2017 Subaru Forester: won't start

Filed Jul 21, 2022 · Electrical · ME

There appears to be a parasitic battery drain in the vehicle when it is stopped and all electrical systems are off (lights, heated seats, chargers etc) but the key is in the ignition. The most recent event was 7/20/2022 when the car was stopped for fueling and the key left in the ignition for no more than 10 minutes. Battery discharged sufficiently in that time that the car would not start requiring roadside assistance. Spoke with dealer who stated to keep the key 30 feet from the car (note, this is NOT a smart key car) and to ensure all is off as all computer electricals will continue to run even with the car off. Will be having a battery test next week but I see that this is a recurring issue for this make/model on this forum. The same problem happened in December 2021, although at that time the weather was also severely cold and the key was in the ignition (all electrical systems off) for approximately 45 minutes. The issue is one of personal safety and being stranded in a vehicle which cannot be moved (steering and transmission locked due to low/no power) as well as cost in time and money to investigate and remedy the issue. It is also an issue of functionality and usability. If I cannot leave the key in the ignition with the car off, I am unable to use any accessories or even my safety flashers in the event the situation would warrant it.

Filed Dec 30, 2021 · PA

Battery will not start car.

Filed Aug 14, 2021 · Electrical · CO

Battery Drain / Passive / When Vehicle is Parked The NEW battery drains passively when the car is parked. Will not start and needs a jump. This cycle has ruined a brand new battery.

Filed Jul 13, 2021 · Electrical · 22,375 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start due to battery drainage. The contact stated that the battery had to be connected to a battery charger after each use. The contact stated that the check engine warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,375.

Filed May 14, 2021 · Electrical · 32,500 miles · ME

In nov 2019 we left the car parked for a week at the cruise terminal while stationed overseas in italy. We we came back, the car wouldn't start and had jumped. Over the next several days the car had difficulty starting and we ended up taking the car to the subaru dealership in frosinone, italy. The service technician said the battery needed to be replaced and that we were not the first forrester owners to have the battery replaced.

Filed Feb 20, 2021 · Electrical · 15,000 miles · PA

This is a 2017 forrester. The battery keeps repeatedly dying. For example: had to jump in last night, drove it for 45 minutes to ensure it should be charged back up. It was in our garage last night - and today, it won't start and we can't jump it either. Awaiting a tow truck. This battery has required a jump at least 5 times in the last six months. And there is nothing wrong with the battery. Talking to multiple subaru owners reveals this is a common issue - one subaru 'solves' by putting in a new battery (at my cost) and then it will die too.

Filed Jun 24, 2020 · Electrical · 39,000 miles · GA

After driving the car and placing it in "park", the key could not be extracted from the ignition. Putting the car into different gears was of no help. I was sometimes able to restart the car and then extract the key, but not every time. My choices were to return home or leave my car in the parking lot with the key in it while draining the battery while this may seem more an inconvenience than a safety issue, on some occasions this resulted in my battery becoming so weak that my car wouldn't crank leaving me stranded until I could find someone to help me jump off my car. After three of these incidents, I began disconnecting the battery cables when I couldn't remove the key. I looked online and found that many people were having the same issue with their subarus of various models. They said that the guide plate in the shifter assembly was faulty. The dealership stated that this was a common problem and they kept those parts in stock. They did replace the guide plate which corrected the issue. My question is: if so many people have the same issue (with a correction cost of $500) why isn't there a recall? I personally have an extended warranty which covered all but $100 of the repair, but people who don't have the extended warranty will have to pay the full $500 just to get a key out of the ignition. It is my understanding that subaru now uses a different guide plate in the latest models. Subaru knows this is a problem in the cars that are 2-3 years old. They need to be honest with consumers so that they don't risk being stranded due to a weakened battery because of faulty guide plates and they need to correct the problem free of charge as it is a safety concern.

Filed Dec 12, 2019 · Electrical · 35,000 miles · IL

Battery drains so that car won't start. After having a new battery installed, the battery is still so weak that the car will not start, and the electrical power is completely drained. Even the clock has to be reset. This started around 35,000 miles. I stopped for gas after driving for an hour, and the car won't start without a jump.

Filed Jun 18, 2018 · WI

When I put my key in to start it wont turn over it takes 3-5 minutes with working it to turn over. This a year old car and it does 3 times a month

Filed Mar 5, 2017 · Body · 1,200 miles · PA · 1 injury

On march 1, 2017 I was stopped at an intersection. After proceeding straight through the intersection and reaching a speed of approximately 10-15 MPH I heard an alert in my car, and simultaneously heard cars behind me sounding their horns. I quickly looked up into the rear view mirror and saw that the tailgate of my car had opened without warning while I was in motion, causing my dog to fall out of the back. This occurred after traveling for approximately 6-8 miles without ever receiving a dashboard alert that the tailgate was open. There have been electronic issues with the car since I purchased it new. Sometimes the car won't recognize the key fob and the doors won't unlock, or the car won't start and I get an alert that there is no key detected (when it is in the cup holder mere inches from the push-button ignition start.) twice the fasten seat belt alert has lighted and chimed, when the driver has the seat-belt fastened and there are no other passengers in the car. Oftentimes the tailgate won't open with the key fob or by utilizing the outside button - on this particular day it took me several minutes of fussing with all the controls before I could get the tailgate to open at all. This was the first time the tailgate opened on its own. The only other thing that I recall about what happened that day is that as I was going through the intersection my right front wheel dipped into a pothole with a significant jarring.