Subaru Outback Dead Battery? Drain Problems & How To Fix

Many 2015-2022 Subaru Outback, Forester, Legacy and WRX owners have experienced a dead battery issue in their cars. If you’re having a similar problem with your vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation under the lemon law.

Unfortunately, jumper cables and a battery charger have become two essential items that Subaru drivers cannot leave home without.

According to a lawsuit filed against Subaru, the 2019 to 2020 Subaru Ascent and 2016 to 2020 Subaru Outback vehicles feature batteries with insufficient capacity to run the electrical systems when these vehicles have been switched off.

Tomasian versus Subaru and Dalen versus Subaru are two of the many cases filed over the Subaru battery troubles.

As of May 2022, a preliminary settlement was been reached between Subaru and the plaintiffs. The settlement includes the compensation for the following vehicles:

• 2015-2020 Subaru Outback
• 2015-2020 Subaru Forester
• 2015-2020 Subaru Legacy
• 2015-2020 Subaru WRX

In this article, we will discuss the car battery drain issues in greater detail, the settlement, and why battery failure poses such a great danger to motorists and vehicle occupants.

If you’ve purchased or leased a defective 2017-2023 Subaru in California, we can help you receive compensation at no cost to you. Contact Cali Lemon Lawyers today!

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Subaru Outback Battery Drain

The Subaru outback battery problems are most commonly caused by a parasitic drain, which occurs when a component in the electrical system continues to draw power even when the car is turned off. This can be caused by a malfunctioning electronic component, a wiring short, or an incorrectly installed aftermarket accessory.

The parasitic drain can be caused by a number of different components, but some of the most common culprits include:

• The security system
• The remote start system
• The infotainment system
• The climate control system
• The headlights
• The taillights
• The door locks
• The trunk release
• The SOS button

Diagnosing Battery Problems

The parasitic drain can be difficult to diagnose, but there are a few things you can do to check for it:

• Turn off all of the accessories in your car.
• Open the hood and disconnect the negative battery cable.
• Use a multimeter to measure the amount of current that is being drawn from the battery.
• If the current draw is more than 50 milliamps, then you have a parasitic drain.

Once you have diagnosed the parasitic drain, you can then start to troubleshoot the problem. This may involve replacing the faulty component, repairing a wiring short, or disconnecting an aftermarket accessory.

Here are some additional tips to help prevent your Subaru Outback battery from dying:

• Avoid making short trips. Short trips don’t give the alternator enough time to fully charge the battery.
• Turn off all accessories when the car is not in use. This includes things like the radio, headlights, and climate control.
• Have your battery tested regularly. This will help to catch any problems early on.

How to Fix the Subaru Outback Dead Battery Drain Problem

If you are experiencing dead battery problems in your Subaru Outback, there are a few things you can do to fix the problem:

1. Check for a parasitic drain. This is the most common cause of the dead battery problem in Subaru Outbacks. To check for a parasitic drain, you will need a multimeter. Turn off all of the accessories in your car, including the headlights, climate control, and radio. Then, disconnect the negative battery cable. Use the multimeter to measure the amount of current that is being drawn from the battery. If the current draw is more than 50 milliamps, then you have a parasitic drain.
2. Replace the faulty component. Once you have found the component that is causing the parasitic drain, you will need to replace it. This may be a fuse, relay, or electronic component.
3. Disconnect an aftermarket accessory. If you have added any aftermarket accessories to your car, such as a sound system or a winch, disconnect them one at a time until the parasitic drain stops. This will help you to identify which accessory is causing the problem.
4. Replace the battery. If the battery is old or damaged, it may need to be replaced. When choosing a new battery, make sure that it has the same cold cranking amps (CCA) as the original battery.
5. Repair a wiring short. If there is a wiring short in the electrical system, it can cause a parasitic drain. This can be caused by a damaged wire or a loose connection.
6. Replace the alternator. If the alternator is not working properly, it can’t keep the battery charged, which can lead to a dead battery.

If you are not comfortable fixing the problem yourself, you can take your Subaru Outback to a qualified mechanic. They will be able to diagnose the problem and fix it for you.

What Has Subaru Done About These Complaints?

Subaru Outback owners dealing with battery drain problems are frustrated with Subaru because it has never been upfront about the issue or offered a recall to fix the problem.

Occasionally the company offers a replacement of the battery, but the underlying problem has seemingly still not been addressed. Subaru continues to dismiss any allegations that there is anything wrong with the Subaru Outback models, despite thousands of accounts from drivers who have experienced the battery issue.

Subaru Battery Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

As mentioned, several Subaru drivers filed lawsuits against Subaru for battery troubles. These suits have been consolidated into one class-action lawsuit against Subaru.

The lawsuit argues that 2016-2022 Subaru owners constantly need to jump-start their depleted batteries and keep charging them to ensure that their vehicles are running.

Moreover, according to the lawsuit, drivers have been forced them to seek alternate transportation, buy jumper cables, and spend their money on battery chargers.

The class action claimed that even when the car manufacturer replaces these car batteries under warranty, they experience the same drain issues as the original batteries. Rightfully so, drivers claimed that the manufacturer had a responsibility to inform them of the issues with the battery prior to the purchase.

As a result, customers who bought a new or used vehicle from a Subaru dealership may be eligible for compensation in excess of the amounts they paid for related expenses, according to the company’s battery drain lawsuit settlement. Battery replacements and/or battery testing and diagnosis done by a Subaru dealer are examples of eligible expenses, as are towing costs incurred outside of the convenience network.

If you are a customer whose vehicle was serviced at a third-party repair facility and paid for things like battery replacements or towing services, you may also be eligible for reimbursement.

The settlement stated that, “Recoverable expenses include, without limitation, hotel expenses, meals and equipment purchased to sustain battery operation, and other expenses reasonably related to the battery failure. A Settlement Class Member who qualifies for the cash payments under this section will also be entitled to receive a $140 single-use Subaru service voucher, which will remain valid for one year from the date the claim is approved.”

The thirteen named plaintiffs in the case will each receive $4,000 dollars, and the lawyers who represented them will get over $4 million.

How Did Subaru Respond to the Lawsuit?

Instead of admitting that there is a battery drain problem with its Subaru Outback vehicles, Subaru chose to file a motion to dismiss the class-action suits.

Lack of Subject Matter

In its request to dismiss the lawsuit, Subaru stated that prevailing law demands that the claims be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction or for the failure to establish a clear case.

Some Plaintiffs Dismissed Their Claims

It further pointed out that four plaintiffs, including Dalen and Tomasian from the aforementioned cases, had willingly dropped their complaints since the filing of the consolidated class-action lawsuit.

A Vague and Inconsistent Claim

According to Subaru attorneys, the lawsuit is a vague and inconsistent pleading that files several claims against a number of defendants without defining which defendants are liable for which actions or which defendants the lawsuit has been brought against.

The plaintiffs, according to the court, lack the capacity to pursue damages for Subaru models they never owned or leased and may only pursue claims connected to Subaru cars they own.

Dismissal Based on Jurisdictional Restrictions

Subaru also argued that non-New Jersey claimants’ claims brought under New Jersey law must be rejected and that the court should reject the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act claims due to restrictions based on jurisdictions.

How Should You Respond as a Subaru Outback Owner?

Suppose you own a Subaru Outback affected by these battery troubles. You’re probably wondering whether you should support this class-action lawsuit. Joining the class action lawsuit may not be the best option. Filing a lemon law claim could help you receive a much more favorable settlement.

By hiring a lemon lawyer, you can file your own lawsuit to hold Subaru liable for the problems you experienced because of the battery.

Need a Lemon Law Attorney? Cali Lemon Lawyers Can Help!

If you need a lemon lawyer, we can help! Cali Lemon Lawyers by Prestige Legal Solutions, P.C. has extensive experience providing aggressive representation against Subaru.  Whether your car was recently purchased new or used, if it’s a lemon, we will not stop fighting until your vehicle’s manufacturer offers compensation.