2017 Subaru Outback: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Aug 22, 2023 · Electrical · OR · 1 injury

The automatic back hatch came down with out pushing button or key fob. The fob was in the ignition and nobody was around to push the button to make it go down. It caused damage to my spine and gave me a concussion. Capitol Subaru of Salem Oregon said it was a Glitch that happens sometimes when wires get crossed. After they inspected. Plus changed information on our documents without our knowledge. It did go to Subaru for almost a month the said they found nothing in the EDR report. So they feel I do not need to see it.

Filed May 21, 2021 · Electrical · TN

- 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.

Filed May 5, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 52,000 miles · KY

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 to required 5mb. Side note: unless I am at work or running errands, my car is always in the garage.

Filed Apr 20, 2021 · Electrical, Visibility · OR

My windshield cracked on the inside of the window without any force applied on a moderate temperature day without AC or heat blowing. I was driving down a straight well-maintained road when it happened and heard the pop of the windshield. Approx speed was 20mph with no street bumps and again on a very calm day as far as temperature. Also, no equipment or people around who could have seemed to 'tossed' anything at the windshield. The crack is on the interior layer of the windsheild and not the outter. Also, I have had 2 instances now where my car has completely died without any items being left on to drain the battery. First time was after the car had been off only a hour or so and completely dead. I repleaced the battery and at that point the car was only 2 years old. The second time the battery and systems tested all fine but it was so dead, power locks wouldnt work with the key fob.

Filed Apr 17, 2021 · Electrical · 36,540 miles · PA

Will not start with keyless ignition. First time 2018 when battery appeared dead and coukd not be jump started in our garage and coukd not unlock doors or emergency brake and could not be jumped, car towed and new battery installed. One week later same thing again dead battery in our garage and car tested by subaru for more than a week and no cause determined. Third time april 1, 2021 battery dead after three short stops and driving less than 10 miles and radio could not be shut off at first. Tow truck driver said battery at almost full charge and duggrsted use key fob and press start and it worked.

Filed Dec 23, 2020 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · FL

Multiple times the tailgate has spontaneously opened when we were not in the vehicle. Aside from issues like running the battery down, inclement weather damaging the interior and the theft of contents of the car are issues. Thus far, the car has not been in motion when it happened, but there was a least one incident reported where a vehicle was in motion when this happened (see attached complaints of other owners.)this is not a case of accidentally activating the key fob - it has happened when the car was turned off and someone was sitting in the passenger seat. The only key was in a purse in the back seat. The passenger witnessed the car tailgate just spontaneously opening. It has happened when we returned to the car after being at an appointment, while staying at a motel, and when the car was packed for a trip the night before. We are very concerned this could happen when the car is in motion, creating a deadly hazard for other vehicles. We have found this problem reported by numerous owners of this model. The local dealer initially dismissed the problem as a case of accidentally pressing the key. We disputed this and they kept the car for two days to see if it would happen and it did not. Sometimes it is two months between incidents. This is a serious problem and safety hazard that subaru needs to acknowledge and correct, perhaps necessitating a recall. There does not seem to be any conversation among service departments that have received similar complaints. It's just a single isolated case as far as our local dealer is concerned. I am submitting a document that shows multiple complaints (and not all) that other subaru owners have been reporting for years.

Filed Jan 4, 2020 · Electrical · 7,341 miles · PA

When you hit the button to release the rear hatch it does not open all the time. You get three beeps and the hatch does not open. If you use the key fob and attempts to open the rear hatch is the same thing three beeps and does not open. The only way to get it open is to disconnect battery cable wait a minute reconnect cable then hit the button then rear power hatch opens. This is happened multiple timesi took vehicle to dealer wants to get it looked at they could not replicate the issue. Same issue happened again today. Sidenote when I enter my pin it comes up on your site is a 2017 my subaru forrester sport is a 2019

Filed Jun 17, 2019 · Electrical · 58,000 miles · TN

The attached invoices are a result of numerous electrical issues that I have experienced since owning the outback. Each time I would go for service with key fobs not working the employees were so rude and spent all their time making me feel like an idiot instead of trying to solve the problem. I have left in tears many times. The radio and bluetooth were not working right from day one. When I complained to grayson in knoxville he dialed a local number in knoxville and said "nothing wrong" with the telephone system I still struggle with calls thru the bluetooth. Earl duff in harriman has been the most considerate of all the others. However, I find it hard to believe that at 58,000 miles, the passenger airbag is out of commission. Right now I am driving with every one of the digital indicators on. Cannot use cruise control. The rear hatch only raises abt 1/4 of the highth that it should. I have heard so many good things about a subaru and had to have one. I have had nothing bur disappointment from the mentioned dealers. Right now the car is parked in the garage. It still runs but who knows what will happen while I am driving.

Filed Aug 11, 2017 · Transmission · 5,000 miles · PA

Subaru 2017 push button start allows the driver to turn off the engine with car gear selector still in drive. When I did this, the car began to roll as I exited. Fortunately, I had one foot still in the car and was able to press the brake pedal.