2019 Subaru Forester Electrical System

Battery hesitated when starting engine within 7-9 months of ownership. Spoke to mechanics and service staff several times then and later and was told I need to drive it every 2-3 days to keep battery charged. By 18 months of ownership it was completely dying by fourth day of not driving so I took it into service. After 9 days in service and then service not waiting my advised 4 days to cold start it, they said it’s fine and drive more or get a battery tender. (And that the battery compartment will not accommodate a larger, more powerful replacement battery!). So I purchased a battery tender and keep it attached at all times, just in case. And, I had to purchase a portable charger to keep in my car because an outlet isn’t always available and I could get stranded somewhere. I bought this car upon retirement as my forever car but I do not feel safe or comfortable owning it. I shouldn’t be forced to drive my car every 2-3 days. And should I really be going through all this when purchasing a new car?

On at least 4 or five occasions my car has been dead in the garage of my home. So far I have been lucky and it has not gone dead while I was out. After the first three dead issues, I had the AAA come and they replaced the battery. I brought it to Subaru then and was told a light was left on. This was a lie. I wrote a letter to Subaru regarding the dead battery and associated costs and they refunded my expenditures. Using the vehicle with the new battery was ok for awhile but now this issue is starting again. Looking online at various pieces of information I discovered that I am not the only one with this issue. There is currently a class action lawsuit in New Jersey although I am not sure if it includes Foresters. This site explains about the CAN system in the affected vehicles and in laymen's terms says that after the car is turned off it is supposed to go to sleep but it is not. It is draining the battery continually. Of course Subaru is fighting this. It will cost them money to recall all these vehicles. But how safe are you when you are out, perhaps in a remote area, and your car is dead? One woman stated that in her vehicle she was stranded overnight. This is NOT safe. Subaru service is telling me I don't drive the car enough. Who are they to tell me when and how much to drive?

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.

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS FAILED TO FULLY CLOSE WHICH CAUSED MOLD TO DEVELOP INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GATEWAY SUBARU (30275 WINNER BLVD, DELMAR, MD 21875, (410) 896-3800) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000.

Repeated SUDDEN BATTERY DRAIN when car sits overnight, car is disabled. Note that Key FOB is kept away from the car when not in use, no accessories are left on (i.e. lights, door ajar, etc.) and car is only sitting for one night. There were no warning lights or messages or other symptoms prior. No indication as to cause each time after car battery is jumped by road service. Incidents began on March 11, 2019 (car was purchased Nov. 15, 2018); repeatedly occurs approx. every 4-6 weeks without any noticeable time elapse patterns. Began recording occurances regularly since August of 2020 (more incidents prior), total of 21 times to date; and 12 times in 2021 alone. Problem was reported frequently (and once towed) to Hodges Subaru (Ferndale, MI) dealer service dept. Battery & electrical systems were inspected by them several times since 2020. Dealer service claimed there were no problems with electrical system at each check, however Battery was replaced 2 times: 10/20/20 (as a "courtesy") and 5/24/21 (claimed defective battery). The same sudden battery drain continued to occur 9 times after it was first replaced; and an additional 4 times to date since the latest replacement on 5/24/21. Latest incident on Aug. 1, 2021.

FREQUENTLY THE REAR TAIL GATE WILL NOT OPEN. SOMETIMES I CAN CONTINUE TO DEPRESS THE BUTTON AND IT WILL RELEASE AND THEN I CAN MANUALLY LIFT IT. THEN I PRESS THE CLOSE BUTTON AND IT WILL CLOSE.

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE REAR LIFT GATE HAS NOT OPENED AS COMMANDED BY THE KEY FOB AND/OR THE DASHBOARD CONTROL. THERE IS NO ELECTRONIC OVERRIDE OR MANUAL LATCH. THIS ISSUE LEAVES YOU WITHOUT ACCESS TO THE REAR CARGO COMPARTMENT. ON EACH OCCASION, THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND IN PARK.

VEHICLE COMPLETELY DEAD FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. NO WARNING. I TAKE 27 MILE EACH WAY TRIPS SEVERAL LIMES A WEEK AS WELL A DAILY SHORT 3MILE EACH WAY TRIPS. THIS SAME PATTERN OF DRIVING WITH BOTH A FORD ESCAPE AND A HYUNDAI FOR MORE THEN TEN YEARS. THIS SUBARU FORESTER HAS LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON. THERE WAS A SOUND THAT I HEARD LAST NIGHT THAT I OCCASIONALLY HEAR THE WHURR NOISE AND A KLUNK AS I EXITED THE FORESTER. I ALSO HEARD A WHIRRING SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT SOUND AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK THURSDAY. IT SOUNDS LIKE A VACUUM PUMP THAT I THOUGHT WAS A FUEL EVAPORATION RECOVERY SYSTEM. IT WAS A HOT DAY AND I HAD THE A/C RUNNING AS I DROVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GPS WAS PROVIDING UNSAFE DIRECTIONS WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PREMIER SUBARU WATERTOWN, 795 STRAITS TURNPIKE, WATERTOWN, CT 06795, AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRIC MIRROR WHERE THE BACK CASING WAS BROKEN. WE WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE ONLY AND THEY ORDERED A MIRROR FOR US. WE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVEWAY TURNED OFF. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR IS SAYING THE FIRE STARTED IN THE WIRING IN THE DOOR. THE MIRROR OPERATED 100% WITHOUT ISSUES, IT APPEARS MOISTURE FROM RAIN GOT INTO THE MIRROR WIRES WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE.

THE TOUCH SCREEN SYSTEM (RADIO-AM/FM AND SATELLITE) FREQUENTLY DO NOT WORK ON THE TOUCH SCREEN SYSTEM. TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, TAKING THE KEY OUT AND REPEATING THE STARTING PROCESS OF THE VECHICLE DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT OCCURS ABOUT 1 OUT OF 3 TIMES STARTING AND/OR DRIVING THE VEHICLE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IS GOING TO WORK OR NOT. SUBURU NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, STATIONARY, OR DRIVING. IT MAY NOT WORK FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THEN STARTS WORKING AGAIN.

INFORTAINMENT TOUCH SCREEN BECOME UNRESPONSIVE TIME TO TIME, CAUSING UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION TO OPERATE RADIO, NAVIGATION.

I STARTED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, WANTED TO BACK IN TO PARK, GOT OUT OF THE RUNNING CAR TO CHECK SOMETHING, CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND ME AND THEN TRIED TO GET BACK IN BUT THE CAR LOCKED ITSELF. I HAVE MY KEY ON ME BUT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO OPEN THE CAR, THE KEY DOESN'T WORK. I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY AND THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I'M STANDING NEXT TO MY LOCKED, RUNNING CAR. IT'S AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. HAD MY BABY BEEN IN THE CAR, IT WOULD BE LIFE THREATENING! THIS IS ABSURD! THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AND IT'S SCARY. THIS SHOULD BE A LAWSUIT. THIS IS A HORRIBLE MISTAKE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED STAT. I'M EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED WITH SUBARU.

THE HOMELINK GARAGE DOOR OPENER DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE IGNITION IS OFF. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A WOMAN, DRIVING INTO HER GARAGE, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, THEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK TO THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE WHERE THE WALL BUTTON IS LOCATED. THE DRIVER, KNOWING THAT THE OPENER IS INOPERATIVE WITHOUT THE IGNITION ON, CAN HIT THE HOMELINK BUTTON WHILE THE CAR IS STILL ON. HOWEVER, WHAT IF THE DRIVER IS DISTRACTED BEFORE SHUTTING THE CAR OFF BY SOME OTHER FACTOR, LIKE THE PHONE RINGING OR A FIRE TRUCK GOING BY? THE DRIVER NEGLECTS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GOES INTO THE HOUSE, WITH POSSIBLE DISASTROUS RESULTS. WITH EVERY OTHER CAR (AND OTHER SUBARU MODELS AS WELL) THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER IS ALWAYS POWERED, AND YOU PULL INTO THE GARAGE, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THEN CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR. THE FORESTER HAS IT ASS-BACKWARDS.

AUTOMATIC REAR LIFT GATE WILL NOT OPEN (WITH EITHER KEY FOB OR INSIDE AUTO RELEASE). BEEPS THREE TIMES AND STILL WILL NOT RELEASE. (THIS STARTED ON 12/15/19). ALSO, LOCKS APPEAR TO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT (I.E. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, SOMETIMES THEY WON'T). AT TIMES, TOUCHING THE DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN/LOCK THE DOORS AND UNLOCK MUST BE PRESSED ON FOB INSTEAD. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR PAST 5-6 MONTHS. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY FOR ALL ISSUES.

I TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2019 SUBURU FORRESTER ON FRIDAY JUNE 7, 2019. LESS THAN 3 DAYS LATER THE ENTIRE STARLINK COMMAND HEAD UNIT FAILED LEAVING THE BACKUP CAMERA, RADIO, AUDIO, CELL PHONE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. A NEW UNIT MUST BE ORDERED.

REAR LIFT GATE WILL NOT OPEN WITH FOB OR USING THE BUTTON WITHIN THE CAB.

THE REAR, AUTOMATIC TAILGATE PERIODICALLY FAILS TO OPERATE AND EFFECTIVELY LOCKS ONE OUT OF THAT AREA. THERE IS NO KNOWN BY-PASS OR WORKAROUND AND BASED ON SUBARU USER SITE, APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT SUBARU ITSELF DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND HAS MANY EXPLANATIONS BUT NO SOLUTION OR WORKAROUND. IT REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD A PET BE IN THE BACK OR PERHAPS A PERSON AFTER A CRASH. WHEN IT FAILS, THE ELECTRONIC KEY, DASHBOARD BUTTON AND BUTTON ON THE GATE ALL FAIL TO OPERATE AND ONE IS EFFECTIVELY LOCKED OUT FROM THAT PART OF THE CAR. THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" QUESTION NEEDS TO HAVE MULTIPLE ANSWER OPTIONS. MY WIFE AND I BOTH OWN A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER TOURING AND WE BOTH ARE HAVING ISSUES. INCIDENTS RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE AT THE END OF APRIL 2019 AND THROUGH 5/31/2019 PER CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING AND EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. ST. CLOUD SUBARU (141 PARK AVE S, ST CLOUD, MN 56301) STATED THAT WATER MAY HAVE CONTACTED THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD AND CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS WORKING ON HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED AND RECEIVING A LOANER VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.