Top Class Actions  |  September 29, 2022

Category: Closed Class Actions

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This settlement is closed!

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Close up of Subaru emblem - class action, subaru battery settlement
(Photo Credit: JuliusKielaitis/Shutterstock)

Updated:

  • The estimated claim form deadline is now May 5, 2023.

Subaru agreed to a class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims its vehicles can drain a battery faster than expected.

The settlement benefits current and former owners and lessees of 2015 to 2020 Outback, 2015 to 2020 Forester, 2015 to 2020 Legacy, 2015 to 2020 WRX and 2019 to 2020 Ascent vehicles, excluding owners and lessees from Alaska or Hawaii.

Subaru is an automotive manufacturer headquartered in Japan. According to a class action lawsuit, Subaru vehicles have defective electrical systems that cause premature battery draining.

The defect allegedly stems from insufficient battery capacity that fails to support vehicle components when the vehicle is turned off. When the battery is replaced with the same or similar model, the defect allegedly continues.

Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit argue that Subaru was aware of the defect for years due to online consumer complaints and an internal service bulletin. Despite being aware of the issue, Subaru allegedly failed to warn customers of the defect.

“Subaru had a duty to disclose the true quality and reliability of the Class Vehicles because the knowledge of the Defect and its details were known and/or accessible only to Subaru; Subaru had superior knowledge and access to the relevant facts; and Subaru knew the facts were not known to, or reasonably discoverable by, Plaintiff and Class Members,” the Subaru class action lawsuit contends.

Subaru hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a class action settlement to resolve these allegations. The total settlement amount hasn’t been disclosed in settlement documents.

Under the terms of the Subaru battery drain settlement, all class members can receive an extended warranty for future qualifying battery failures. 

For first battery replacements, the extended warranty covers 100% of the battery replacement cost for vehicles up to five years and 60,000 miles, or 50% of the battery replacement cost for vehicles over these benchmarks. 

For subsequent battery replacements, the extended warranty covers 100% of replacement costs for five years or 60,000 miles, 80% of replacement costs for seven years or 84,000 miles, and 60% for eight years or 100,000 miles.

The settlement also provides cash reimbursement for past battery replacements, battery testing and related costs, such as towing, that class members paid for out of pocket. Class members can receive between 55% and 165% reimbursement for these expenses based on the number of owner-paid repairs and the vehicle’s age and mileage. 

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Nov. 5, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for the Subaru battery drain settlement is scheduled for Nov. 29, 2022.

No claim form is required to receive extended warranty benefits.

In order to receive cash reimbursement, class members must submit a valid claim by May 8, 2023. 

Who’s Eligible

Current and former owners and lessees of 2015-2020 Outback, 2015-2020 Forester, 2015-2020 Legacy, 2015-2020 WRX and 2019-2020 Ascent vehicles, excluding owners and lessees from Alaska or Hawaii

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

Proof of purchase not applicable

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

05/08/2023

Case Name

Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 1:20-cv-03095-JHR-MJS in the District Court for the District of New Jersey

Final Hearing

11/29/2022

Settlement Website
Claims Administrator

Subaru Battery Settlement Administrator
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91305
Seattle, WA 98111
info@SubaruBatterySettlement.com
1-855-606-2625

Class Counsel

Matthew Mendelson
MAZIE SLATER KATZ & FREEMAN LLC

Defense Counsel

Neal Walters
BALLARD SPAHR LLP

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44 thoughts onSubaru battery drain class action settlement

  1. Mercedes C. says:

    Yo tengo un Subaru Forester 2017 qué medio muchos problemas con la batería esté verano y cuando lleve el carro para el cambio de aceite pedí que me checaran la batería y me dijeron que la tenía que cambiar por una nueva. Tiene menos de 50,000millas y le reemplazaron la nueva batería antes de las 45,000 millas lo hice en un consecionario del Estado de Oregón. Quiero saber cómo puedo pedir el reembolso de lo que pague por la nueva batería.

  2. Kostas says:

    I have a 2012 Impreza that I love but have had to replace the battery every 18-20 months. At about $200 each battery it has been a costly inconvenience. Why is the Impreza not under this also?

  3. Felipe Plata says:

    My battery looks like it’s fried and I had an issue while I say and listened to music, my battery required a jump. I am currently paying for a 2016 Subaru Outback

  4. GayleTabbi says:

    Add me

  5. Orlinda says:

    I have a 2017 Subaru Outback. Within six months my monitor went out. My gas gauge was not accurate: gas gauge said 60 miles until empty, it ran out within 15 miles. In 2019, my Christmas lights came on in my Subaru, turns out I needed a sensor replaced. The lights all came on anytime the weather hit 100 degrees. I will check & verify my receipts to see if I replaced my battery within 5 years. I most likely have already.
    I love my Subaru but Subarus needs to eliminate problems relating to upgraded technologies. 2022, I have less than 65k miles on my Subaru.

  6. Lauren says:

    2014 Outback that just hit 100k miles. It’s had to have a new battery 7 times, and new headlights 10 times.

  7. Y. Viale says:

    I had a similar problem with my Crosstrek. I wonder why it’s not on the list

  8. Andy Johnson says:

    I have a 2014 Outback. I sat listening to the radio for 20 minutes and when I tried to start my vehicle the battery did not have any charge. Obviously, I am not a part of this class action. I have 170,000 miles and this was the 1st time I had sat to listen to the radio while waiting for my son. Major inconvenience. Have not had any other problems. The service person told me I needed a new battary. It has been 6 months now with no problems and the vehicle often sits for 7-10 days between use without any problems.

  9. Sandy Geske says:

    What about the Impreza?

  10. RCD says:

    I was a Subaru auto tech in 94-98 they had a similar issue with the SVX. It would draw a constant amperage of 1 amp. you had to buy the factory battery for it.

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