Subaru class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Four consumers filed a class action lawsuit against Subaru of America Inc. and Subaru Corp.
- Why: The plaintiffs claim Subaru sold vehicles with a defective electrical system.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court.
A new class action lawsuit alleges Subaru sold certain vehicles with a defective electrical system that caused the battery to fail prematurely.
Lead plaintiff Christina Taylor claims Subaru sold vehicles with a defect that prevents one or more electronic control modules from entering or maintaining a proper low-power sleep state, resulting in excessive parasitic battery drain.
The plaintiffs argue Subaru has been aware of the alleged defect since at least 2014, as evidenced by a series of technical service bulletins to its dealerships and service technicians, and “large numbers” of consumer complaints.
“Despite knowing of the defect, Subaru has not successfully remedied it,” the Subaru class action lawsuit says.
The vehicles named in the class action lawsuit are model year 2021-2022 Subaru Outback, 2021-2024 Subaru Forester, 2021-2023 Subaru Legacy, 2021-2023 Subaru WRX, 2021-2022 Subaru Ascent, 2019-2023 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019-2024 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, 2022-2025 Subaru Forester Wilderness and 2019-2023 Subaru Impreza vehicles.
The plaintiffs want to represent a nationwide class of all current and former owners and lessees of the Subaru vehicles named in the class action lawsuit.
Subaru failed to disclose or remedy electrical defect, class action says
The class action lawsuit argues Subaru failed to disclose the electrical system defect to consumers prior to purchase and has not successfully remedied the problem despite knowing about it for years.
“While Subaru provides a three-year/36,000 mile warranty with each class vehicle and sells extended warranties of up to 10 years, Subaru engages in a pattern and practice of avoiding its warranty obligations with respect to the defect,” the Subaru class action lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs claim Subaru is guilty of breach of implied and express warranty, unjust enrichment and fraudulent concealment as well as violations of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and state consumer protection laws.
They demand a jury trial and request declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of actual, consequential, statutory and punitive damages for themselves and all class members.
A consumer filed a separate class action lawsuit against Subaru in September 2024 over claims the automaker knowingly sold vehicles with defective side mirrors.
Are you a current or former owner or lessee of a Subaru vehicle that was equipped with a defective electrical system? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Bruce D. Greenberg of Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador LLC and Matthew D. Schelkopf and Joseph B. Kenney of Sauder Schelkopf LLC.
The Subaru class action lawsuit is Taylor, et al. v. Subaru of America Inc., et al., Case No. 2:26-cv-04935, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
- Kalshi class action alleges refer-a-friend texts sent without consent
- Bayer hit with class action over allegedly false One A Day fertility supplement claims
- Frozen pizzas from Walmart, Aldi recalled due to Salmonella risk
- Costco faces class action over Kirkland tortelloni’s ‘preservative free’ labeling
Debt settlement, debt relief and credit repair class action lawsuit investigation
July 2, 2026 | Money
487 thoughts onSubaru class action claims vehicles have defective electrical system
I have a 2021 Crosstrek and have replaced the battery once and I have a brand new one and it still having electrical problems where engine stalls unless I turn off the automatic shut down when the car is stopped.
I had electrical problems with the Subaru Forrester… constant battery issues and back hatch opening unexpectedly. It got so bad that I had to trade in the car and purchased a Toyota.
I bought a 2018 crosstrek in December 2019 with 2.7K miles and over the last 9 years I have had to replace the battery almost 10 times. I have taken my car in for service and battery issues countless times and every time they claimed to find the issue or the rare parasitic draw causing it, the issue returns. If I don’t drive my car for 3+ days I have to use a jump to get the car working. It’s the most frustrating thing and I would love to be a part of this class action suit hear anything on news to address this.
My Subaru left me sitting again due to battery issue. This will be my 4th battery in my 2023 vehicle. Left me sitting again on the turnpike and I had my severely disabled son with me. Situation could have went south quickly. Had to pay $350 to get towed to Subaru service. Paying way too much for a car that I always need to worry about starting. Would love to join th lawsuit, but my car is Outback and seems out of the date range indicated on lawsuit. Ugh!! Am driving my Father’s 2008 KIA as he is in nursing home. Will use this until I get my car back. Am thinking about getting something that is not a Subaru, but will take a hit as I still owe on this one.
I have a 2021 Outback. Battery was replaced in less than three years from purchase.
I purchased my 2021 Subaru Forester brand new with only 9 miles on the odometer. To the best of my knowledge, those miles came from transport, fueling, and movement during delivery. I am the first and only owner this vehicle has ever had.
One of the reasons I chose Subaru was because of its reputation for safety, reliability, and longevity. This was the first brand-new vehicle I had ever purchased. I had always driven used vehicles before and worked hard to finally buy something new that I intended to maintain and keep for many years. Unfortunately, this has become the most problematic vehicle I have ever owned.
I have always taken excellent care of this vehicle. I have consistently performed routine maintenance including oil changes, tire replacements, brake service, and all other recommended maintenance. This vehicle has never been neglected, abused, or improperly maintained. I am a responsible owner, and the issues I have experienced are not the result of poor maintenance or misuse.
For years, this vehicle has suffered from unexplained battery drain, repeated no-start conditions, and intermittent electrical issues. The vehicle regularly develops a dead battery after sitting overnight and continues to do so at least twice per week. We have jump-started this vehicle dozens of times throughout ownership.
The issue became so frequent that I permanently keep a battery jump pack in the vehicle. Ironically, one of the most useful gifts I have ever received was a Costco battery jumper from my father because it has repeatedly saved me from being stranded. I never expected that a battery jump pack would become essential equipment for a brand-new Subaru, but it has proven its worth time and time again.
The battery itself has been tested numerous times by Subaru and independent sources. Every time I have been told that the battery tests fine. In an effort to eliminate the battery as the cause, I replaced the battery entirely at my own expense. The replacement battery experiences the exact same problems and also consistently tests as healthy. This strongly suggests the issue lies elsewhere within the vehicle’s electrical system.
In addition to the battery drain, the vehicle has unexpectedly shut off while stopped at red lights and intersections. When this happens, I must place the vehicle in park, turn it completely off, and hope it restarts. As a mother of three young children, this is terrifying. Having a vehicle unexpectedly lose power in traffic is not simply inconvenient—it is a serious safety concern.
I repeatedly reported these issues to Subaru dealerships while the vehicle was under warranty. In fact, I specifically brought the vehicle in before the warranty expired because these problems had already been occurring for years. I wanted the issue documented and addressed while the vehicle was still covered.
Despite my repeated complaints, I was continually told that the vehicle was “fine” and that technicians could not replicate the problem. I missed work on multiple occasions to bring the vehicle in for inspection. My father and my boyfriend also took time out of their schedules to deliver the vehicle to the dealership. There were instances where Subaru kept the vehicle for multiple days and ultimately returned it with the same response: “No problem found” or “Could not replicate.”
What makes this even more frustrating is that I previously worked as a service advisor. I understand how intermittent issues can be difficult to diagnose, and because of that experience I provided detailed information regarding the symptoms, timing, and conditions under which the failures occurred. I explained exactly what was happening and even suggested methods that could help replicate the issue. Despite this, the vehicle was repeatedly returned to me without a diagnosis or repair.
On multiple occasions, I would get the vehicle back from the dealership only to have the exact same issues occur within 24 hours. The vehicle would either fail to start after sitting overnight or unexpectedly shut off at intersections shortly after Subaru had declared that nothing was wrong.
Because I felt I had exhausted every other option, I began troubleshooting the vehicle myself. I purchased my own diagnostic equipment costing approximately $500 and performed extensive testing. I checked fuse circuits, monitored electrical systems, and attempted to identify parasitic battery draws. Every fuse tested normally except concerns involving the Starlink system. I even removed certain non-essential fuses, including interior lighting circuits, to determine whether they were contributing to the battery drain. The problem persisted.
What is particularly frustrating is that Subaru repeatedly claimed diagnostics had been performed, yet many of the things I was able to identify myself should have been observable during a thorough diagnostic process. Had a comprehensive investigation truly been completed, I believe many of these findings would have been discovered.
The most frustrating part is that Subaru had years of opportunities to diagnose and repair this problem while the vehicle remained under warranty. Instead, after the warranty expired, additional diagnostic procedures were suggested that would now be my financial responsibility. I was essentially told that a problem I had repeatedly reported during the warranty period would now be my burden to investigate and repair at my own expense.
One of the most important facts in my situation is that despite all of these ongoing issues, I have not traded the vehicle in. The vehicle is mostly paid off, and while many people would have simply gotten rid of it by now, I have continued trying to find a solution because I genuinely wanted this vehicle to work. More importantly, I do not feel right passing this burden on to someone else. I know firsthand how frustrating, stressful, and potentially dangerous these issues can be, and I would not want another family unknowingly purchasing a vehicle with the same unresolved problems.
I am not looking for an excuse to get rid of my Forester. My hope throughout this entire process has been that Subaru would identify the root cause and properly repair it so that I could continue driving the vehicle I originally intended to keep for many years. I purchased this vehicle because I believed in Subaru’s reputation for reliability and safety.
What makes this experience even more disappointing is that I have firsthand experience showing that Subaru is capable of building reliable vehicles. My father owns a 2019 Subaru Forester and has experienced none of the battery drain, electrical, or stalling issues that I have dealt with in my 2021 model. His vehicle has been dependable and trouble-free. Notably, the 2019 model year is not included among the years commonly associated with the battery and electrical complaints affecting my vehicle. This further reinforces my belief that there is a defect affecting certain model years, including mine, rather than these problems being the result of owner neglect or normal wear and tear.
After years of dealing with these issues, I still hope Subaru will take responsibility, identify the defect, and provide a permanent repair. I would much rather keep the vehicle than replace it. However, if Subaru is unwilling or unable to resolve an issue that has been repeatedly reported throughout my ownership, it will be very difficult for me to trust the brand again or consider purchasing another Subaru in the future.
This issue has cost me time, money, missed work, stress, inconvenience, and confidence in a vehicle I purchased specifically for reliability and safety. I continue to experience battery drain, no-start conditions, and intermittent stalling despite every reasonable effort to resolve the issue.
I bought my first brand-new vehicle expecting peace of mind, reliability, and safety for my family. Instead, I have spent years carrying a jump pack, wondering whether my vehicle will start in the morning, fearing it may shut off in traffic with my children inside, and repeatedly being told that nothing is wrong when the problem continues to happen. That is not the ownership experience I was promised when I purchased this vehicle new.
I believe Subaru knew, or should have known, about widespread battery and electrical system defects affecting vehicles like mine and failed to adequately identify, disclose, or repair these defects. Owners who repeatedly reported these issues while under warranty should not be left responsible for the financial burden, inconvenience, and safety risks associated with a defect that Subaru never properly resolved.
I have a 2025 Subaru legacy and have had the brakes come on unexpectedly twice. How do I find out if my car is on a recall list. The dealer is constantly calling and emailing me about wanting to buy my car.
I have changed my battery 3 times. The second battery that I got had a warranty of 3 years at 2 years warranty the battery kept dying on a monthly basis and I kept having to call Auto Club to jump start me. I would take my car in to get a new battery and they would tell me that there was nothing wrong with the battery that it was fine. But then a few weeks later the battery would die on me again at work. And I knew there was something wrong with the car because it seemed like to me that when I turn the car off it didn’t turn off all the way so I would get back in my car and start it up again and turn it off again and then it seemed like it turned off. I would come out from work and my car would be dead. But I get getting told that the battery was good. Then one day I was driving on the 405 freeway in the fast lane and my car completely turned off just shut down on me. I had to call the CHP I called 911 and they sent out a CHP and he had to shut down the whole freeway for 45 minutes so that they could get my car off the freeway. I had it towed to the Subaru dealer they kept it for 2 days and then they told me that my battery was dead. They put in a new battery and they charged me 500 bucks for that battery that did not include labor. And they charged me for a rental car for 2 days. So I feel that I am part of this class action suit and I would love to get some of my money back.