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2016 Subaru Outback Lighting problems

Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2016 Subaru Outback's lights with NHTSA - 1% of all its complaints, most recently on May 25, 2021. Headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals and interior lighting failures.

Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Lighting complaints

Electrical systemLightsEngine & cooling

My 2016 Subaru OUTBACK has experienced 6 separate incidents where my vehicle battery was inexplicably drained, and hence the entire electrical system was shut down. I was unable to start it without an external boost in each occasion. Fortunately these incidents posed no safety threat to me or others as the car was parked at my home, or in a parking lot. Unfortunately, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by my Subaru Dealer, Gillman, in Schertz, TX although extensive diagnostics were performed on 2...

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occasions by Gillman. My OUTBACK has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps illuminated because of a total electrical failure, and no other symptoms of the problem prior to the 6 failures. The dates for the 5 incidents of total electrical failure are the following: (1) 6/18/2018 at 1240 Kahili Street, Kailua, HI. AAA replaced my original Subaru battery (I do not have original AAA receipt, but other documentation) (2) 10/13/2018 at 1240 Kahili Street, Kailua, HI. AAA replaced my battery. (3) 9/16/2019 at 306 FM 621, San Marcos, TX. AAA replaced my battery. (4) 7/27/2020 at 648 Sydney Circle, New Braunfels, TX. AAA replaced my battery. (5) 9/5/2020 at 648 Sydney Circle, New Braunfels, TX. AAA replaced by battery. (6) 10/7/2020 at 648 Sydney Circle, New Braunfels, TX. Gillman Subaru removed an aftermarket device for corrosion protection installed by SERVCO Subaru, Honolulu.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 11418552
Transmission & drivetrainLightsEngine & cooling

Complete draining of battery just sitting there for no reason... We see this is an enormous problem with outbacks, and we have one with great problems leaving us stranded !

Filed Incident Power train · Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 11416687
Electrical systemLights

Purchased this vehicle 3/2019, started having problems with the battery dying in a few months, even having the hatch open during cleaning would drain the battery. We would jump it with another vehicle and the battery would drain in a few days whether we used the vehicle or not. I have been stranded alone in not a safe environment n more than one occasion. Took the battery in to be checked and they said it was fine. Purchased a battery tender and would leave it hooked up and then finally that no longer functioned....

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Had to purchase a new battery. We will see how long this one will last before the same thing happens. Since we live far out of town we rely on this car to be in tip top running order for any emergencies we may have. Not the case, sorry to say, but I really expected more from subaru and rightfully so. They have earned an amazing reputation so surprised they know about the problem and won't fix it.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11366512
Lights

There is a glare on the info screen that makes it impossible to read most daylight times, needs to be recessed and/or hooded, the area below that says temp and time is plain unreadable -also very small. Have seen this problem on subaru forum for years - seems time to address before someone has a crash with this vehicle they bought because it was so safe.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 10885205
Electrical systemLights

My car required 2 repairs 5 weeks apart of the wiring bundle controlling the fog lights and low oil level sensor due to a critter chewing the bundle while it was parked. I now have bounce laundry sheets stuffed around the engine compartment at the suggestion of the dealer; they see this often from cars out of the mountains.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10789134

Subaru Outback lighting complaints by year

Outback lighting problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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