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A number of Subaru vehicles have defective electrical systems that are draining consumers’ car batteries, time, and money, and the company has done little to remedy the issue, a new Subaru class action lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit was filed in Ontario by lead Plaintiff Steven Scott and adds to a number of other lawsuits the company is facing for the same issue. Scott alleges that his 2016 Subaru Outback, which he bought in British Columbia in 2017, started suffering from electrical problems at only 6,560 kilometers.
According to the class action lawsuit, Scott was unable to close the passenger window from the driver’s console and the battery would drain after leaving the tailgate open for 15 minutes. The power lift tail gate also failed to function, he says.
In June 2019, Scott’s vehicle wouldn’t start so he had it towed to a dealer where the technician gave the battery a boost and told him he needed a new battery. He then purchased a new battery and battery charger, but he has since had to charge the battery twice and had to use a spare battery on numerous occasions.
“Since purchasing the vehicle, the Plaintiff has incurred approximately $500 in out-of-pocket expenses and significant time in dealing with issues related to the Electrical Defect, hereinafter defined. The presence of the Electrical Defect has caused the Plaintiff significant anxiety,” the claim reads.
“This class action concerns the life threatening, negligent, and dangerous design, production, and manufacture of defective electrical components in the Class Vehicles,” the claim reads.
Those vehicles include 2015-2019 Subaru Outback, 2015-2019 Subaru WRX, 2015-2019 Subaru Forester, 2015-2019 Subaru Legacy, and 2019 Subaru Ascent.
The claim adds that had Scott known about the defect suffered by the vehicles, which causes “parasitic battery drain,” he would not have purchased his Outback.
Dealerships typically tell customers the batteries simply need to be recharged as a way to evade warranty obligations, Scott alleges in the claim.
The electrical issues with the vehicles have diminished resale values because Subaru refuses to issue recalls and repair the alleged defects, Scott says, and on top of that Subaru has not offered to reimburse owners for expenses related to the battery problems.
“Subaru has not only failed to disclose to consumers that the Class Vehicles were predisposed to the Electrical Defect and would therefore suffer from premature battery failure, but it also failed to disclose that the Defect would diminish the intrinsic and resale value of the Vehicles,” the claim reads.
It adds that Subaru’s conduct in marketing and selling the vehicles breaches its warranties and violates Ontario law.
“Subaru has and will continue to benefit from its unlawful conduct. It will continue to sell more vehicles, at a higher price, and will continue to avoid its warranty obligations. This will inevitably harm consumers at both the point of sale and as the batteries in their vehicles begin to fail.”
Scott wants to represent a nationwide Class of Subaru owners in Canada. He is seeking certification of the Class, damages, legal fees and costs, interest, and a jury trial.
Do you own any of the affected Subaru vehicles? Let us know your experience in the comments section!
Scott is represented by McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP.
The Subaru Battery Class Action Lawsuit is Steven Scott, v. Subaru Canada, Inc., et al., Case No. CV-21-00001058-00CP, in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
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40 thoughts onSubaru Hit With Another Class Action for Alleged Electrical Defect
2018 Outback Limited on 3rd battery now. Service manager says the car needs to be plugged into trickle charger at night! And also said the alternator isn’t there to charge the battery! WOW ok….. Every year the battery is dead and leaves us stranded! We have a booster pack and jumper cables in the back seat everywhere we go. We need a reliable vehicle and Subaru isn’t!
I bought Subaru outback 2016 in Calgary, AB in 2016 and now live in Port Coquitlam, BC. I had to replace a new battery every year. Even with a new battery, it requires jump starting if I leave it at my garage for two days. Sometimes, the hatch door stay open or closed due to its electrical sensor not working. And passenger side window was lifted unable to close for a few times. During this past Christmas, I had to wait for three days for a roadside assistance to come to jump start it. As its battery issue is recurring, It has been causing a lot of anxiety because I don’t know when and where I cannot ignite the engine.
My passenger window doesn’t work from driver side . Battery is ready to be replaced soon . It sucks . 2017 outback
2017 Outback . issue started w OEM battery a couple years in …this is my 4th Subaru so I was very well acquainted with the stock batteries being somewhat under crank powered. Never was a problem w previous 2013 model because it had no power lift gate.
I swapped batteries and issue reoccurred a few months in… I then bought a jump charger to make sure I never got stuck again… recently I have had to use it almost daily as this new interstate seems to be on its last legs and near the end of its lifespan. A few days ago after completing a 575Km trip I turned the car off and then had to move it for a snowplow and it was underpowered. Since then almost every start needs assistance from the jumper so I am off to the battery store …Merry Christmas!
I’m now struggling with my 3rd dead battery event in my 2017 Outback. The first happened a couple yrs ago when I left my flashers on while I went to get gas after running out on a highway (because the car’s miles-remaining indicator overestimated how far I could go). After working fine for days, I found the car so dead this morning that I had to unlock it with a physical key and there is zero electrical function–not even the door-unlock button to allow me to open the non-keyed doors. Even our portable charger won’t start the car!