twice now, Something is wrong with the system.

PREMATURE BATTERY FAILURE. FOURTH BATTERY REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP 3/21/21 SINCE PURCHASED NEW 9/15/2016

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY TWICE. BATTERY FROM FACTORY HAD A BAD CELL AND IT WASN'T QUITE 2 YEARS OLD. DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT IN MACON, GA. LESS THAN A YEAR I WAS AT A SERVICE PLACE FOR OIL CHANGE. CAR WOULDN'T START AND HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY. DATES: 10/22/18, 7/15/2019

I AM ON MY 4TH BATTERY IN 4 YEARS. THE BATTERY GOES DEAD VERY QUICKLY AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN’T TELL ME WHY. THERE ALSO SEEM TO BE OTHER RANDOM ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT GO CRAZY AT RANDOM TIMES. THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN TRYING TO SET THE SPEED HIGHER WILL GO LOWER. THE WINDOWS WILL OCCASIONALLY NOT ROLL ALL THE WAY UP.

BATTERY DRAIN IS UNUSUAL. BATTERY LIFE SHORTENED SEVERELY AS A RESULT

REAR BACKUP CAMERA REMAINS ON AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. SCREEN HAS SEVERE BURN IN WITH “Z” PATTERN ACROSS ENTIRE DISPLAY. MAKING IT UN-VIEWABLE.

BATTERY HAS FULLY DRAINED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY “FOUND NOTHING”. I HAVE PURCHASED A MOBI POWER CELL FOR JUMPING THIS OUTBACK.

VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE FREQUENT BATTERY DRAIN, WITHOUT SOMETHING OBVIOUS LIKE A DOME LIGHT BEING LEFT ON. DESPITE BATTERY REPLACEMENT, DEAD BATTERIES ARE A COMMON PROBLEM LEADING TO NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE CAR IN POTENTIALLY UNSAFE AREAS (OFF HOURS, FAR AWAY FROM ASSISTANCE, ETC). SEEMS LIKE A NEW CAR SHOULDN’T HAVE TO REPLACE ITS BATTERY THIS FREQUENTLY.

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2016. I HAD A JOB THAT MADE IT NECESSARY TO DRIVE 44 MILES DAILY FIVE DAYS WEEK. NOW I HAVE RETIRED AND DO NOT DRIVE EVERY DAY. MY CAR BATTEY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. I BOUGHT A NEW ONE, IT CAN'T STAY CHARGED EITHER. SOMETHING IN THE CAR IS DRAINING THE BATTERY. I TURN EVERYTHING OFF AND STILL CANNOT HOLD A CHARGE OVER 1 DAY. THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS. YEARS 2017 TO 2020. MY CAR IS A 2017. I HAVE HAD TO BUY A CHARGER AND MUST LEAVE IT ATTACHED TO THE WHENEVER I'M NOT GOING TO DRIVE FOR A DAY OR TWO. I HAVE A $40,000 CAR AND I CANNOT TRUST IT.

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE, ONGOING BATTERY DRAIN INCIDENTS, REPLACING THE BATTERY TWICE IN ONE YEAR (MOST RECENTLY). WE ARE LEFT STRANDED REPEATEDLY AND MUST JUMP THE CAR FOR IT TO START. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHERS. THE INCIDENTS HAPPEN SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY. IT IS WORKING FINE, THEN YOU GO BACK TO GET IN IT AND IT WON'T START. SOMETIMES, WHEN YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO START IT, THE BACK HATCH WILL MAKE A SOUND/MOTION. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT! AFTER 4 YEARS OF THIS, WE ARE BEYOND FRUSTRATED. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE ON THE ROAD BY MYSELF. MOST OWNERS HAVE TAKEN TO KEEPING A BATTERY JUMPER WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES. RIDICULOUS.

SOMETIMES THE BATTERY GOES DEAD FOR NO REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS, WITH THE MOST RECENT EVENT OCCURRING TODAY (MAY 10, 2021). IT COULD OCCUR AFTER I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT FOR A DAY OR IN THE MIDST OF A ROAD TRIP AFTER I'VE STOPPED FOR LUNCH AND IT WON'T RESTART. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 2 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING MY CAR (USED) IN 2019.

THE BATTERY IS PREMATURELY DRAINING AND THIS HAS LEFT US STRANDED AND REQUIRING A JUMP START. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY. THE OEM BATTER FAILED AFTER 18 MONTHS. THE NEW BATTERY (WITH A 5 YEAR WARRANTY) HAS NOW FAILED AFTER ANOTHER 14 MONTHS. THIS IS NOT DUE TO LEAVING A LIGHT ON OR A DOOR OPEN. THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING LEFT PARKED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THIS IS A DAILY DRIVER VEHICLE.

THE CAR DRAINS BATTERY RAPIDLY OVERNIGHT. THE IDLE CURRENT IS ABOUT 2 AMPS WHICH IS ABNORMAL

MY BATTERY HAS SEEMED WEAK FOR OVER A YEAR. ON A ROUTINE SERVICE, I HAD ASKED SUBARU OF SANTA FE TO INSPECT MY BATTERY. IT CHECKED OUT AS GOOD. YET, EVERY TIME I STARTED THE CAR, IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THE STARTER WAS LABORING WITH A DRAINED BATTERY. OF LATE I HAVE HAD TO JUMPSTART THE CAR A FEW TIMES, EVEN. I TOOK IT FOR INSPECTION TODAY TO AUTO ZONE, TO SEE IF I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND DID NOT NEED REPLACEMENT. I LOOKED UP THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHERS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. SURE ENOUGH, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A LEGAL SUITE REGARDING AN IDENTICAL ISSUE FOR THE SAME YEAR MSKE AND MODEL CAR AS MINE. THE BATTERY HAS NEVER DIED WHILE THE CAR IS IN OPERATION OR MOVING, BUT ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. THIS COULD...

BATTERY DIES..HAD NEW ONE INSTALLED THIS WEEK, SAME PROBLEM. NO RECALL? CANT USE CAR

I BELIEVE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: DEC.31, 2020: CAR HESITATES TO START. IT NEVER TURNS OVER SO IT DOES NOT EVER START. WE INSTALL NEW BATTERY & CAR STARTS. MID-JAN.2021: CAR WON'T START FROM PUSH START, BUT DOES START WHEN I USE MY REMOTE START KEY FOB. AFTER THAT, CAR STARTS WITH PUSH START. FEB.-APRIL 2021: CAR HAS A SEVERAL TIMES WHEN IT HESTITATES TO START, BUT ULTIMATELY IT DOES START. MAY 1-3 2021: CAR HESITATES TO START, BUT ULTIMATELY STARTS. MAY 4-5 2021: CAR NOT ONLY HESITATES TO START, BUT NOW I HAVE ALL KINDS OF LIGHTS LIT UP ON MY DASH, INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE, EYESIGHT, X-MODE LIGHT IS FLASHING, AND SEVERAL OTHERS THAT I CANNOT GET TO TURN OFF. IN ALL INSTANCES, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND TURNED OFF. I HAVE PHOTOS & VIDEO BUT CAN'T SEEM TO REDUCE FILE SIZE...

>>>THIS INFORMATION IS IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUSLY FILED NHTSA SAFETY ISSUE ID 11415232 <<< IN MY PREVIOUS FILING, I DID FORGET TO INCLUDE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY 2017 OUTBACK 2.5I TOURING VEHICLE. SO, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE FAILURES EXPERIENCED AND DISCUSSED IN FILING #11415232, A HANDFUL OF TIMES, I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT WORK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT FROM THE DRIVER-SIDE CONTROL. BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE WINDOW WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE WHEN I USED THE WINDOW CONTROLLER LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO ADD-ON TO MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT.

BATTERY FAILURE AFTER 6 MONTHS UNDER NORMAL USE. NO PERIODS OF LEAVING HEADLIGHTS ON OVERNIGHT, ETC. HAD JUST DRIVEN ABOUT 90 MINUTES, TURNED CAR OFF TO RUN INTO A SHOP, RETURNED AND CAR WOULDN'T EVEN CRANK. AAA TESTED IT AND THE ALTERNATOR. ALTERNATOR WAS 'GOOD' BUT BATTERY REPORTED 'FAIL'.

SOMETHING (ELECTRICAL ISSUE?) IS DRAINING THE CAR BATTERY AND NEEDS A JUMP IF NOT DRIVEN WITHIN A DAY OR TWO. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE WITHIN A YEAR THINKING WE HAD A DEFECTIVE BATTERY, BUT PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC THINKING IT COULD BE THE ALTERNATOR, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE.

BATTERY DRAINS PREMATURELY? I'VE HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS. HAD IT CHECKED OUT & BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER ARE FINE. BATTERY JUST DEAD IN THE DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING. ROADSIDE ASSIST GUY RECOMMENDED FILING A REPORT BECAUSE HE'D HEARD OTHERS HAD HAD PROBLEMS, TOO, POSSIBLY WITH BACK HATCH NOT CLOSING PROPERLY CAUSING DOME LIGHTS TO STAY ON AND DRAIN BATTERY. DID FIND BACK DOME LIGHT ON 1 NIGHT, TURNED OFF LIGHT, AND RECLOSED HATCH. I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN DILIGENT SINCE BUT IT WAS DEAD AGAIN THIS MORNING ANYWAY. DATE LISTED BELOW IS MOST RECENT INCIDENT. PREVIOUS 2 INCIDENTS WERE ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND ABOUT 2-3 DAYS APART.