Subaru of America, Inc. and Subaru Corporation
Subaru Owners Allege Hidden Defect Drains Batteries in 2019–2025 Models
A new lawsuit claims Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, Legacy, WRX, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles have an electrical flaw that drains the battery even when parked, leaving drivers stranded — and that Subaru knew but stayed quiet.
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Plain-language overview
Who may qualify?
Eligibility depends on the dates, products, locations, and other terms listed for this claim. Review any criteria below and the official terms before deciding whether it may apply to you.
- You must have bought or leased one of the following Subaru vehicles:
- 2021-2022 Outback
- 2021-2024 Forester
- 2021-2023 Legacy
- 2021-2023 WRX
- 2021-2022 Ascent
- 2019-2023 Crosstrek
- 2019-2024 Crosstrek Hybrid
- 2022-2025 Forester Wilderness
- 2019-2023 Impreza
- You must have bought or leased your vehicle for personal use and not for resale purposes.
- Your vehicle must have experienced symptoms of the Electrical System Sleep-State Defect, such as a dead battery, inability to start, premature battery failure, or the need for jump-starts.
- You must have incurred out-of-pocket costs related to the defect, such as battery replacements, towing, roadside assistance, or diagnostic fees, or your vehicle must have suffered a loss in value due to the defect.
Case overview
What this settlement is about
A proposed class action filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey accuses Subaru of selling 2019–2025 vehicles with a hidden electrical flaw dubbed the "Electrical System Sleep-State Defect." According to the complaint, key electronic control modules — including the Data Communication Module (DCM) and Controller Area Network (CAN) system — fail to properly power down into a low-power sleep state once the vehicle is switched off. That failure allegedly causes excessive parasitic battery drain, prematurely killing batteries and leaving owners with vehicles that won't start. The lawsuit further alleges Subaru has been aware of the issue since at least 2014, pointing to technical service bulletins, NHTSA complaints, and internal warranty records as evidence, but claims the automaker never disclosed the defect to consumers and has not offered a real fix. The models named include the Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, Legacy, WRX, Ascent, and Impreza. This case is still in its early filing stage — no settlement has been reached and no settlement class has been certified.
