2017 Subaru Outback: won't start

Filed Oct 15, 2024 · Electrical · MA

DCM Parasitic Drain Lawsuit for 2016-2019 Subaru Battery consistently drains to where my vehicle will not start. Dealer has replaced the battery twice (2018 & 2019) I replace the battery in 2022 and will need to so it again soon. Vehicle will not start after sitting for more that 7 days. I've been stranded at night on dark roads. I just came across the link below on a Subaru Forum where others have complained about the the same issue. and this seems to be what is going on with my 2017 Subaru Outback. [XXX] ? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 16, 2024 · Electrical · NY

On multiple occasions, the battery has gone dead after car was garaged for over a week and car would not start. No lights were left on or doors left ajar. There is some hidden drain on the battery. Also, the battery is not charged sufficiently while idling such as when traffic is stopped for an accident or construction and the battery will die leaving the vehicle stranded. The battery has been replaced, same events continue to occur.

Filed Jul 27, 2023 · Electrical · NC

Vehicle has a chronic battery drain issue. I have replaced batteries repeatedly. If the vehicle sits undriven for a few days the vehicle will not start due to dead battery. It is unsafe to have a vehicle you cannot rely on to start. There is no warning when this occurs. This is happening every where for the 5th generation Subaru Outbacks, Foresters and was subject to a class action lawsuit. Subaru's response is to install a new battery, charging the customer a 'discounted' price without fixing the cause of the battery drain.

Filed Feb 8, 2023 · Electrical · 25,000 miles · CO

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The contact had the vehicle jump started. The contact replaced the battery, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The failure mileage was 25,000.

Filed Jan 1, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · TX

Upon turning off my 2017 Subaru Outback Touring, the engine turned off via the push start/stop button. However, when I went to use the vehicle later the same day, the car would not start (starter would not engage). I determined that the steering wheel was NOT locked. The transmission was in Park, and I could not move the shift lever out of Park. I attempted engage the steering wheel lock by moving the steering wheel back and forth, but without success. Vehicle now totally inoperative. Vehicle is available for inspection at my residence upon request. The safety of owner and others is compromised as follows: Because of living in a semi-rural area, I rely on this vehicle to safely transport me and my family members everywhere (grocery store, doctor appointments, emergency room visits, etc.); Failure of the vehicle to operate property could expose operator and/or passengers to extremely cold weather, such as that recently experienced in December 2022. This is the second occurrence of the same malfunction. First was in July 2022. Vehicle was serviced by Subaru of Georgetown who informed me that the problem (car would not start because steering wheel lock was not engaged) was "fixed", but that they could not duplicate. No other entity, other than the dealer, has examined the vehicle. No warning lights, messages or symptoms prior to either occurrence. Driving was normal, engine shutdown appeared normal, but subsequent restarts were not possible due to the steering wheel lock not engaging (which is what the dealer informed me was the problem at the first occurrence).

Filed Dec 28, 2022 · Electrical · MO

My 2017 Subaru Outback will not start after sitting all night I’ve had diagnostics ran on the battery and it shows 100% charge. After charging the battery it held until the next day it was drained again. It was snowing with winds 50 mph, and I had to jump my car to start it. The faun doesn’t work when the battery is dead and that causes the theft alarm to go off once the battery is charged. Now my check surroundings before backing up sensor stays on well after shifting into Drive and beeps incessantly while driving, the back up camera also stays on while in drive. Now I have to drive 2 hours to a dealer and pay $130 in diagnostics. I feel this is the same situation thousands of Subaru owners are experiencing and why they have filed a class action law suit. Subaru should be liable for my expenses to repair this known systemic issue in a product they manufacture that is not safe, it it leaves you stranded on the side of the road in the cold. Thank you

Filed Oct 31, 2022 · Electrical · PA

The battery consistently "dies". It doesn't matter how often I drive it. I never know when it won't start. In 5 years, I've had 2 batteries & about 6+ jump starts.

Filed Oct 12, 2022 · Electrical · UT

While driving, advance driver assist systems became disabled, car intermittently stopped and resumed responding to accelerator, power steering became inoperative, car eventually lost all power. Gear would not shift out of drive. Emergency brake would not engage. Fortunately, I was able to coast the car to the shoulder of the road. Had to keep foot on brake until roadside assistance arrived. Car was towed to repair shop where battery was replaced. Similar system failures occurred while my wife was driving a couple of weeks prior. She was able to coast car into a parking lot just off the road. In the past month, the dealer has replaced parts that diagnostics said created parasitic drain. The alternator has been replaced and the battery has been replaced twice in the last couple of months. Car had body work performed last week and the car will not start without being jumped. We are going to drive it to the dealer with fingers crossed that the electrical system will not shut the car down while in transit.

Filed Sep 18, 2022 · Electrical · NY

I had a battery that was about 1 year old that died suddenly. I called Triple AAA and they replaced it, and 1 week later, the new battery died and the car wouldn't start, so AAA came and replaced it again. 3 days after that the 3rd battery died. AAA confirmed both times that there was nothing wrong with the alternator and everything looked fine. Looking online it seems that this has been a common issue with Subaru Outbacks.

Filed Sep 17, 2022 · Electrical · CO

Started car and all warning lights on dash were flashing. Turned car off and car would not start and there was a loud ticking noise coming from the engine bay.Contacted AAA and technician checked battery and verified that it was dead and he was not able to start the car and this time there was a different loud ticking noise with all dash warning lights flashing. Installed higher quality battery and the car would not start with the same result. Had car towed by AAA (9/12/2022) to our local Subaru dealer for diagnosis. After 5 days the Joint Box or BIU part #82201AL20A was defective. These are the Subaru code defects from the dealer are B1578, B1401 and B1411. Cost to repair including diagnosis is $956.02. Previous battery/electrical issue in 2018. Battery drained by electronic brake fixed under warranty.

Filed Jul 9, 2022 · Electrical · CA

Battery found dead 2x First time July 2021, replaced battery Second time July 2022, car will not start

Filed Apr 4, 2022 · Electrical · NC

I started having battery issues with my car. I had my car at the mechanic for a regular state inspection. They told me that I had a bad battery that it had died numerous times. I was shocked because I had never jumpstarted my car in the past. I began to believe the dealership sold me the car with a bad battery. I knew this because I tried to drive the car out of the lot when I first purchased and the battery was dead. They told me to come back the next day and they would have a new battery in it. I guessed then that they never replaced the battery. So I then purchased a new battery from the mechanic. 6 months later my car wouldn't start. I had left nothing running in the car. The next day my car started. Then 2 months later, my husband drove my car to get food. He parked the car for 5 minutes and went in to get the food. When he came back, the car wouldn't start again. We had to jumpstart it. I believe something is wrong with the car overall, causing the battery to drain without the consumer's knowledge, this is a safety concern as it leaves the consumer stranded wherever they are. My husband was left sitting there with my daughter until I could come pick them up. The outback will just die without warning. I tried calling the dealer about it, they didn't return my call. I now scheduled an appointment to have them look at it. I will see what they say, however it seems like other consumers of this car are having the same issues.