2005 SUBARU OUTBACK Electrical System Problems

Parasitic Battery Drain: When the vehicle is in use, the CAN system in the car relies on an electrical current to be operated as intended. When the vehicle is not being driven, the CAN system should enter a sleep mode in which it stops drawing significant electrical current. However, vehicle does not enter sleep mode when the car turns off, resulting in a "parasitic battery drain." Local Subaru dealer maintenance department has not been able to determine any way to fix. Battery drains completely after approx 1 week of nonoperation (and sometimes sooner) leaving me (owner) stranded and unable to start vehicle without obtaining a jump start. Has also required recurring battery replacement at a cumulative significant cost. Not sure what to do and do not want to sell to another person that would inherit this ongoing issue.

THE WIRING OF THE REAR HATCH DOOR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IS FAULTY AND THE WIRES BETWEEN THE CAR ROOF AND THE HATCH BREAK OVER TIME, DUE TO NORMAL HATCH FUNCTIONS (E.G. OPENING/CLOSING). DEPENDING ON WHICH WIRES BREAK, REAR-WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, BACK-UP LIGHTS FAIL, CAUSING A SAFETY CONCERN.

Mileage: 119,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. ..UPDATED 05/05/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 8/25/2017*JS

Mileage: 112,000

REAR HATCH HARNESS WIRES ARE BROKEN/ FRAYED. BACKUP LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, AND THE REAR WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. EVERY NOW AND THEM REAR DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK. HAZARD A LOT OF 2005-2009 OUTBACKS HAVE.

Mileage: 87,000

THE WIRES THAT PASS THROUGH THE BODY TO THE LIFTGATE THAT OPERATE BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, REAR WIPER, DEFROSTER, LOCK BREAK AND MAKE A SHORT OR OPEN CIRCUIT. MANY SUBARUS HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

REAR WIRING HARNESS THAT PASSES FROM CABIN TO HATCH DOOR HAS SEVERAL WIRES BROKEN CAUSING REAR DOOR LOCK AND LIGHTS FAILURES. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

REAR HATCH WIRES ON WAGON LIFTGATE THAT GO THRU RUBBER BOOTS HAVE DEFECTIVE INSULATION CAUSING WIRES TO BREAK IN MULTIPLE PLACES. SYSTEMS INCLUDE : BACK UP LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE, WIPER. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

THE WIRING FOR THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS FAILED IN THE UPPER RIGHT HATCH HINGE BOOT CAUSING THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS TO NOT OPERATE. THE PURPLE WIRE HAD BROKEN INSIDE THE BOOT AREA. THE PURPLE WIRE IS EXTREMELY SMALL GAUGE FOR A LOCATION THAT IS OPENED AND CLOSED OFTEN. *TR

Mileage: 178,000

WIRING LOCATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BETWEEN THE HATCH DOOR AND BODY (IN THE PROTECTIVE BOOT) WAS SEVERED AS A RESULT OF POOR QUALITY WIRING AND DESIGN. WIRES WERE STRESS-SEVERED AND NEARLY SEVERED BY NORMAL OPERATION OF OPENING/CLOSING THE WAGON REAR DOOR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AS DISCOVERED BY VISITING ONLINE FORUMS. *TR

Mileage: 93,781

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHED. ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN ENGAGED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS (AND COMMON IN SUBARUS) MALFUNCTION. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A BAD ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THAT OCCURS WHERE THE HATCHBACK OPENS UP. THE WIRES FRAY AND BREAK FROM NORMAL USAGE OF THE HATCHBACK, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER, DEFOGGER AND BACKUP LIGHTS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE A NUMEROUS BLOGS AND VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET SHOWING THIS PROBLEM, THIS SHOULD BE RECALL ITEM FOR ALL 3RD GENERATION SUBARU OUTBACKS (2005-2009). *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, WHICH REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR BOLT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

WIRES PASSING THROUGH REAR HATCH TO REAR LIFT GATE CRACK AND BREAK FROM OPENING AND CLOSING. REAR LIFT GATE LOCK NOT WORKING, WIRE IS BROKEN IN TWO. WIRES FOR REAR LIGHTS ARE CRACKING AND ABOUT TO SEVER AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 152,000

JUST AFTER GETTING OFF I-43 NEAR SHEBOYGAN ON FRONTAGE ROAD MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND NO ACCELERATION ON GAS PEDAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS BLINKING. I HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER TO A SHOULDER. TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR COUPLE OF MINUTES WHILE I CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. STARTED THE CAR JUST FINE BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND CRUISE WAS BLINKING. SUBARU MECHANIC READ ERROR CODE P2138 THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH 'D'/'E' VOLTAGE RATIONALITY. THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY BAD CONTACTS ON TPS SENSOR BY THE GAS PEDAL. HE RESET THE CODE AND IT HAS NOT APPEARED AGAIN FOR ALMOST A WEEK. I AM AFRAID OF IT GOING OFF AGAIN WHILE MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE SUBARU TAKES ACTION ON THIS. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

SUBARU OUTBACK 2005: THE WIRE HARNESS TO THE REAR TAILGATE FAILED AND SHORTED OUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 110,812

LOW BEAMS REPLACE SEVERAL TIME, REPLACED BOTH RECENTLY AND BOTH WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME IN THE DARK ON THEY WAY TO WORK. LIGHTS IN DASHBOARD CONSTANTLY FLASHING ON AND OFF, ABS, BATTERY, BRAKE. SPEEDOMETER JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE. BEEN HAPPENING OVER A MONTH OR SO. VERY UPSET CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

WHILE TRAVELING IN HEAVY FLOW RUSH HOUR MULTI-LANE TRAFFIC AT AROUND 65 MPH AND AT MERGING POINT OF MULTI HIGHER EXCHANGE WITH NEAR ZERO SHOULDER OR STOPPING LANE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I MANAGE TO COAST TO A STOP JUST BETWEEN THE TRIANGLE SPACE SEPARATING TWO OF THE MAJOR HIGHWAYS VARYING TWO SEPARATE DIRECTION WITH VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGH SPEED ON BOTH SIDES (NEARLY GETTING SMASHED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO THE ONLY POSSIBLE YET DANGEROUS PLACE TO STOP). THE CAR REMAIN IDLING BUT VERY LIMP; AFRAID TO VENTURE TO CONTINUE TO THE NEXT EXIT BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE NO SHOULDER AREA TO PULL OVER, I CALLED FOR HELP THINKING THE CAR HAD RAN OUT OF GAS AND WAS JUST RUNNING ON FUME. AFTER ENDURING SEVERAL MINUTES OF NEAR DEATH MOMENTS OF BEING CRASHED INTO BY ON-COMING VEHICLES AT HIGH SPEED MERGING TRAFFIC COMING FROM A CURVING ROAD, I DANGEROUSLY VENTURED TO OPEN DOORS INTO FLOWING TRAFFIC TO FILL THE TANK ESCAPING DEATH MANY TIMES. THE CAR STARTED AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY TO FILL TANK. SAME LIMP PEDAL REPEATED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER COMING OFF A TWO LANE {TWO-WAY) BRIDGE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO SHOULDER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE END OF THE BRIDGE TO TURN INTO A BUSINESS PARKING WITHOUT BEING PLOWED BY THE HEAVY TRAFFIC AROUND. OBD READING OF THE CAR INDICATE P2138 POINTING TO FAULTY FLY-BY-WIRE DEFECT IN THE ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR WHICH IS PART OF THE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY. I MANAGE TO ESCAPE DEATH WITH THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I JUST WONDER HOW MANY CRASHES AND DEATHS HAVE RESULTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO RESULT BECAUSE OF THIS VERY WELL REPORTED ISSUE WITH THESE SUBARU OUTBACKS BEFORE THE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY UNITS ARE RECALLED? *TR

Mileage: 114,000

REAR WIPER FAILURE WAS FIRST NOTICED FOLLOWED BY FAILURE OF THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE REAR LIFT GATE HAS MULTIPLE BROKEN WIRES WHERE THE DOOR HINGES. APPEARS THAT THE WIRING INSULATION BECOMES HARDENED AND BRITTLE, AND WILL BREAK INSTEAD OF FLEXING. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER WIRES IN THE HARNESS THAT ARE SHOWING BARE WIRE BUT HAVE NOT YET BROKEN. THIS IS WHAT ALL THE HARNESS ENABLES AND WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL: REAR WIPER MOTOR LICENSE PLATE LIGHT REAR GATE LATCH SWITCH REAR GATE LOCK ACTUATOR REAR DEFOGGER BACK-UP LIGHT RH REAR DEFOGGER BACK-UP LIGHT LH *TR

Mileage: 98,000

SOON AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, I REALIZED THAT THE REAR WIPER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. AFTER CHECKING AN ONLINE OWNERS FORUM I FOUND THAT THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FUNCTIONS IN THE REAR LIFT GATE SUCH AS INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHTS, REAR WIPERS INOPERABLE, AND OTHER ITEMS. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY THE DEGRADATION OF WIRE INSULATION AND BREAKAGE OF WIRE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED MY OWN VEHICLE HAS A SEVERED WIRE LOCATED IN THE ACCORDION BOOT ON THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE NEAR THE HINGE FOR THE LIFT GATE. THIS COULD RESULT IS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. AS WITH ANY FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING THERE IS ALSO A RISK FOR FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 121,985

WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT, UNDER NORMAL USAGE, THE VEHICLE'S LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS FAILED. THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO A BREAK IN A CONDUCTOR (WIRE) CONTAINED IN A WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS THE VEHICLE TO THE REAR HATCH THROUGH A RUBBER BELLOWS. ONCE THE BELLOWS WAS RETRACTED, THE BROKEN WIRE WAS FOUND ALONG WITH TWELVE (12) OTHER WIRES THAT WERE ALL NEARLY BROKEN: THEIR INSULATION WAS CRACKED AND SEVERAL WIRES ULTIMATELY BROKE COMPLETELY UPON FURTHER FLEXING. THESE OTHER WIRES FED THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, RUNNING LIGHTS, HATCH LOCK, AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS ON THE REAR HATCH. IT APPEARS THAT THE INSULATION ON THIS WIRE DOES NOT HOLD UP IN THIS ENVIRONMENT AND WILL ULTIMATELY FAIL IN THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS. THIS POSES A SAFETY PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLES REAR LIGHTS (TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, ETC.) CAN FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

MY BACK UP LIGHTS AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. FOUND THE WIRES BETWEEN THE LIGHT GATE AND BODY OF CAR WERE BREAKING ONE BY ONE. ALSO MY ANTENNA WIRES WERE BROKEN ON OTHER SIDE SAME LOCATION. WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS. WIRES USUALLY DON'T WEAR OUT LIKE THIS I WOULDN'T THINK. *TR

Mileage: 153,000

WHILE DRIVING MY OUTBACK LOST SUDDENLY LOST ALL ACCELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD BUT DECELERATED TO ABOUT 15 MPH WHICH NEARLY RESULTED IN MY BEING REAR ENDED. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON. AFTER DOING THIS THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY EXPECT THE CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS STAYED ON. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, BOTH LIGHTS WENT OFF. SINCE THEN, THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD PEDAL ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER, I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR AT SPEED AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

SITTING AT STOP LIGHT - LIGHT CHANGES GREEN - NO ACCELERATION. CAR WILL MOVE AT IDLE SPEED CREEP THROUGH INTERSECTION. PULL OVER STOP TURN CAR OFF. RESTART W ACCELERATOR WORKING BUT CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR FLASHING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. ERROR CODE INDICATES PEDAL POSITION SENSOR AND DEALER SAYS ENTIRE PEDAL ASSEMBLY NEEDS REPLACED. NEW 'DRIVE-BY-WIRE' ACCELERATOR SYSTEM FOR SUBARU IN 2005. REPAIR: ~$200 WITH NO CHANGE IN ASSEMBLY FROM WHAT THE SERVICE DEPT. REPORTS. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR FOR THE 2-YEARS AND HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. THE THROTTLE PEDAL AT TIMES WILL BECOME NON-RESPONSIVE AND THE ENGINE IDLE CANNOT BE CONTROLLED. AT THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WITH A CODE. P2138. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER WITH NO LUCK THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAD TO LIMP OR BE TOWED HOME. THE RPM CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM IDLE TO 3000 RPM AND AS I SAID THE PEDAL HAS NO CONTROL. I HAVE REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS. IT HAS NOW FAILED AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. WHEN IN A STOPPED POSITION AND INTEND TO PULL OUT, MOTOR RUNNING, BUT GAS PEDAL DOES NOT ENGAGE. PUSH ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR - STILL NOTHING. IN ORDER TO CORRECT, MUST TURN OFF ENGINE AND DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLE SO VEHICLE CAN RESET ITSELF. ALSO HAD PROBLEM WHEN SITTING STILL WHERE VEHICLE BEGAN IDLING AS IF ACCELERATOR BEING PRESSED DOWN - LASTED 5-10 SECONDS THEN BACKED OFF. WHEN PURCHASED CAR USED, HAD PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING AND LIGHT FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY. FOUND THAT INJECTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED - APPARENTLY TIED TO CRUISE MECHANISM. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BUT QUITE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *TR

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN STORMS, MY 2005 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON HAD PROBLEMS STARTING AND RUNNING. THE HOLE CAR SHACKS REALLY BAD. I KNOW TWO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY DEALER SAID MANY PEOPLE HAVE COME IN WITH A 2005 WITH THAT SAME PROBLEM. IT STARTED AT 18K AND STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABOUT TO FIX AFTER 80K. THE ENGINE 'STUTTERS' OR 'MISFIRES'. I CANT GET MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME OFF. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

IT STARTED WITH THE DOME LIGHT SOMETIMES WORKING AND OTHER TIMES NOT,THEN THE REMOTE TO OPEN DOORS. I CHANGED BATTERY AND FUSE, DID NOT HELP. SO EVERYTHING IS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY. NEXT IT WAS THE SEAT BELT BELL. IT WILL GO ON WHEN YOUR DRIVING WHEN BELT IS ON. NOW IT WON'T CHIME AT ALL JUST THE LIGHT FLASHES. NEXT IT WAS THE HEAD LAMPS. CHANGED ONE, THEN IMMEDIATELY THE OTHER WENT OUT. THE HEAD LAMPS ARE NOT EQUAL IN POSITIONING. AND NOW THE STEREO ONLY HAS THE RIGHT SIDE WORKING (NOT SURE IF THAT'S CONNECTED TO ELECTRICAL) IT'S BEEN A NIGHTMARE. TODAY THE DOME LIGHT DECIDED TO WORK. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER SUBARU AGAIN AND WANT TO SPRUCE THIS ONE UP AN GET RID OF IT. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

DT: CONSUMER HAD THIS VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AND THE DEALER HAD TO JUMP START THE MOTOR THREE TIMES. ALSO, REMOTE WON'T OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. CHANGED THE COMPASS IN THE MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TEST DRIVING VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD PUT IN A NEW BATTERY, AND WOULD FIX IT. HWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Mileage: 37