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2023 Subaru Outback Electrical Problems

15 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

15
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
Jan 2023Dec 2025
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (15)

highELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2025

Your 2023 Subaru Outback's battery failed multiple times over two days, leaving you unable to restart the vehicle after parking. The battery wasn't holding a charge even though it could be jump-started temporarily, and no warning lights appeared before the failures happened. Independent shops confirmed the battery wasn't meeting Subaru's specifications and there was a hidden electrical drain, though the dealer's testing disagreed. This issue is tied to a known design problem documented in a technical service bulletin showing the original battery was under-specified, with Subaru issuing a higher-capacity replacement battery as the fix.

NHTSA #: 11675441
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2025

Your infotainment screen is displaying pop-up ads for SiriusXM that block your access to controls like air conditioning and traction control until you acknowledge them. These ads appear randomly when you start the vehicle or while driving, and you cannot interact with the screen while they're showing. Subaru told you they would send an over-the-air software update to fix this, but it hasn't been applied. The fix will likely require a software update to your vehicle's infotainment system to prevent these third-party ads from appearing.

NHTSA #: 11702638
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2025

Your Starlink system stopped working while your car was parked. The dealer couldn't reproduce the problem when they checked it, but confirmed this is a known issue affecting over 44,000 owners with no fix currently available. The manufacturer is aware and investigating the issue.

NHTSA #: 11695441
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2025

Your driver's side window frequently fails to roll up, even after the dealership tried to reset it. This is a safety concern in bad weather, as you're unable to close the window properly. The repair may involve diagnosing the window motor, regulator, or electrical switch circuit to identify why the reset isn't holding.

NHTSA #: 11653750
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2024

Starlink head unit/infotainment system - system freezes, major system lags, ghost input (buttons pressed without user input), radio cut outs, and delayed system startup and operation). Delay/lag issues are experienced daily and other issues occasionally occur. No warning lamps or messages. I will be bringing the vehicle to the dealership, yet this seems like a common issue with the 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness

NHTSA #: 11600463
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: May 2024

The Eyesight system on my 2023 Subaru Outback will suddenly stop working. It will go out in all conditions, mornings, afternoons and evenings. Sometimes it will go out a a minute or two. Other times it will be out for hours. Since the feature is involved with automatic braking, this poses a safety hazard if there is any kind of driver distraction that occurs, even if it is from an external source like another vehicle. This has been brought to the attention of the local Subaru dealer for a fix. It worked for a period of time and is happening much for frequently now. Many of the other driver monitoring systems in the car have similar issues.

NHTSA #: 11587316
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Crash / FireFiled: Mar 2024

My son was traveling at an appropriate highway speed when the truck in front of him stopped suddenly. He braked immediately and was able to slow down significantly, but not enough to avoid colliding with the back of the truck in front of him. He was going approximately 20 mph, still braking, when the collision occurred. His best recollection is that the vehicle's pre-collision system did not engage until after he collided with the truck. There was damage to the front end of the vehicle but it was not severe. My son moved the vehicle onto the shoulder of the highway and put it in park. The driver of the truck called the police. My sons got out of the vehicle. While they were talking with the other driver and the police, a fire started under the hood of the vehicle and within several minutes the entire vehicle was consumed. The wreckage was towed to 1022 Shannon Court, Livermore CA 94550. In July 2023 we were involved in an accident that impacted the front bumper, left front quarter panel, and Subaru EyeSight system of the same vehicle involved in this accident. Repairs after the July 2023 accident were performed by Kraft Body Shop in Santa Clara, CA. Repair and calibration of the Subaru EyeSight system were performed by Santa Cruz Subaru after that accident.

NHTSA #: 11574953
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jan 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the Eyesight feature of the vehicle was no longer operable. The dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH uphill, the accelerator pedal was released; however, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to 63 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that she continuously pumped the brake pedal until the vehicle responded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that no issues were found. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 10-15 MPH around a roundabout, the failure recurred, and the front passenger's side tire struck the curb. The vehicle then decelerated and bounced. The contact depressed the brake pedal and stopped the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and test driven. The dealer informed the contact that due the vehicle striking the curb, the steering wheel was off center, the front passenger's side wheel was bent and imbalanced, and there was an abnormal wheel bearing sound. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the ball joint had detached from the knuckles, the brackets were shifted, and the tie rod and control arm showed marks. A Subaru field inspector inspected the vehicle but could not determine the cause of the unintended acceleration. The manufacturer later informed the contact that there were no abnormalities found. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

NHTSA #: 11567364
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Aug 2023

The Eyesight keeps disabling itself. And the infotainment system is not working properly. My car is at the dealership and they are telling me they are waiting for back up camera to come off backorder 10/3/23. This means my vehicle will have been at the dealership for repair a total of 45 days if backorder date is correct. I purchased this vehicle brand new 5/6/23. I have researched online and there is a class action lawsuit for the issue. The braking safety system does not work properly and warns with red lights beeping that collision is ahead which then brakes the car automatically when not needed. I have taken the car to dealer 3 times to have this repaired

NHTSA #: 11541207
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY
Filed: Jul 2023

The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds on three separate occasions, a rock struck the front windshield causing the windshield to crack. While driving at unknown speeds in the fog, the Apple car play safety feature disengaged. The contact was unable to use the driver's assist. The eye safety center disabled message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a glass repair facility and the windshield was replaced. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the safety features might disengage under various weather conditions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 2,200.

NHTSA #: 11533597
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Mar 2023

I purchased a new 2023 Subaru Outback in December 2022. The two displays on my 2023 Subaru Outback (both the main entertainment one and the tiny dash one) randomly restart without notice and/or freeze and are unresponsive. This disables adaptive cruise control, EyeSight warnings, lane departure warnings, front collision warnings, rear back up camera, navigation, Apple Car Play, phone capabilities, and electrical display odometer. Even in reverse, the backup camera will appear at times and then freeze, so the image I am looking at on the display is not true. I noticed this the other day when I was in reverse and saw a mother and child walking outside of my review mirrors that never appeared on the camera. I have taken it to my Subaru dealer where they had trouble twice uploading new software onto the car. They finally uploaded the "new" software and the issue persists. This last issued occurred today 3/22/2023 - I was on a 10 minute drive and the software restarted at least 11 times in the short 10 minutes. I am unsure what else this electrical/software issue impacts but it seems to be a safety one if I cannot trust the rear camera, departure or collision warnings, or cruise control. Luckily, I have never been in cruise control when the system malfunctions, as I'm not sure what the result would be. This has occurred at random speeds, as slow as 12mph, as fast as 60mph. It has happened when I have been on phone calls and when I have not been on phone calls. I have photos and videos of the unresponsiveness, and have attached the invoice for when I got it serviced on 3/20/2023. This is a serious issue and it seems Subaru does not have a fix at this time. Since this is a new car, I was also told that if this happens after my warranty, it will be MY responsibility to pay for the updated software and to fix this glitch, and that they will charge me for service and the update.

NHTSA #: 11513176
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2023

Starlink not working and requires DCM. This controls tracking and safety features of this car. This is the 2nd failure.

NHTSA #: 11502856
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2023

Car's battery was 100% dead and had to be towed to dealership. We were told that the nradio was drawing electric and has to be replaced. They also said the battery has to replaced. We have been waiting for parts for 3 weeks and counting.

NHTSA #: 11502101
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2022

Some of the starling services associated with my 2023 Subaru Outback are not functioning as they should. The vehicle was purchased on 10/28/2022 and on 10/29/2022 I took it back to the dealer. I was told by the service department that the issue would have to be dealt with by the sales department since it was a Starling issue. The sale team then looked into the issue and I was told that the software update hasn't been sent to the car yet and to give it until Monday 10/31/2022 to upload. On Monday I took the car back to the dealer as the services were still to working. They called Starlink and told the representative there what was going on. They then put me on the phone with Starlink and the representative told me I might would consider taking the car to another dealer. The dealer then stated to give it a couple weeks to see it the update comes through. I have emailed Subaru Customer Service now twice with no response from the, The case numbers are Case#?221031-2000801and Case number 221103-1400147.

NHTSA #: 11492069
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2022

The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle from the dealer on October 3, 2022, he noticed that the automatic collision alert to the Emergency Services, the diagnostic alert, the remote services, the SOS emergency alert, the stolen vehicle recovery alert, the Roadside Assistance alert, and the multimedia features were inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known manufacturer defect associated with an unknown control module. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 300.

NHTSA #: 11488010

Other 2023 Subaru Outback Issues