2018 Subaru Outback: battery drain or dead battery

Filed Sep 17, 2024 · Electrical · CA

DSM drawing too much power from battery when car is parked. DSM drawing 0.151k ohms to 0.017. Have complained to Subaru of Santa Cruz about this 3x. First they said it was the battery under recall and replaced the battery. Second time they thought I was leaving the key fob in the car (The fob is kept with me not in the car ). Third time they said the DSM is pulling too much power from the battery. Subaru has an extended warranty for the DSM for 2016-2018 outbacks but does not include my VIN number. This power draw and dead battery has put me in San Francisco late at night without a functional car. I did not have this independently evaluated before Subaru did a "jump box replacement" for $775.73.

Filed Sep 9, 2024 · Electrical · CT

In past 3 years after not being driven for 3 days the car would not start. We had the battery charged and replaced twice . When I spoke to another Subaru owner I was informed of a lawsuit against Subaru concerning parasitic battery draw by the Starlink system. I contacted Subaru of America and was told there was no recall but I am entitled to extended warranty on the T 16 DCM unit (a fuse for Starlink). They said I would be responsible for any charges to fix the issue. When I called my local Subaru dealer they said I may have to pay for diagnostics even if it was the DCM fuse as the problem. I feel Subaru knew about this problem and should fix it without charge.

Filed Jun 18, 2024 · Electrical · IA

We have replaced the battery 3 times now in less than a year. The battery keeps dying, which is so bad it is ruining the battery such that it has to be replaced. My pregnant wife and child have been stranded several times. Subaru sent a class action lawsuit notice, but when we went to the dealer they claimed they knew nothing about it. They tested the battery and said nothing was wrong. Doing some digging it seems that numerous others have had this same issue. It is an issue with the alternator and the DCM causing parasitic battery drain. Subaru is doing nothing to fix the issue.

Filed Jan 31, 2024 · Electrical · WA

Battery drains constantly, going to buy my third battery since 2018.

Filed Oct 15, 2023 · Electrical · OH

The back lift gate is closed according to the dash display, but the computer detects that the lift gate is NOT closed resulting in a battery drain. The computer needs to be adjusted to detect when the lift gate is actually closed. Having the lift gate not closed but no indication for the drive is a safety problem. Items may fall out and the drive would have no indication that the lift gate is open.

Filed Feb 14, 2023 · Electrical · NC

Battery died prematurely and failed to hold a charge had to be replaced 4 DEC 22, for 194.63 from Advance Auto parts, Battery had failed to hold a charge in the past and Subaru roadside assistance had to be called on a previous occasion to issue a jump start.

Filed Jan 23, 2023 · Electrical · FL

Battery drainage Have had to have vehicle jumped twice now. Battery totally dead when I tried to start car and return home after appointments. Afraid this may happen while driving which happened to a friend of mine! Very dangerous situation!!

Filed Jan 4, 2023 · Electrical · NC

There is a known issue with certain Subarus where it is phantom draining the battery. I replaced battery in 2021 with AutoZone after being stranded. It too doed in June of 2022. I replaced it again. In Dec 2022 it started to die and found out about the class action lawsuit. I went to Subaru and they said since I already replaced the OEM battery, they couldnt help me. This should be a recall. I called Subaru of America who told me they couldnt help me and there is no fix as of today for the draining of the battery. They know about the issue. Why isnt there a recall?

Filed Jan 2, 2023 · Electrical · NY

In early September 2022, my friend, who owned a 2019 Subaru Outback, needed a AAA tow because the battery died. He told me that battery failure is a common problem with Subaru 2016 - 2020 Outbacks. I researched that assertion and found it well documented. Because my Outback was 4 years old and my family was planning a trip, I decided to replace the battery at my mechanic's shop (Sept. 14, 2022). On the night of December 29, 2022, upon exiting a restaurant with my wife, my car would not start. A patron of the restaurant came to my aid, and we jump started my car. My car ran for 30 minutes but would not start the next morning (December 30, 2022). I then jump started my car using my wife's car battery, and let the car run for an hour. It would not start immediately after shutting it off. My wife called Subaru, and the representative she spoke with gave her a case number to use at the Subaru dealership. The dealership gave me a January 2, 2023 appointment, and after jumping my car again, I brought it to the dealer. Later that day, by telephone, I was informed: 1- there is no fix for the problem in the 2018 Outback; 2- I was not due any compensation for the 3 month old dead battery because I did not purchase it at Subaru, and 3- that battery was barely holding a charge after a few hours on Subaru's charger. I was advised to go back to my mechanic to see if the battery is under warranty. It is, but that is not the issue. Whatever is causing the battery drain in the Outback will drain the next battery. I was lucky this time-- I was not stranded. But who knows the next time? Who knows how many people are paying for new batteries only to have them ruined by the Subaru electric system malfunction? Who knows what kind of dangerous predicaments this malfunction might cause? Subaru is aware of this widespread problem, yet they are unwilling to publicly recognize it and issue a recall. There is something unscrupulous about this situation.

Filed Nov 24, 2022 · Electrical · NY

Premature battery drainage. This problem is well documented in existing class action lawsuits. My original battery was replaced under warranty on 9/10/19, Invoice #19682 from Van Bortel Subaru of Rochester NY. 17264 miles on odometer. MY wife and I were recently stranded with this replacement battery failing with less than 10k miles on it. There was no pre-warning of the problem. According to the internet, battery drainage is a problem with 2017-2019 Outbacks and Ascents.

Filed Oct 17, 2022 · Electrical · NC

After purchasing my 2018 Subaru Outback, I experienced 2 instances where my battery died in the first 2 yrs of ownership. After the second instance, where it had died while I was eating at a restaurant, I contacted the dealership right away. They replaced the battery with a new manufacturer battery saying the previous battery failed the testing. I paid $176 for a new one. This was in March 2021. While preparing to return from my summer home in the mtns to my permanent home on the coast, I spent at least an hour packing my car and trying to keep the door and hatch openings at a minimum. Well, my car battery was dead while trying to start my car for my trip home. I had previously purchased a portable battery pack at the cost of $100 with me, and was able to get it started. One should not have to go such lengths when traveling as doors and the hatch are almost always being used. My car is going in for service at the dealership for this particular issue, but they are only going to replace the battery of which I have been informed. My car has 35,000+ miles and is only 4 yrs old. I traded in my previous car because it had over 100,000 miles on it. But I never had these kinds of issues with it. Now I am hesitant to travel anywhere unless I have that battery pack as it is deemed not reliable! This is ridiculous!!

Filed Oct 12, 2022 · Electrical · KY

Battery draining issue. Jump starts required