What 891 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Subaru Outback Wilderness

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the vehicle failed to start-up after multiple attempts. The contact had the vehicle jumpstarted and the engine resumed normal operation. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where she was informed that the failure was caused due to the vehicle not being driven enough. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11484087

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.

NHTSA ODI 11483544

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.

NHTSA ODI 11482837

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.

NHTSA ODI 11482731

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.

NHTSA ODI 11482305

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.

NHTSA ODI 11481484

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.

NHTSA ODI 11481144

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

NHTSA ODI 11480733

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.

NHTSA ODI 11479466

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.

NHTSA ODI 11477289

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.

NHTSA ODI 11475096

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.

NHTSA ODI 11474426

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.

NHTSA ODI 11473429

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".

NHTSA ODI 11471330

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.

NHTSA ODI 11469184

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 # is: 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.

NHTSA ODI 11468739

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.

NHTSA ODI 11468373

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.

NHTSA ODI 11467122

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.

NHTSA ODI 11465780

Since we have owned the car since Feb 2020, we have had many dead batteries and the Subaru dealership 100+ miles away has replaced our battery at least 4 times. We live in rural Wyoming and need a reliable car for driving in the winter months when it can get below zero. We have jumped the battery numerous times but sometime the electronics don't work correctly like cruise control, dash warnings, windows, airbags, etc. We are always taking a chance driving it the 100+ miles from our residence to the nearest Subaru dealership in Ogden, UT. Even after driving it over 100 miles the battery will not charge up because it is damaged and we have to get a new battery from the Subaru dealership. We are averaging about 12,000 miles yearly travel; however, sometimes the car is not driven at all for a few days. If we don't drive the car at least every other day, we will have a dead battery. We are afraid one of the cars numerous safety systems won't work after jumping the battery and driving the car. The date 09/29/2021 was the last time we had the battery replaced. We disconnect the battery now so the car doesn't drain the battery. Other dates were 03/17/2021, 06/21/2021, 07/23/2021, and 09/29/2021.

NHTSA ODI 11465003

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.

NHTSA ODI 11464708

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.

NHTSA ODI 11464620

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.

NHTSA ODI 11464634

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.

NHTSA ODI 11463080

My 2020 Subaru Outback has had starting issues since shortly after I purchased the car on 1/31/2020. If I do not drive the car for more than two or three days the car will not start without a jump. On one occasion the battery was completely drained so that the fob key would not even unlock the car. Not long after I purchased the car I spoke to a mechanic at the Subaru dealership regarding the battery drain issue. He offered me no solutions except to say that there are many computers in the Subaru Outback and together they draw a lot of current. I do not know if I received a defective battery or if there is some electrical defect causing excessive battery drain when the car is off.

NHTSA ODI 11459350