Electrical System Problems of Subaru Legacy - part 2

During regular use of the radio and head unit, at times the touch screen or controls, dials, buttons will be unresponsive. The android auto software tends to malfunction and will randomly disconnect and the audio will blast, full volume at the driver with the inability to control the volume other than to pull over and turn the vehicle off or manually power down the radio. This has happened on several occasions and with young children in the car, it can damage hearing, cause traumatic injury or if in motion the driver can become quickly surprised or distracted and jerk the steering wheel or react to the jump in sound level that could injury passengers, or other vehicles occupied that may be nearby. This seems to be an issue with the inability to control sound level between different modes. At times though, the car will start and the radio will be blank, or be unresponsive until the car is turned off and back on again.

See all problems of the 2018 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Apparently the wiring is made of soy based product causing nice to chew it. The power steering was compromise along with many electrical components , luckily I was not on the road when this happened the thought that I would be on the road frightens me. When I went to the dealer, Subaru of newton NJ, they said it wasn't their fault and they are charging my insurance for repairs. Subaru is causing potential fatal accidents by not addressing this issue, they are aware of the problem and willing to do nothing. My car has been in the shop since December 2023 please help. Thank you.

See all problems of the 2024 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

The contact leased a 2022 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that condensation was leaking onto her foot. While driving, water entered the vehicle and caused the rugs, radio, and amplifier to become wet. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that water had entered the vehicle, and the radio rugs and amplifier were replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000.

See all problems of the 2022 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

The "infotainment system" screen is delaminating. I can not see my surroundings when in reverse. The system is paired with my mobile telephone and randomly calls persons in my contact list without my requesting it do so. The radio can not be turned off and it consistently makes noises as if it is attempting to scan different radio stations. These defects first appeared at 34,000 miles, well below the 36,000 mile warranty period.

See all problems of the 2019 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

The front door window regulator of our 2020 Subaru Legacy is not working properly. It fails to raise and lower correctly and reliably which can be a safety issue especially in an emergency. The problem occurred without any prior warnings or messages. I am told by the dealership (bob moore Subaru of oklahoma city) that it is part #61041an00a that requires replacement.

See all problems of the 2020 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Starting in late October 2023 I began having multiple dead batteries despite replacing the battery and having the battery tested on several occasions and it tested fine. Frustrated with the inconvenience I decided to google the problem and discovered information on the car’s dcm searching for the 3g network which no longer exists. The constant search, even when the vehicle is off causes the battery to die. I am a caregiver and my clients depend on me to be at their homes when I’m scheduled to be there. They depend on me to use the bathroom, to be fed, to be kept safe, to be transported to doctors appointments and other places among other things. My regular mechanic as well as a mechanic at anchor Subaru both confirmed the dcm was causing the battery to drain. There was no warning at all.

Battery's keep dying we've went through 3 in the last 6 months,we've been told it's a faulty dcm module ,I put the latest date this happened in the date below.

Battery has failed twice in a matter of a year. Both batteries were top of the line and no reason can be seen for failure. I see that there are a great deal of the same sort of complaints listed here and Subaru should be well aware of this issue.

See all problems of the 2016 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Thermo control valve failed. Caused a short which affected all electrical components on its circuit. The car became inoperable in traffic.

8 inch starlink multimedia system screen delamination causing display for backup camera to not be displayed clearly along with irratic behavior of starlink system.

Touch screen driver information system has random display and audible warnings. Audio and navigation display cannot be controlled and does random radio channels and map displays. The screen developed bubbles under the front panel that appears to activate the touch sensor for the display. This condition is very distracting to the driver and might cause unsafe vehicle operation. The display changing and beeping during driving causes an unsafe situation. It also impacts the ability to use and see the rear view camera as the display is distorted due to the delamination/bubbles. This problem was identified by many Subaru Legacy and outback owners in 2018 which led to a recall and warranty extension for repairs. The radio/nav display is manufactured by harmon. It was widely reported in 2019 and the problem persists. Subaru contends that the display bubbles are caused by liquid contamination of the display, but this has not occurred in our vehicle, and dealers will not accept responsibility for the defective displays.

Thermo control valve has malfunctioned. It disables all driver assistance, like lane assist, blind spot, rab, collision braking, etc. I have seen on many forums that this is a known issue, across multiple vehicles from Subaru from 2019 to about 2021. The was a TSB put out about a new and improved part to fix this known issue.

Car wont start after having a new battery (only 2 months old) put volt meter on battery and reads 5. 76 volts. Put 2 amp charger on it for an hour and car starts and voltage meter shows 12. 26 volts after I shut it off. This is clearly an electrical problem that Subaru is trying to put off as a battery issue. This car only has 22 thousand miles on it and it is unreliable. The dealer says there is nothing wrong but anybody that knows anything about cars will disagree.

The key gets stuck in the ignition and you have to slide the shifter back in forth till it unlocks. I'm showing recall on other Subaru but not on mine ? or at least my year of car. Why is that ? everyday its takes longer and longer to get the key to release.

See all problems of the 2017 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Stereo head unit has white spots all over screen. Radio skips stations, calls numbers on my phone when connected to the car, touch screen does not work properly not allowing to turn it on or off or stop random skipping of stations or activity. Unable to see back camera when in reverse due to multiple spots on touchscreen.

I've own a 2016 Subaru Legacy limited 3. 6, for coming on 2 years. In the last 3 months I've had to replace my battery twice. The last being a red top battery costing $300+ and only lasted 2 days. The first incident that was most disruptive was, driving home in rush hour traffic when I lost all power, radio cut out, all lights on dash go out, my car begins to sputter and there is no power steering. Once traffic rolled to a stop it dies and wouldn't turn back over, couldn't pull my key from the ignition, roll the windows up, and once in park I couldn't change to neutral. It was very dangerous due to traffic, and I was stuck on a bridge that was a main arterial, with no emergency flashers. Had to have the city law enforcement call to get my car removed from the roadway. Had it towed to the dealership I purchased it from. The next day they told me my battery was dead and I needed a new one. Tested my alternator and that test good. Then again it died under the same symptoms as it did the first time. Leaving me stranded on a busy highway, at 10 at night. All of my symptoms were directly related to my a/c being on and sitting too long without driving, at idle or stop and go traffic and progrssively got to being a main battery drain. My key ittermediately wont pull from the ignition, steering wheel wont lock in place. My windows will randomly not roll up, but bounce down and stop halfway and lock temporarily in that position. I believe its all electrical problems or voltage issues. None the less. . . If there is no way to repair this, than it should be a recall. . . . . Because it's a serious problem with no solution and Subaru is fully aware of it.

The car had been going on several local stops. Car was in the middle of a main thoroughfare ready to turn on to interstate ramp when the car completely stopped functioning. Battery light came on briefly before the vehicle became completely non-responsive. Among other things non-functioning, emergency lights would not work, electric park brake would not engage. Could not get out of car to flee danger as car would freely roll and no way to stop except to hold brake with foot pressed. Ultimately car was chocked and jumped by aaa tow truck. Technician said battery was dead but alternator was working when he started it up. After 3 days of diagnostics, Subaru dealer cannot find a fault which let the new auto battery simply drain to nothing state and thus make the car non-responsive. Thank the good lord this did not happen after turning on to the interstate.

Infotainment system screen began bubbling. Then it started randomly selection icons by itself. Then it got to the point where it is unusable and constantly is making selections on its own. I can’t even make selections if I want to. Whole screen is effected. Subaru of America is aware and my dealer first denied knowing it was an issue but later admitted to me they have gotten several complaints of the same. Dealer ordered a replacement over a year ago and I have still not gotten a replacement because they keep telling me it is back ordered and that they put a rush on it. Still nothing in over a year. This problem also causes the battery to drain while parked. I had to put a brand new battery in and it still drains. A year or so after that, Subaru sent out a notice that they will reimburse for that issue. I don’t have any paperwork left from my replacement costs. Again, dealer denied knowing that the battery drains and later admitted they knew.

I am writing to raise a serious and ongoing issue regarding the infotainment system in my 2018 Subaru Legacy. The problem centers on the widespread and well-documented screen delamination defect, which has caused persistent and unsafe behavior in the vehicle’s head unit — a critical system affecting both usability and driver safety. In my case, the screen began delaminating around the 100,000-mile mark, just outside the warranty. Since then, the problem has progressively worsened and now renders the infotainment system unusable. The screen ghost-touches and rapidly changes menus, inputs, and radio stations, often without any driver interaction. This is not merely an aesthetic defect — it poses a substantial safety hazard and functional impairment. Most alarmingly: the radio will change frequencies automatically, sometimes switching away from am emergency broadcast channels without warning or input. This poses a clear safety concern in weather-related or disaster scenarios when access to emergency broadcasts is essential. The screen unpredictably shifts menus and settings while driving, creating a visual distraction that competes with the driver’s focus on the road. This is an unacceptable risk in a vehicle designed with safety as a brand hallmark. Hands-free and navigation functionality are affected, which may compel drivers to interact with the system in motion — violating hands-free laws in many states and contradicting Subaru’s commitment to safe vehicle design. The issue is widely reported across Subaru owner forums, independent shops, and social media. It is linked directly to a known defect in the harman-made infotainment units used in 2018 models and related vehicles. This is not an isolated or unique case. Despite this known problem, Subaru of America continues to decline support for owners affected outside the extended warranty period. Even though the issue eventually effects every single model. Subaru cherry picks who they choose to repair after 100k.

Replaced battery but still all dash lights come on I lose power and it dies. I can jump start it and it stay but all lights stay on. New starter, new alternator, I just don't know what it is. Only code that comes up is p0420.

Frequent battery charge draining requiring external charging/jump starts.

Infotainment system touchscreen failed and it became unstable. Bluetooth connected to phone failed, gos failed yes yes no.

2019 Subaru Legacy battery drain. The car would not start, it was jumped in February 2023. In March, the car would not start and it was jumped and taken to the Subaru serramonte dealer, a claim was filed for the extended warranty and the battery was replaced at no charge. In April 2023, the car would not start, it was jumped and taken to the dealer, the battery was replaced at no charge. In June 2023, the car would not start, it was jumped and taken to dealer where it is now not jumpable and the dealer says the electrical system is draining the battery through the on star system. There is a 2-month back order on the part, at which time the car is not usable. The dealer claims they cannot disconnect the on star system due to safety issue.

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated before accelerating. The contact stated that there was a lag in the vehicle while driving and attempting to accelerate above 65 mph. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start immediately, and several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. The failure was intermittent; however, the failure was persistent while using the remote start feature. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the failure might be related to NHTSA campaign numbers: 19v297000 (electrical system) and 13v336000 (power train); however, the VIN was not included in the recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

See all problems of the 2014 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Vehicle's batter discharges to the point where the vehicle has to be jumped or battery charged up. The vehilce had two batteries replaced in a span of 6 months and after the last repalcement I checked the batter about one month later and found the battery dead, 11. 7 volts, I recharged the battery and made an appointment with the Subaru dealer in santa fe, nm. They checked the battery, which I could have done, said I needed to drive the vehicle once or twice a week for an hour to maintain the battery. This is not consistant with other Subaru's and other vehicle I have owned and I remind you that this is a brand new battery. In looking online I did notice there have been some complaints about the battery and charging systems drawdown above the normal levels. Subaru would not check the drawdown level of the vehicle.

Consistent problems with parasitic battery drain. If the car is ever left to sit for more than two weeks, the battery will have died. I have to be careful because the battery does not recoup the energy required to start the vehicle in city driving. The second battery I installed in the car (7/2021) has failed prematurely and again requires replacement.

I have a problem of the car not starting several times now. If I do not drive it for several days the battery has to be jumped. I have purchased a jump starter to have in my car to make sure I am not stranded. If I do not have this I would be stuck. I noticed this after I bought the car and the dealer replaced the battery since it was under warranty in 2020. Now I have no warranty and the issue continues. I got a oil service last month at my dealership and my paperwork said everything is ok with my battery and connectors. I did not have the issue then since I was driving more. I noticed the other models have had the issue and got recalled for the part I think is called the (can ) that keeps the battery charged when it is parked. I believe the car has a problem I need to be checked. I told the dealership several years ago that I do not drive the car too much now and they told me to purchase a jump starter, but did not seem to take me seriously when I told them the car is still not starting when it sits for several days. I hope this is reported to the company too.

Battery drainage issue: battery failed in my 2016 Subaru Legacy in 2019, replaced with a new battery and died again in 2020, 2021, and 2022. This should be a recall not a class action lawsuit. Leaving someone stranded is a safety issue. No warning was given when the battery died. It was fine one day and dead the next day. Had to tow the vehicle at my expense to the Subaru dealership and was told that they needed to replace the battery, which I had to pay for and they performed an obdii reprogramming of the engine control module. The dealership indicated that this should help with the drainage problem but I was not given a guarantee.

The car's battery does not recharge the battery adequately, or retain a charge for a reasonable amount of time. I have a jumpstarting device that I keep in the car because the battery dies so frequently. There are no after market parts in the car, or modifications apart from maintenance performed by Subaru.

Subaru battery drainage defect. Can electrical system causing battery to drain when car isn't running. Car may unknowingly not start at any time battery could be dead. Just put new battery in 1 year ago this did not fix the issue. I shouldn't have to worry about being stranded with my child if my car doesn't start due to a known battery issue.

We have owned two 2015 Subaru Legacy sedans. Both of them have had major battery problems. We've had to have battery tenders (trickle-chargers) installed on both cars, and we're still having battery problems. We've been stuck in various parking lots, unable to start the car, and had to get jumps from others. This is a royal pain, and a potential safety hazard if we are stuck in a remote location. We've been told by our mechanic that this vehicle does not really "turn off" when you shut it down. There are several devices in the car which continue to have a "parasitic draw" on the battery, which it is not capable of sustaining. We've had the battery and charging system checked out multiple times, and everything checks out fine. Replacing the battery will not solve the problem. Replacing the battery with a deep-cycle battery will not solve the problem. It is an inherent defect in the electrical system of the vehicle. Available for inspection: yes safety issue: being stranded with a dead battery in a dangerous location confirmed by an independent service center: yes inspected by anyone else: no warning lamps or messages: no.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

I have owned my car since January 2019. I replaced the battery in November 2022 because the car wouldn't start after being left home for a week with no one driving it. In January 2023, I had to replace my battery because the car wouldn't start after not driving it for a weekend. I was told the battery was faulty. Now, on March 1, 2023, my car won't start again since no one drove it yesterday. The fob won't even open the doors. I have heard that there is a lawsuit open over my car make, model, and year because of a battery drain problem.

Left town for 3 weeks and upon return the battery was dead. This happened the last time the car was not driven for several weeks, in spring of 2020. A new battery was purchased at that time, even though the original battery was only ~3. 5 years old. The current battery is only 2. 5 years old and should be able to hold a charge for 3 weeks. Every time the car goes for an extended time without being driven, something in the electrical system drains the battery. Its very frustrating and time consuming to deal with.

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the headlights failed to illuminate and the rearview camera was intermittently flashing and displaying a blank image. The contact also stated that on various occasions when she parked the vehicle and applied the parking brake, it failed to engage. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the head unit software needed to be replaced; however, the part for the repair was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired and was failing to start. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 18v935000 (visibility) or NHTSA campaign number: 18v626000 (parking brake). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,191.

Battery went dead had it charged - went dead shortly after. Replaced battery and within a year of replacing with a brand new battery it is dead again. Car was on side of the road where I parked it. There is a class action suit on the battery life but if we need to keep doing this every year or so that is a problem. Called the dealer to see if there is anything they can do to alleviate the problem and they really have no answer. First battery lasted about 2-3 years second battery lasted about a year and will probably go two with several jump starts along the way as was the case with the first.