2015 Subaru Outback: won't start

Filed Feb 19, 2025 · Electrical · NC

Yesterday, my car would not start due to a dead battery. This happened last week, as well. Both times, my husband used a battery charger to enable me to start my car. I have had this issue multiple times in the past, as well, and previously replaced the battery in 2022. I am also aware of a previous class action lawsuit, and several customer complaints about parasitic drain and poor battery performance in the 2015 Subaru Outbacks. Continuing to replace the battery is not only costly and bad for the environment, it doesn't solve the problem. There is some flaw in the electrical design of this car and Subaru needs to address the root cause. I am very concerned that I am going to be stranded somewhere in unsafe conditions, or not have my car available to me when I need to get to a critical appointment or respond to an emergency. This is unacceptable.

Filed Jan 11, 2025 · Electrical · OR

Battery fails repeatedly even after several battery replacements and dealer fixing the software at a hefty cost, presumable to make sure the battery is charging. My insurance company (State Farm) dropped my roadside assistance coverage after repeated requests to get help to start the car. I continuously dread and fear that the car will not start after a drive to the grocery store. I dear not think about using the car to take a trip away from home. I bought jump starters and now take one with me every time I consider driving this car. God forbid it drains outs before I get back to the house to recharge it, which has happened and ended up bigging a stranger to jump start my car. It is a shame that this reputable company can sell a car that has this problem, that could be easily fixed which seems to be not a problem for other manufacturers.

Filed Mar 21, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · NC

Oil consumption issues. The oil is burning more then it should. Oil light would come after 2 to 3 more after an oil change. The dealership has been notified and is working on ordering new parts for the engine. Replacing the small block of the engine. Had less the 100k miles when this problem accured. Electrical issues. The battery is being drained after the car is turned off. Car would not start in the morning and need to be jumped. Additionally, battery eventually dies and needs to be replaced. Dealership has been notified.

Filed Sep 25, 2022 · Electrical · OH

On multiple occasions I have had the tailgate open and the light has drained the battery to the point that it needs a jump start or a battery charging to get it to start back up. On one occasion the tailgate was only left open for 30 minutes and the car would not start due to the battery being drained from it. The battery is in perfect condition as it would start fine any other time.

Filed Apr 4, 2022 · Electrical · NC

On multiple occassions, I have been unable to start my Outback b/c the battery is dead. Note that I have not left any lights on, doors open etc. and, when I have taken my car in for routine services, the battery is deemed to be in proper working condition. In addition to being extremely inconvenient when I cannot use my car as needed, this is a safety issue. What if I was not in a safe location when my car wouldn't start? What if I needed to use my car to get a pet to urgent medical care? When I purchased my Outback, I was confident in the Subaru brand for reliability. However, it no longer consider my Outback, or Subaru as a brand, reliable when I can't count on my car starting when I need it to. The date I provided in the additional details of this form is just the latest incident. I purchased this car in 2015 and my battery has been drained more than 5 times.

Filed Dec 22, 2021 · TX

I have had to have my battery replaced almost every year since I bought this car and there is always a large amount or corrosion no matter how often I clean it. I just read that this has been a known issue of Subaru. I literally just had the dealership in late November tell me at an oil change that I needed to replace my battery. When I informed them that I had just replaced it in February of of this year when I stopped for gas in the middle of the Texas winter storm and my car would not start back up (That battery was only about a year and a half old), they blamed the cold weather and suddenly backpedaled saying it just seemed low so I should keep an eye on it. Yesterday, my car took two tries to start so I am going to have the battery tested again but this means I haven't even gotten a full years worth out of it.

Filed Nov 19, 2021 · Electrical · NM

Our car has electrical / battery problems. It frequently will not start on its own. We have to jump start the battery about once a month, sometimes more frequently. The primary driver commutes 120 miles at least once a week (60 miles each way), thus we should not have issues with battery drain, but we do. We replaced the battery 1 year ago and the problem still remains. The battery also drains quite quickly, for example, last week we had the back lift gate open for 15 - 20 minutes while we were in and out of the house packing up the car with all the things I needed for a work event. When we were ready to go, the car wouldn't start. This has happened to us multiple times camping in the past. Because we have had so many problems with our car starting, we keep a small battery generator charged and in the car so we can jumpstart our car if needed. Without this device, we would have been stranded in the back country tens of miles away from civilization with no cell service and no ability to get home. We've started keeping all the lights off inside the car to see if that helps, It hasn't, even with no lights on inside the car the battery has drained while packing up our car for a trip. The dealership replaced the battery in 2020 and said that was the problem, they have not looked for "parasitic drain" despite our complaints. There is no warning when this will happen, no lights appear or messages. This has been an ongoing problem that started in 2019 that continues to this day. Our safety has been put at risk multiple times with this problem by potentially leaving us completely stranded in the woods, at night in urban environments, and has prevented us from getting to work on time. I've read on numerous forums that this has been a problem with the CANs systems in this model. Please investigate.

Filed Aug 19, 2021 · Electrical · WA

I have to replace my battery 1-2 x year, possibly due to Parasitic draw. No lights have been left on, nor anything electrical when the car is shut off. Between batteries, I often have to jump my car to start it. I have been stranded places and I am in constant fear my car will not start.

Filed Jul 21, 2021 · Electrical · OR

I have a parasitic drain on my battery and I have replaced the battery 3 times. It seems my battery is not the issue, but I am constantly stranded on the road and the dealership just replaces the battery. This last replacement I did at a separate shop on 5/10/2021 because my battery needed to be replaced and I thought putting in a different battery would help. Today (7/21/2021), my car will not start again. This shouldn't happen with a new battery and I don't think it's right that Subaru is not doing anything about this issue. It started happening within the first 3 years I owned this vehicle, when it was under warranty. Their solution was to replace the battery and not actually fix the real issue. This is not okay. I drive this car regularly and there is no reason why my battery should die constantly.

Filed Jul 13, 2021 · Electrical · VA

With a relatively new battery, my car would not start. I had the rear lift gate open, but lights turned off, for about an hour while packing for a trip and when I went to start the car it was completely dead and I had to jump it to get it started again. This also happened a few months prior while leaving the tailgate up for about 30 minutes to get some things out of the car. Both times the only lights that were on were the mirror lights when I approached the car

Filed May 16, 2021 · Electrical · 80,000 miles · VA

Battery loses charge and will not start auto. Battery has been replaced twice and the problem continues, although not all the time.

Filed Jan 13, 2021 · Electrical · VA

Battery discharging/not properly charging. Replaced with new battery in 2017 at dealer's recommendation. New battery continues to not store charge/discharge, including when the car is parked at a store or a parking for brief periods of time. This poses serious safety concerns, as I have no idea when and where my car would not start. This has occurred in excess of 20 times in the last 3 years, and I am forced to frequently replace the battery and to always have a jump starter in the car.