2015 Subaru Outback: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Oct 22, 2020 · Electrical · 28,000 miles · VA

Electrical problems have caused the battery to fail several times in four years. The car was purchased on june 5, 2015. Car failed to start on 9/30/16 and the main relay was replaced by the dealer. The battery was replaced three times by the dealer: on 12/5/16, 2/8/17, and 1/30/19 (including a software update on 1/30/19 to "increase battery life.") the latest battery (84 mo. 490cca) has failed recently on three occasions: 9/29/20 (twice) and 10/21/20, each requiring a jump start. On 9/29/20 the car was jump started, driven for twenty minutes, sat with the engine off for 30 minutes and driven five minutes more, was gassed up (engine off), driven five minutes, sat with the engine off for ten minutes and then required another jump start. The dealer has performed battery performance tests (some failed, some passed) but to the best of my knowledge has not checked components for failure to shut off, which could lead to battery drain. As instructed, I keep the key fob away from the car when not in use, so this appears to not be a factor.

Filed Dec 4, 2019 · Electrical · 53,000 miles · MA

This is approximately the 5th time I have had to have my battery jumped within the last two years. No visual drain (no lights left on for example) is suspected. Vehicle had been in use on various trips prior to car not starting. I have key fob and couldn't even open the back hatch to get tools out of car. When car was fairly new, had problem where key fob could not start the car (happened three times) but felt that was an elusive key fob problem. Now I am not sure what problem is but I am suspecting there is some sort of short or system drain on battery that has surfaced. Vehicle was in driveway, parking lot and in parking space on street when these lapses occurred. Reading online about numerous similar problems with dead battery and suspicious electrical drainage of batteries. Most recent problem happened 11/29 and again 12/4. Car was in garage (not used) between 11/29 and 12/4.

Filed Nov 5, 2018 · Body · 25,000 miles · MA

Rear hatch does not reliably open - cannot close after manual override. Vehicle has had issue for over 15000 miles and 5 times at the dealer but has not been resolved. Rear hatch does not open reliably and when a manual override is necessary to remove cargo or pets, the hatch does not close easily and door light remains on even while driving. This causes and obvious safety issue both for cargo escaping the vehicle and also for exhaust entering the vehicle. This occurs with all doors unlocked, vehicle is stopped, key fob is attempted as well as door trigger to open the hatch. No memory set when attempting to open. No user error.

Filed Aug 29, 2017 · Body · 19,059 miles · WA

Rear electric liftgate sporadically fails to open. This condition persists whether I press the button on the liftgate, the dashboard liftgate button, or the key fob button. I can hear the liftgate unlatch, however it fails to open more than a couple inches. Lithia subaru (oregon city) has not been able to repair. We purchased our vehicle new from the dealer. It has exhibited this problem from the first day we owned it. Subaru should recall and fix all vehicles with this problem. I feel strongly this is an design defect of the electrical system. This sporadic condition presents itself when the vehicle is stationary, both when the engine is running and when it is not. There doesn't seem to be any set of conditions upon which I can cause or predict the failure.

Filed Aug 21, 2017 · Electrical · 15,000 miles · OH

Rear door hatch randomly does not open, whether I press the button on it, the button inside the care, or the key fob. This happens almost every day, and always when it is raining or has rained. The driver's door will always open (though never the passenger door) with the key fob in proximity. You can hear that the back hatch unlatches, but does not raise up. Cascade subaru in ohio has not been able to fix it so it works as it should. This vehicle was preowned, bought from the dealer, and exhibited this problem from the first day we owned it.

Filed Jul 17, 2015 · Transmission · 120 miles · FL

I had stopped to disembark myself and passengers. I turned off the engine. I did not realize it was not in park. As the passenger on the left was getting out, the car started to roll backwards. I was able to put on the brake to stop it and put it in park. I have a push button ignition. On page 3-6 of the owner's manuel it says " the push button switch cannot be switched to "off" when the select lever is in a position other than p". In contacting the dealer ship they checked other outbacks with push button starters and they also have this problem.