general problems of the 2020 Subaru Outback - part 2

Battery drained without reason.

Battery died a month after purchasing the car used. Now the new Subaru oem battery, that replaced the original, is also failing on a regular basis. I have to charge the battery about every other time I try to start the car.

For one, my windshield cracked out of nowhere, I didn’t know that windshields were having issues at the time, so I had to replace it on my own without contacting the dealership. Other issues include the front windows not going up all the way from time to time. The info system crashes and shuts down from time to time too, which leads to the eyesight to shutdown temporarily too. And from time to time, the hatch buttons lag where I have to push on the buttons multiple times to get it to close.

I have had to replace my battery already, I have only 19,464 miles on the car. I replaced the battery on 09/07/2022. I have replaced batteries before and there is usually a warning that it is starting to go dead, this time it was just dead and would not hold a charge.

I have had the battery be completely drained overnight for no apparent reason. Last year I took the car in 3 or more times for the dealer to diagnose. They gave me a new batter and said it was the parking break draining the battery. This year (almost a year later) the battery is again being drained. When the roadside assistance came to jump it he said the battery (after the jump) was only 3. 9 volts which is much lower than anything like interior lights being left on would do. I'm worried that they haven't fixed this mysterious drain on the battery. And I see that there has already been a class action suit against Subaru of America (soa) has been battling an issue with drained batteries on the Outback and ascent suvs. The original lawsuit from 2020 against soa alleged the suvs had defective electrical systems causing premature battery failure. A second lawsuit in 2021 against Subaru claimed defective electrical components in the Subaru forester, Outback, ascent, legacy, and wrx vehicles.

We bought the car new in October 2020. In Nov 2021, the battery died while we we were stopped at a busy intersection. The auto start-stop system was on. We were lucky with a near miss accident with a driver than came up behind us. We had it towed to the nearest Subaru dealership who couldn’t find anything wrong. However, when we picked up the car the next day, the battery was dead again. They replaced with a new and better battery according the service center manager. Now August 2022, we find ourselves having to jump the battery 3 times in the last week when the car wouldn’t start. We have gone to another Subaru dealership who is telling us nothing is wrong. I’m fearful of finding myself in the same situation as last year.

The screen has gone out on several occasions since we purchased the car new. Most recent while using navigation the entire screen went blank and there was no voice or direction diagram. The screen did not return until the next day. Most recent the battery went dead for no reason while parked in line for a funeral. Embarrassed we had to abandon the car and ride with others. We returned later and had to jump start the car to get it home. (this incident was September 1, 2022. ) we had to charge the battery for five hours before the charger showed it was charged sufficient to use. I took the car to battery wholesale and they advised they could not determine the batteries worthiness because the electrolytes were too low and the battery needed a hard charge to bring it up for testing.

Battery ran down too quick. Replaced battery in 5/2021. Supposedly did some adjustments to the electrical system. Worked okay until recently when the dead battery problem has begun again.

Under warranty had to jump battery 3 times to start vehicle one time 300 miles from home Subaru put in new battery last week battery volts always below 12 volts. Put vote meter on battery after 30 minute trip read 11. 9 volts had my wife step on gas volts drop to 11. 5 volts . Repeated experiment again same result . Concern this winter will get stranded in cold wearher. At same time as this test I pulled my 1999 Subaru out of garage put meter on at idle read 13 volts upon acceleration read 13. 5 volts dealer tells me he got 14 volts don't believe he is honest. Many people on line having same prolem.

The car's battery keeps draining inexplicably, leaving the car unable to start.

The car set overnight (was fine) next am no electrical. Everything locked except driver's door and passenger door. No battery charge at all. Everything dead.

On multiple occasions, the center console has gone black and I have no control over any of the car's functions (e. G. Climate control, navigation, radio, ability to turn on/off safety features, etc). This had been happening for several weeks before the more concerning incident. The auto-stop/start at a red light failed to work. The car shut off, but wouldn't restart for several seconds. Eventually it restarted and I was able to get it home because I was afraid to drive it, the car sat in my driveway for aprox. 2 weeks before I could take it to the dealership. By then, the battery was completely dead and I had to get a jump start from aaa. I drove the car straight to the dealership. For at least 45 minutes after that jump, the center console wouldn't come back on. Because I had no means to turn off the auto start/stop feature, I had to put my car into park at every red light to avoid it shutting off. I don't know when it actually came back on, as that happened at some point after I dropped off my car at the dealership for service. Although the dealer did see that the center console wasn't working, they couldn't tell me why it happened. In addition, they were not able to reproduce the problem with the auto start not working. They indicated the battery checked out fine. (this is also the 2nd battery I've had in this car as the first died for unknown reasons - they indicated they thought a rear light was on, but that light is never turned on) because almost everything happens via that center console, that is a major failure if that just randomly goes out. Failure of the auto start/stop could strand me in traffic. My car is available for inspection.

The electrical system cause me to buy a new battery prematurely. 2020 Subaru Outback, needs new battery in less than 2 years.

We bought our 2020 Outback used in may 2022. I have had to get a jump three times in the past two weeks. I am traveling alone and not only had it involved me being late for work, but my safety as well.

Battery is poorly charged , as indicated by idle battery voltage below 12. 1 volts, and in one case the car would not strat and I had to call road service to get the battery jumped/boosted.

My battery has been replaced three times by the dealer. Initially days after buying the vehicle and twice since then. After letting the vehicle sit for 3-7 days the battery is not able to start the vehicle. Each time I have taken it to the dealer for repair. The first time in 2020 it was just a battery replacement. Then in 2021 it was a relay and battery replacement. In 2022 it was a module and then another battery replacement. All without a comprehensive explanation from the dealer or service advisor.

Multiple battery failures. Original battery failed at ~2 years, then a new battery failed 6 months later. First failure July 2022, second failure Dec 2022.

The battery has had to be jumped 3 times in the last six months. And less than 29,000 miles. Took to dealership on July 5 and they said no issue and next time it happens would need to have it towed. Just worried it could happen in a remote place or in the evening.

Twice now, once a year ago and then again today, my car battery is completely drained. I do not leave my fab in the car and there were no lights left on in the vehicle. A year ago, the same thing happened and they replaced the battery with another oem battery, thereby just temporarily fixing the issue. The service manager lied to me and told me he had no knowledge of a class action lawsuit in place to address this issue. He also commented, "well you haven't had an issue for over a year".

I bought my 2020 Subaru Outback in March of 2020. Since then I have had many instances of the battery dying. In one instance (may of 2021), it died and after jumping they had to repair something to the electrical system. On another occasion it was dying multiple times (jumped it and drove it 3 consecutive times only for it to die 12 hours later each time in December 2020) I had the vehicle towed to Subaru only for them to say they couldn't find anything wrong. I just got back from the dealership after my check engine light came on and they said I need a new battery. They were charging over $900 to swap the battery.

•driver’s window failing to properly and completing retract. This has been particularly troublesome in the bitter cold of northern minnesota. On each visit to Subaru I have requested that the window be repaired. All efforts have been unsuccessful. •battery failure without cause or prior warning signs. On previous visits the service center failed to address and resolve the battery problem that I brought. In my most recent visit they referred me to a legal settlement action which prevents them from further addressing the battery issue. I brought the vehicle in twice for repair/replacement of the battery. Not resolved. •eyesight driver assist malfunction. Upon presenting the issue, the service manager suggested that the cause was sunlight hitting the sensors and he did not work on the issue. Even when I noted that the problem happened in the evening as well as during the daytime, no response. •check engine warning indicator signifying any number of important malfunctions while also causing cruise control, eyesight, rab, and other critical, electronic systems to deactivate. More importantly, the Subaru service center informed me that there is a life-threatening risk associated with the underlying cause of this check engine light appearing, and, consequently, they would not permit me to drive the car from the service center until necessary repairs and part replacements were made. I have been waiting over two months for the automobile to be repaired and returned to me. I had previously brought the vehicle in specifically for this issue. At that time the service center failed to correct the problem and suggested it would disappear on its own (the warning light would turn off after a number of ignition starts). When I requested that they clearly understand the problem and fix the lighlight warning, the manager refused to continue to work on the vehicle.

1. Car accelerated on its own—very scary. (took the car to cochran Subaru of monroeville, but they said nothing was found wrong. ) 2. The very next day, the real door would not latch and car would not lock. I reported these two issues to 1-800-subaru3. My case # 220610-163479 3. We did a “software” update bc we received a recall notice—it was completed at cochran Subaru of monroeville sometime in the fall of 2021, in March of 2022 while on vacation in fla, the radio blared on its own, then stopped working altogether for a week or so—then just started working again.

Battery died and will not hold a charge. Air bags were not engaged due to the elctrical system being impacted. Battery was charged and left overnight and the battery was fully drained in the morning and the car would not start. Battery was charged again and driven to the Subaru dealer. The dealer fully charged the battery and left it over night and the same thing happened the next morning. The battery was drained and the car would not start. The dealer replaced the battery with a new battery and performed a software update. Next morning the battery was fully drained and the car would not start. The dealer as of today does not have a solution after have the car for 3 days. The dealer has told me they have all the diagnostic tests they can think of and nothing is showing up as being wrong or that identifies what is draining the battery. I believe the control area network (can) is failing and is not going into deep sleep mode when the car is shut off and is causing the battery to drain. Until the defect in the can software is fixed the battery will continue to drain.

Starlink head system/software malfunctions while driving. This shuts down all safety systems, back up camera, radio. Heating system cannot be controlled while shut down. System restarts automatically after a few minutes but settings, etc may need to be restored. This creates a distraction that could lead to a collision or loss of vehicle control. Investigation reveals that many have this problem with the 11. 6" starlink display. A recall should be initiated for repair/replacement of problem components. Note that two software updates have been completed at the dealer to correct this problem to no avail.

Battery died multiple times 7-8 times within last 1 year car stopped in the middle of the road while waiting a a crossing. The cars coming behind bumped into each other. The emergency lights also died. The problem has been reproduced multiple times and I have taken the vehicle to ‘premier Subaru fremont’ at fremont , CA location. I have battery failed even after the fix. I do not get any warning lamps or indication that battery is at low level and that I need to stop the car at safe location before the issue happens. It’s very dangerous and the car is completely unreliable.

Three times for no apparent reason the battery has drained completely after car was sitting fir a day. Subaru replaced the battery after 2nd time but now it is happening again with new battery.

2020 Outback with just over 2,000 miles. Batteries (two) have completely fails twice. Six times we have had to jump these batteries. My wife had to be given a ride home from the “y” once. I am now on my 3rd battery. Dealer says there is nothing wrong with this car. They say I need to disconnect battery if car is not to be used for a length of time. This is unacceptable, however, there seems to no no recourse.

For the third time this spring, my 2020 Subaru Outback has failed to start. It appears that something within the electrical system of the car is draining the battery. Each time I have been unable to start the car the car has sat unused for 3-4 days. Fortunately I have not been stranded . . . Yet. I have had to call road service each time. The car has only 23000 miles on it and the car has been garaged most of the time when not in use. I have sought more information about this defect online and see that I am not alone in experiencing this problem.

Car is 2 years old. Battery has died twice already. Dealership cannot find any issue other than dead battery. Dealer told me that dead batteries in short timeframes is a known issue with this car. Batteries draining for no apparent reason is a safety risk as it indicates a larger problem, namely a possible parasitic drain on the battery and/or faulty electrical components. Dealer cannot replicate the issue in the few days they have had the car for repair. There was no warning of a battery failure. Car was driven earlier in the day with no issue. Tried to start it about 4 hours later and it was dead. Jump started it to take it to dealer for repair a few days later. Opened an incident report with Subaru of America on 5/2/22.

Date: March 25, 2022 - while driving to work, the car shut off. The rab and eye technology features were disabled. The car indicted the battery was drained. The same day I got the car towed to the dealer. I stayed with the vehicle to find out what was wrong. After a two hour inspection, the bay ridge dealer/mechanics in brooklyn, new york indicated that I left something on that drained the battery. I said sir "I did not. " he said well the battery is ok and there is no indication that anything is wrong. The next day (March 26,2022) when I was about to start the car - the car couldn't start. I had to get it towed to the dealer and am left without a car.

Electrical system freezes/reboots spontaneously during operation; electrical system fails to power off after engine stops; electrical system stays on and drains battery, leading to car not starting; car has refused to start while away from the house due to battery drain from electrical system; car will sometimes start with all systems disabled (rab, eyesight, cruise, etc. ) due to electrical issue; car has current virginia state inspection through December 2022; car was inspected by sheehy Subaru in fredericksburg, va and "software update" was pushed 17 may 2022; problems persist even after software update on 17 may 2022.

For the third time in a week I have went out to the garage to find the lift gate up and the battery dead. I talked to the dealers service dept. And they said the fob button had to have been pushed which opened the lift gate and the open lift gate drained the battery. Their recommendation was to make sure the fob button doesn’t get accidentally pushed. I have never had any vehicle with this problem before. Doing an internet search I found that a number of Outback and ascent owners have had this same problem and it was recommended that it be reported here.

Issue started when one day my battery was dead. I thought I left the door or light one but that was not it. Dealer visit after dealer visit it’s the same thing. Keep getting the battery replaced with the same oem. Works for a while and then it’s dead. Luckily I have not been stranded but I have been trying not to drive my Outback to avoid it. All the complaints about this battery is a shame since it’s an excellent vehicle. We need a higher quality replacement instead of spending money for another brand battery when the vehicle is under warranty.

I have a 2020 Subaru Outback that I purchased brand new one and a half years ago. It has 31,472 miles on it on December 28, 2021 and then again on January 31, 2021 my car would not start on the battery had to be replaced.

My Subaru has 12,ooo miles on it and in the past week has died on me. When you try to start the car and depress the brake, the brake locks and you cannot push it anymore, in addition, the battery does not turn over. On the first occasion, we tried to jump start the car but the battery read as normal activity and the car would not start after that. The car just started up for no apparent reason the following day. Thankfully we were at home when this happened and we have a 2nd car. The second time, same thing with the brake when we tried to start car and no turnover with the battery but and the car still will not start on the following day but this time it looks like the battery has died. Taking it in to Subaru dealership where supposedly the have never heard of these problems before!.