COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Subaru Forester electrical problems

791 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.

Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

27 crash reports35 fire reports8 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

332 reports with mileage · 459 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What owners actually said

791 reports
2017 model year · 42,000 miles · May 16, 2021
Electrical System

THE BATTERY ON MY 2017 FORESTER HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THREE TIMES AFTER BEING FOUND DEAD. ALL THREE TIMES SUBARU HAS SAID IT WAS A BAD BATTERY. THE BATTERY COULDN'T BE JUMPED AND MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IF IT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. LUCKILY IT WAS AT MY HOUSE ALL THREE TIMES SO ONLY A SIMPLE TOW. …

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THE BATTERY ON MY 2017 FORESTER HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THREE TIMES AFTER BEING FOUND DEAD. ALL THREE TIMES SUBARU HAS SAID IT WAS A BAD BATTERY. THE BATTERY COULDN'T BE JUMPED AND MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IF IT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. LUCKILY IT WAS AT MY HOUSE ALL THREE TIMES SO ONLY A SIMPLE TOW. IF THIS HAPPENED 300 MILES OFF ROAD, IT WOULD BE A MASSIVE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11416767

2019 model year · 8,700 miles · May 16, 2021
Electrical System

TWICE LAST WINTER I NEEDED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DRAINED. THIS OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UNUSED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. WE LATER REALIZED THAT THE CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK (CAN) WAS OPERATING EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. WE LEARNED THIS WHEN WE HEARD A WHIRRING NOISE COMING FROM THE CA…

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TWICE LAST WINTER I NEEDED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DRAINED. THIS OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UNUSED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. WE LATER REALIZED THAT THE CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK (CAN) WAS OPERATING EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. WE LEARNED THIS WHEN WE HEARD A WHIRRING NOISE COMING FROM THE CAR AT TIMES WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND NOT BEING USED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL, AND THE CAR WAS DOING WHAT IT SHOULD. DRAINING THE BATTERY IS NOT NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #11416813

2019 model year · 3,021 miles · May 16, 2021
Electrical System

THE BATTERY OF THE CAR DRAINED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IT WAS OFF AND PARKED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE BATTERY WAS FINE. ONE MONTH LATER THE BATTERY DRAINED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY OF THE CAR AFTER THAT. THE CAR HAS TO BE PLUGGED INTO A CHARGER WHEN IT IS NOT IN USE.

NHTSA ODI #11416793

2015 model year · Mileage unknown · May 16, 2021
Electrical System

I HAVE HAD A SUDDEN BATTERY DRAIN. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC.

NHTSA ODI #11416785

2018 model year · Mileage unknown · May 16, 2021
Electrical System

The battery died. Subaru battery drain related

NHTSA ODI #11417373

2018 model year · 100,000 miles · May 16, 2021
Electrical System

BATTERY DRAINS FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON. THE RADIO OR LIGHTS ARE NOT LEFT ON THAT WOULD MAKE THE CAR DRAIN WHILE THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON 5/14/2021.

NHTSA ODI #11416768

2017 model year · 60,000 miles · May 15, 2021
Electrical System

BATTERY GOES DEAD AND MUST BE REPLACED IF NOT DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #11416737

2020 model year · 1,000 miles · May 15, 2021
Electrical System

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE OUR HOME DRIVEWAY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2021 (APPROXIMATELY 4PM LOCAL TIME), THE IGNITION BUTTON FAILED TO START THE CAR. INITIALLY, POWER WAS RUNNING TO THE DASH. I CALLED THE SUBARU EASTSIDE DEALERSHIP IN KIRKLAND, WA WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, WHICH I DID TH…

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WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE OUR HOME DRIVEWAY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2021 (APPROXIMATELY 4PM LOCAL TIME), THE IGNITION BUTTON FAILED TO START THE CAR. INITIALLY, POWER WAS RUNNING TO THE DASH. I CALLED THE SUBARU EASTSIDE DEALERSHIP IN KIRKLAND, WA WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, WHICH I DID THE FOLLOWING MORNING. WHEN MY WIFE AND I MOVED OUR CAR SEAT AND BELONGINGS TO THE OTHER CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE REAR LIFT GATE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AND WOULD NOT OPEN (RESULTING IN A REPEATED 3 BEEP SOUND), BLOCKING ACCESS TO MY JUMPER CABLES, WHICH WERE IN THE TRUNK. EVENTUALLY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STOPPED RESPONDING ALL TOGETHER. WHEN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE (SENT OUT BY SUBARU ROADSIDE) EVENTUALLY SHOWED UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING, A JUMP START BY THE TECHNICIAN STARTED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11416741

2020 model year · 3,200 miles · May 15, 2021
Electrical System

BATTERY WAS DRAINED FOR NO REASON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN TRIED TO START DASH LIGHTS ETC., WENT CRAZY. GAUGE FOR TACHOMETER AND SPEED WHIPPED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE STARTER GAVE THE CLICKING NOISE YOU HEAR WHEN BATTERY IS DEAD. CALLED AAA TO JUMP AND THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO START. I CHARGED B…

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BATTERY WAS DRAINED FOR NO REASON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN TRIED TO START DASH LIGHTS ETC., WENT CRAZY. GAUGE FOR TACHOMETER AND SPEED WHIPPED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE STARTER GAVE THE CLICKING NOISE YOU HEAR WHEN BATTERY IS DEAD. CALLED AAA TO JUMP AND THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO START. I CHARGED BATTERY OVERNIGHT AND THE ENGINE STARTED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY OR CHARGING SYSTEM. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED. I PURCHASED A BATTERY TENDER TO MAINTAIN CHARGE IN BATTERY. I ONLY HAVE 1 CAR AND IT NEEDS TO START WHEN I NEED IT. THIS HAPPENED ON DAY I NEEDED TO TAKE WIFE FOR COVID VACCINE SHOT.

NHTSA ODI #11416740

2019 model year · 15,000 miles · May 15, 2021
Electrical System

TWICE WE WERE STRANDED AFTER TRYING TO USE THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING THE NIGHT BEFORE. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY - AT 20,000 MILES! GETTING ROAD SERVICE WAS VERY DIFFICULT, SINCE THE CAR IS HARD TO REACH IN A GARAGE ON A HILL. ANOTHER TIME MY WI…

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TWICE WE WERE STRANDED AFTER TRYING TO USE THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING THE NIGHT BEFORE. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY - AT 20,000 MILES! GETTING ROAD SERVICE WAS VERY DIFFICULT, SINCE THE CAR IS HARD TO REACH IN A GARAGE ON A HILL. ANOTHER TIME MY WIFE DROVE 15 MILES WITH A CONSTANT BEEPING DUE TO THE REAR GATE LATCH NOT CLOSING PROPERLY. WE HAVE RESET THE THING DOZENS OF TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11416730

Related Official recalls

2

19V297000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Apr 11, 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.

16V738000 · Electrical System

Oct 13, 2016

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.