I will NEVER buy another Subaru

Joined
Oct 16, 2024
Messages
2
Reaction score
8
I bought a 2020 top-of-the-line Outback. Mechanically, an awesome car. Fit and finish, great even after 4 years. Electronics...CRAP would be a compliment!!!

The amount of times I've been stranded without a car because it wouldn't start is unacceptable. Subaru having my car in the shop for 2 weeks to repair it the last time just reinforces how incompetent they are with building and fixing their own stuff.

I have a CAA Premium membership not because I want it, but because the car keeps letting me down. Tonight is the most recent event where I've had to use the secret key in the FOB to get into the car while I wait for a tow.

Enough is enough. Subaru keeps contacting me that they have buyers for my car. They can have it. Let someone else discover how Subaru still hasn't figured out how to work with electricity in a vehicle.
 
I bought a 2020 top-of-the-line Outback. Mechanically, an awesome car. Fit and finish, great even after 4 years. Electronics...CRAP would be a compliment!!!

The amount of times I've been stranded without a car because it wouldn't start is unacceptable. Subaru having my car in the shop for 2 weeks to repair it the last time just reinforces how incompetent they are with building and fixing their own stuff.

I have a CAA Premium membership not because I want it, but because the car keeps letting me down. Tonight is the most recent event where I've had to use the secret key in the FOB to get into the car while I wait for a tow.

Enough is enough. Subaru keeps contacting me that they have buyers for my car. They can have it. Let someone else discover how Subaru still hasn't figured out how to work with electricity in a vehicle.
 
I agree. I will never buy another Subaru. I’m fortunate enough to arrive home—-at all. Car only four years old and I’ll be needing my third battery. This is criminal.
Funny, my car is on it's 3rd battery as well, and I suspect it's about to need a 4th. On a new battery, the Auto Stop/Start feature (when you get to a stop light) normally keeps the engine off for about a minute. The last time my battery had to be replaced, I was down to 7 seconds. Right now, that feature won't engage on my car, so that tells me the car can't keep enough charge in the battery to allow the feature to work. Batteries should last 5-7 years. Averaging 1 per year is a red flag for me.

Oh...FYI, I did purchase a 3-year extended warranty from Subaru, so all this work (including the tows) have been on their dime. For me, that's not the point; the amount of times you should get into a < 5-year old car and it doesn't start should be ZERO.
 
I agree. I have a 2019 Subaru Outback V6. It has been at the dealership 4 times in two months for the same issue. The car does not start. At times it starts again after sitting around 5+ hours. Other times it won’t restart at all again regardless of how long it sits. It has been towed into the dealership two times in two months. They replaced the battery one visit, and then they told me my battery cable was loose another. I’m currently out of state on vacation, and now the car will not start again. It will require yet another tow to a dealership somewhere - making it the FIFTH time to the dealership for the same issue in 10 weeks. The odometer just turned to 27K. Prior to this issue I was thinking of trading it in for an Ascent but after all this no way. At this point I will no longer recommend buying a Subaru to anyone again. This is criminal if so many of us are having the same/similar issue.
 
Yowza. This is terrible. I'm glad I bought all the extended warranties for our 2022 Crosstrek. Maybe there are enough victims of this to initiate a class action.
 
I agree. I have a 2019 Subaru Outback V6. It has been at the dealership 4 times in two months for the same issue. The car does not start. At times it starts again after sitting around 5+ hours. Other times it won’t restart at all again regardless of how long it sits. It has been towed into the dealership two times in two months. They replaced the battery one visit, and then they told me my battery cable was loose another. I’m currently out of state on vacation, and now the car will not start again. It will require yet another tow to a dealership somewhere - making it the FIFTH time to the dealership for the same issue in 10 weeks. The odometer just turned to 27K. Prior to this issue I was thinking of trading it in for an Ascent but after all this no way. At this point I will no longer recommend buying a Subaru to anyone again. This is criminal if so many of us are having the same/similar issue.


I too have a 2019 3.5R and i went through 4 batteries before they figured out that the problem had to do with the Starlink system not turning off when the car was turned off. There was actually a class action lawsuit in regards to this issue. Finally, subaru has acknowledged that there was an actual issue bc i just got a notice in the mail that they would reimburse anyone who had this problem. I know the 2020 was included in the years that had the issue. This is the lawsuit

 
everyone with battery drain issues that are still under warranty should force their dealership to check the DCM. it's a know faulty module connected to starlink that causes continuous battery drain.
this has been happening to my sons car, which is a 2017 Legacy. unfortunately the dealership say they have tested the DCM and there's nothing wrong with it. However, now that we have pulled the DCM his battery never dies so clearly they are incorrect or incompetent. I started a complaint with Subaru and they would do nothing for me and I really didn't want to have to pay another dealership to do a diagnostic so we've just lived with the car without a DCM which means his phone cannot be used through the car speaker system.
I feel like Subaru's customer service has gone way down since I first started buying Subarus
that said I have a 2022 outback premium and knock on wood has been fine but I'm still under warranty
 
This is all de-stressing news!
I'm sorry you are having so much difficulty!

Is it the same thing breaking down all the time or a plethora of items?
You might want to discuss this with a Lawyer and see if your eligible for a 'buy-back' under the Lemon Law in your state.

As far as start stop is concerned, its big brother government cramming that down our throats. It only saves fuel in heavy stop and go traffic. Think New York City at rush hour. And, it is very hard on your vehicle. Most vehicles with this feature use the Alternator as the starter. Constant start stop is hard on the alternater, its belt, the engine (due to lack of oil pressure on start up), and your battery.

But, you see, the government doesn't care, because it saves fuel. It doesn't save you money. You can purchase defeat devices for this feature. It plugs into your OBDII port under the steering wheel....That is what I have done!! No law against defeating this stupid feature!
 
I bought a 2020 top-of-the-line Outback. Mechanically, an awesome car. Fit and finish, great even after 4 years. Electronics...CRAP would be a compliment!!!

The amount of times I've been stranded without a car because it wouldn't start is unacceptable. Subaru having my car in the shop for 2 weeks to repair it the last time just reinforces how incompetent they are with building and fixing their own stuff.

I have a CAA Premium membership not because I want it, but because the car keeps letting me down. Tonight is the most recent event where I've had to use the secret key in the FOB to get into the car while I wait for a tow.

Enough is enough. Subaru keeps contacting me that they have buyers for my car. They can have it. Let someone else discover how Subaru still hasn't figured out how to work with electricity in a vehicle.

everyone with battery drain issues that are still under warranty should force their dealership to check the DCM. it's a know faulty module connected to starlink that causes continuous battery drain.
this has been happening to my sons car, which is a 2017 Legacy. unfortunately the dealership say they have tested the DCM and there's nothing wrong with it. However, now that we have pulled the DCM his battery never dies so clearly they are incorrect or incompetent. I started a complaint with Subaru and they would do nothing for me and I really didn't want to have to pay another dealership to do a diagnostic so we've just lived with the car without a DCM which means his phone cannot be used through the car speaker system.
I feel like Subaru's customer service has gone way down since I first started buying Subarus
that said I have a 2022 outback premium and knock on wood has been fine but I'm still under warranty
Hi - Would you happen to known if the cars with the DCM issue will eventually start without jumping it, or does it always require a jump/charge to get it started again? Thanks!
 
I bought a 2020 top-of-the-line Outback. Mechanically, an awesome car. Fit and finish, great even after 4 years. Electronics...CRAP would be a compliment!!!

The amount of times I've been stranded without a car because it wouldn't start is unacceptable. Subaru having my car in the shop for 2 weeks to repair it the last time just reinforces how incompetent they are with building and fixing their own stuff.

I have a CAA Premium membership not because I want it, but because the car keeps letting me down. Tonight is the most recent event where I've had to use the secret key in the FOB to get into the car while I wait for a tow.

Enough is enough. Subaru keeps contacting me that they have buyers for my car. They can have it. Let someone else discover how Subaru still hasn't figured out how to work with electricity in a vehicle.
I have a 2020 Outback for 4 years now no issue with Electric What do you mean by Electricity the battery issue ?
The car work fine warm up the car 5 minutes every time i go some where oil change every 6 month I have 3.8K to it since
I don't go anywhere stay home just for shopping i'm retired in my 60 . I didn't buy the top of the line it's a waist of money
just a Premium enough for me use to have a Honda Civic EX for 20 years with 35K to it with a XT the suck too much petrol i don't compete on the freeway it's no use just get a Ferrari instead. Maybe you got a Lemon. the Car It's made in the USA not in Japan the Engine built in Japan the rest in the USA no wonder nothing it's working LOL
 
in our experience, it requires a jump. every jump subsequently seems to deplete the battery more with eventual need to replace. we went through 3 batteries in a little over a year . luckily the 2 replacements were covered under the battery warranty (from advance auto)
 
Just bought a 2024 Outback Onyx 4 cylinder, immediately bought the module to bypass the auto start/stop that was annoying. Hoping that the Starlink system does not put me in the failed battery predicament.
I will ride herd on this if I see it happening.

Unfortunately NHTSA does not consider things of this nature as a safety issue.👺

 
I bought a 2020 top-of-the-line Outback. Mechanically, an awesome car. Fit and finish, great even after 4 years. Electronics...CRAP would be a compliment!!!

The amount of times I've been stranded without a car because it wouldn't start is unacceptable. Subaru having my car in the shop for 2 weeks to repair it the last time just reinforces how incompetent they are with building and fixing their own stuff.

I have a CAA Premium membership not because I want it, but because the car keeps letting me down. Tonight is the most recent event where I've had to use the secret key in the FOB to get into the car while I wait for a tow.

Enough is enough. Subaru keeps contacting me that they have buyers for my car. They can have it. Let someone else discover how Subaru still hasn't figured out how to work with electricity in a vehicle.
there was a huge recall out on some suba foresters, outbacks etc BECAUSE the car batteries were going dead BECAUSE the suba geniuses slowed the alternator charging when the car went into low rpm to 'save gas' while idling at red lites. slow charging = a battery that gives out far before its 3 year estimated useful life. and if you drive a lot of low speed city miles, your battery can go dead over nite. owner's batteries were getting replaced at 2 or 3 per year. suba will not tell you about the recall and warranty fix they were forced to offer unless you ask. their dealerss will try to charge you $1500 to 'check and upgrade the 'software controlling your alternator.' when in fact it is THEIR fault for a stupid design. battery went dead 2x last week. this is my last suba.
 
there was a huge recall out on some suba foresters, outbacks etc BECAUSE the car batteries were going dead BECAUSE the suba geniuses slowed the alternator charging when the car went into low rpm to 'save gas' while idling at red lites. slow charging = a battery that gives out far before its 3 year estimated useful life. and if you drive a lot of low speed city miles, your battery can go dead over nite. owner's batteries were getting replaced at 2 or 3 per year. suba will not tell you about the recall and warranty fix they were forced to offer unless you ask. their dealerss will try to charge you $1500 to 'check and upgrade the 'software controlling your alternator.' when in fact it is THEIR fault for a stupid design. battery went dead 2x last week. this is my last suba.
 
I agree. I have a 2019 Subaru Outback V6. It has been at the dealership 4 times in two months for the same issue. The car does not start. At times it starts again after sitting around 5+ hours. Other times it won’t restart at all again regardless of how long it sits. It has been towed into the dealership two times in two months. They replaced the battery one visit, and then they told me my battery cable was loose another. I’m currently out of state on vacation, and now the car will not start again. It will require yet another tow to a dealership somewhere - making it the FIFTH time to the dealership for the same issue in 10 weeks. The odometer just turned to 27K. Prior to this issue I was thinking of trading it in for an Ascent but after all this no way. At this point I will no longer recommend buying a Subaru to anyone again. This is criminal if so many of us are having the same/similar issue.
Had the same problem. Parasitic drain from the Starlink System. There’s a service bulletin and a repair procedure. Good luck finding yours.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
14,705
Messages
69,734
Members
8,264
Latest member
George@tonga

Latest Threads

Back
Top