I purchased a replacement battery in 2023. In August of 2025, the battery died, requiring a jump start. A local auto parts store checked the battery and it tested within acceptable limits, showing around 513 amps. A private shop confirmed this, and cleaned the battery terminals and cables. The battery functioned well until around November 2025, when it again died requiring a jump start. The batter…
2016 subaru Outback electrical problems
moderate 292 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
292
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
THE BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD AT LEAST 3 TIMES, EVEN AFTER FRESH REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST TIME WAS DUE TO REAR INSIDE LIGHT BEING SWITCHED ON (ACCORDING TO THE SUBARU SERVICE TECHNICIAN). THE SECOND TIME WAS WHILE OUT RUNNING ERRANDS. THE THIRD TIME WAS AFTER BEING PARKED FOR TWO DAYS. THE BATTERY IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND SHOULD NOT BE DRAINED FROM POWER LIKE THIS.
Have had to replace the battery 2 times in the last 4 years. And currently have an app that shows the strength of the battery in addition to its cells. If the car is not driven in two to three days then the battery depletes energy. There has to be something going on from the numerous times that this has occurred in the last few years. It is not only a very huge risk when this can happen in unf…
Replacement battery in under 35,000 mile Subaru discharged while sitting in garage for several weeks. There have been zero earlier problems with electrical system other than the original battery dying after about three years. When jump started the charging system seemed to work and the car started after sitting overnight. We are in a very cold northern environment and if the vehicle will not star…
Battery dies when parked for a few days or not driven enough. Needs to be jumped several times per week.
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED AUTOMATICALLY DUE TO SWITCH ASSEMBLY MODULE FAILURE WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT BETWEEN 25-30MPH. CAR STOPPED INSTANTLY, PASSENGERS THROWN FORWARD, ALL-POWER DIED. CARS IN REAR STOPPED SHORT. FAILED TO RESTART AFTER INITIAL ATTEMPTS (10 MIN). WEATHER CLEAR, ABOUT 45 DEGREES F. 2.5 YEAR OLD CAR, ~40,000 MILES.
AT ABOUT 71,000 MILES, THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH REMOVING THE IGNITION KEY FROM THE LOCK. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS STATIONARY WHEN THIS PROBLEM IS NOTICED.
BATTERY DRAIN ISSUE WHEN THE VEHICLE SITS FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS WILL HAVE A WEAK START. BATTERY WILL DRAIN IF RADIO IS ON WITH CAR NOT RUNNING IN BETWEEN 15-30 MINUTES. MY SECOND BATTERY IS READY FOR REPLACEMENT IN 4 YEARS. TWO YEAR BATTERY LIFE IS UNACCEPTABLE. ATTACHING PICTURE OF WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO TWO SUBARU OUTBACK AT THE SAME TIME. UPON RESEARCH MANY SUBARU OWNERS HAVE THIS PROB…
CAR REPEATEDLY STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE OF DEAD BATTERY. CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2016. FIRST INSTANCE WAS WHEN LIFT GATE WAS LEFT OPEN OVER NIGHT IN GARAGE, 2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. SECOND INSTANCE WAS WHEN OVERHEAD LAMP WAS LEFT ON OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE. THIRD THE SAME AS SECOND IN A PARKING LOT. LAST INSTANCE WAS TODAY WHEN I DROVE A FEW MILES, PARKED CAR FOR AN HOUR AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AFTER …
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2016 subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 292 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
Some links on this page are affiliate links.