Subaru Outback

""The catalytic converter sensor indicated a problem. This then disengaged the cruise control and a stability sensor. I had an aftermarket converter installed but it failed right away. We installed another one and it failed. We then installed new oxygen sensors, but the problem reoccurred.I didn't want to install a factory converter because I was quoted $5000 from the dealership. We eventually tried a different brand of converter and that solved the issue. Thank goodness for the independent shop that was willing to work with me for 4 months. They didn't even charge me for the oxygen sensor.""

"Exhaust Manifold cracked at 172000 miles. Known design flaw but Subaru would claim no responsibility."

"The SRS warning light just came on. That is the only problem other than ordinary car things that have occurred."

""After I had an oil change, The car began hesitating badly and not moving forward and then would buck and move. After having it examined by the people who did the oil change who claimed they did not think it was caused by the oil change. Eye brought it for another opinion to a Subaru dealer. They said there was too much oil and that overflow had caused the problem. Apparently sometimes that happens with Subarus when too much oil is put into it.""

"Recent cam shaft issue. Being resolved now"

"Parasitic battery drain (recurrent)"

"battery failure multiple times replaced by dealer. They attribute to low mileage use."

"The rubber part around the front two windows had to be replaced in order for the windows to operate. Dealer said that was a problem on this make/model but Subaru did not cover the repair."

"Had to replace cylinder heads and valves"

"The wheel bearing had to be replaced took it to the shop it was replaced last October"

"Car lost power completely while driving at high speed in the left lane of the highway"

"Unrepairable tire puncture"

"Battery died after about 1 year"

"Drivers side electric window gets stuck in the middle of window some times when trying to get the window to roll down or does not work at all."

"Seat material peeling off the driver and passenger seats"

"Gear box stopped responding and key would get stuck in ignition"

""DCM was defective. Drained my battery twice before problem was diagnosed. Subaru did cover the cost of repair. I then continued to have trouble with the battery. The alternator was finally replaced, but not until I had my Outbck towed three times.""

""Cooling system, replaced radiator.""

"The front two windows do not close properly, they bounce back open if you don't ease it up with the electric window control. Also the light to tell you see what gear you are in on the middle console flickers so for someone not familiar with the car, it is harder to know if you are in reverse, neutral, park of drive. I did not repair either due to the expense."

"Rear suspension work was required. Struts and sway bars"

"Horn stopped working. Had to take it in to be fixed."

"Steering column would not lock in up or down position. The dealer replaced the entire steering column at a cost of about $1000."

"Front seat windows get stuck on mid position. Fixed many times. Now just replace mechanism."

"The wheel studs on the tires shear off. Both of our cars have had this issue numerous times. The dealer told us this is a known issue with Subaru but nothing is being done about it. It is dangerous since Subaru recommends tire rotation with oil change. The technicians say the wheel studs they are receiving are inferior quality. Perhaps Consumer Reports can check into this?"

"Key kept getting stuck in the ignition so the car couldn't be turned off. This was being caused by the gear shift which even though it was in park was not registering that way with the ignition system preventing the key from being removed"

""1 1/2 year old battery failed after car wasn't used for a few days. It was apparently related to DCM, which has caused the problem before. At one point the dealer installed a DCM software update, but it didn't totally solve the problem, which has occurred throughout the life of the car. This was the third time the battery has been replaced. The dealer has also removed a fuse for the DCM or Starlink system. This seemed to help, but is not a perfect solution. The factory was very slow to acknowledge that this problem existed, but from the internet I learned that many others have had this problem over several years.""

"Replaced battery before warranty expired"

"Premature battery failure was a symptom of my PRIMARY problem of a "parasitic discharge" in the electrical system that causes drainage of power after (& maybe during) the vehicle is turned off (see the Federal NHTSA for details). I have coped with the problem by periodically hooking up a battery maintainer to my battery in order to compensate for this power drainage. "Solving" this problem has permitted me to enjoy the otherwise fine car that this is. (Note: Online consensus seems to be that Subaru has skirted its responsibility in not issuing a Recall for this defect)"

"Common problem 2015-2020 Subaru models. Starlink system is a possible electrical drain but reports differ on source. I've experienced dead batteries 2 to 3 times per year. Subaru charges my empty battery, and it requires a battery replacement every 12-18 months. Installation of a box to manage starlink connection is only permanent fix, but if you missed the window, you now have to pay for it yourself."

"The navigation system causes the battery to drain. Subaru reports that this is because the system is 3G and since 3G is no longer available the system is constantly searching for a signal and drains the battery."

""It's still killing the battery. I disconnected the charging regulator feedback to the alternator to see if that would help, but I've had one incident the other day post disconnection. The regulator is on the negative terminal.""

""Had to change out the battery, when I already had a new battery installed 6 months ago. I purchased the battery at Sams Club and the dealer said the car needed to be re-programed which did not prevent the problem of starting the vehicle and then the vehicle would stall out intermittently without warning. The dealer checked all other systems with their computer and recommended changing out the battery with the manufactures one . Sam's club battery was a Duracell and cost $125.00 installed. Theirs cost $355.00 installed and the problem still happens on occasion. I have to use a battery jumper or gun the accelerator to get the vehicle not to stall out when starting. I had the fuel injectors cleaned by the dealer with no effect. Very unhappy.""

"Battery only two years old but died due to parasitic drain. Subaru is aware theres an issue but wont issue recall.$800 for new battery with more cranking power and reset the digital control module."

"Battery frequently dies and needs jumpstart. Also had to buy a new battery"

""Have had problem with electrical system since we first bought this car. Many batteries have been replaced, Subaru didnt find what was wrong.maybe they now have""

"The battery dies if you turn the car, listening to the radio, without starting the engine"

""Same problem as I already described. The actual problem was that the original DCM Module allowed a continuous drain on the battery, which necessitated me purchasing 2 new batteries (and 2 emergency jumpstarts) at my own cost !""

""Repeated issues with the battery draining unexpectedly within a very short time, needing to be recharged, and battery simple wearing out. I think we are on our 3rd battery over the 9.5 years weve owned the vehicle""

"All 3 12v outlets no longer work"

"Headlights got water in them. To replace very expensive. Had to take off bumper and fender"

"HEADLIGHTS KEPT BURNING OUT. FInally HAD TO REPLACE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY"

"The horn stopped working. I changed it out two fuses and controls. The horn would work occasionally but still needed to be repaired. My personal mechanic was unable to make the repair so I had to take it to the dealer. They had to remove the steering wheel and replace the switch. The cost was over $500."

"Key fob battery needs to be replaced too frequently. Worsened over time."

""Have had a continuous drain on the battery since original purchase 9 years ago, resulting in frequent dead battery. This required 2 new batteries and 2 emergency jumpstarts .... all at my expense. The Subaru Corporation FINALLY acknowledged this problem (after years of angry complaints by owners of 2016-2019 Subaru vehicles) .... and replaced the DCM Module (and the battery) at no additional cost to me. I appreciated this action .... but it should have happened 9 years earlier when customers identified the problem. As an aside, I submitted all paperwork and copies of invoices for the batteries I bought and the emergency jumpstart costs .... and my claims for reimbursement were rejected ! I like my 2016 Outback and my dealership .... but this experience left me very angry and disappointed in the SUBARU Corporation for not fixing an original problem that was not my fault and cost me a lot of money.""

"The battery drains and car then needs to be jumped. Have changed the battery 3 times in 9 years"

"Subaru knew that they had a problem, battery draining by itself, did not omit this but would give you a new battery which did not solve the problem, cheap not real solution"

"Seat adjustment memory failed in 2024."

"System tried it constantly update/reload. Unit replaced, now have source, channel issues with fm and sirusXM, can only receive @20 Xm channels."

"It sometimes freezes up in many different modes. Especially so for the backup camera."

"Touch screen unreadable in sunlight"

"The original equipment in dash stereo has never worked right since I bought the vehicle. I bought an aftermarket new in dash replacement audio, rear camera and information display."

""The head unit developed a short in 2023 that drained the battery while I was on vacation. I replaced the battery and didn't experience the problem for until the next year, when I parked the car for 2 weeks. I replaced the battery again, but had the same problem a few months later. So i replaced the battery again and took it to the dealer to determine what the problem was. They said that it was a slow leak in the head unit. It was replaced in April 2024 and I've not had a drained battery since then. I have to say that Subaru offset the cost of the head unit, and I paid the labor.""

""The touchscreen first become unresponsive to touch, then it started to randomly engage via fantom touch with navigation, radio, etc. very annoying. The only fix for it was to replace the entire console system, which was very expensive. It was not under warranty, and there was no recall for it.""

"Voice directions for map routing not working sometimes"

"Navigation does not output audio. This is not a configuration problem; it is a hardware problem. The first syllable or two can be heard, but then fades out."

"Battery drain from Starlink"

"Front electronic windows needed repair."

"I didn't have another problem. i just checked the box to give more information about the electrical drain."

"Doesnt pair easily. Sometimes I have to turn off the car (once or several times) for the car to find my phone. Sometimes it will pair a mile down the road after I give up and drive without it"

"It is very inconsistent when it comes to blue-tooth pairing."

"The radio will intermittently stop working or the volume will vary from barely audible to blaringly loud."

"The cruise control switch works improperly periodically. I asked the dealer about replacing it. Was told they had never heard of this problem and nothing was done."