2009 Subaru Outback Electrical System Problems
- 17
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 17 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- rear wiper · 8 records
- wiring harness · 6 records
- rear gate · 4 records
- license plate · 4 records
- lift gate · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 4 |
| 100–150k mi | 4 |
| 60–100k mi | 3 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Engine
2009 subaru outback stalling while driving. The engine turned off while driving with light acceleration at low speeds (5-20 mph) without warning. Warning lights flickered on and off. I was able to restart the car. This is a huge safety issue to have the car stall out without warning. Subara south blvd dealership say they do not know the root cause. Prior to the above incidence the car, while driving at low speeds,…
ODI 11300598
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
There is a well documented faulty design issue that leads to failure of the wiring harness (rear gate cord) to the rear wagon door/gate of this model subaru ouback wagons. Failure of the wiring harness has affected me while driving the vehicle. As this issue has progressed, more and more wires break, completely severed, and lead to the rear lock not working, then backup lights not working, rear defroster not…
ODI 11156814
Electrical System
The wiring in rear hatch in really bad shape some showing the copper and two completely broke apart. Causing the latch not to work and alarm going off. Rear wiper not working.
ODI 11062651
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
After fuses blown repeatedly and replaced, rear wiper, washer pump and lock ceased to operate for perhaps a year. Recently the headlights got real funky - would not operate in normal "on" position. But then some strange behavior when shifted into reverse (ignition on without starting to allow shifting). Headlights still not lit in either off or on position, but then came on as switch moved back from headlights on to…
ODI 10938409
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Rear hatch wiring has worn to the point of fully breaking four and damaging five other wires out of approximately 14 total going through the flexible boot between the body and the hatch on the passenger side of the vehicle. Systems affected: rear wiper, rear lock, possibly the brake light and license plate lights. This was damage incurred over time of normal use, opening the hatch no more than once per day.
ODI 10837345
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
The rear gate wiring harness failed, causing rear brake lights and tail lights to stop working. Without replacing the rear gate wiring harness ($88.80 parts + $448.80 labor + 51.07 tax) soon the rear wiper and defrost would not work and the back hatch would lock. This is a serious safety issue, i want to see a recall and reimbursement of $588.67 from subaru of america.
ODI 10806525
Electrical System
Rear gate electrical cord premature failure at rubber accordion bend
ODI 10794943
Electrical System
The brake lights, hatch lock, wiper and other electrical components on the rear part of my subaru 2009 outback stopped working or working erratically. I checked the rubber boot containing the rear wiring harness for damage and discovered 13 out of 14 wires were either completely broken, or the insulation was worn, exposing bare conductor. In addition to the rear electrical issues, i replaced the bulbs for the…
ODI 10786005
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
When it rained dash lights come on would not go out when turned car on for a few days next rain went to check car when started lights came on then all went out and a loud noise and fire under hood
Fire reported
ODI 10747264
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
Individual wires in the harness powering and controlling the brake, turn, backup, and license plate lights, and the rear wiper motor and washer pump, may fail without warning. This failure could result in an rear end collision or impairing vision out the rear window in inclement weather. The point of failure is inside the flexible rubber boot protecting the harness where it passes from the rear frame of the main…
ODI 11011485
Air Bags · Electrical System
Air bag warning light in the instrument panel (combination meter) is on. The airbag light has come on since it has been cold out. It keeps on every cold day. It is a safety issue and if possibly not deploying the srs to protect driver and passenger in a collision. This problem was reported by many drivers of subaru, but subaru company is still no response. *tr
ODI 10651873
Electrical System
2009 subaru outback. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle shuts down while driving. *smd the consumer believed the vehicle shutting down, was the result of a faulty ignition. *jb
ODI 10575613
Electrical System
When locking the vehicle, the rear lift gate will not lock. Subaru dealership found a broken wire leading to the rear lift gate actuator, and fixed. June 2015, problem occurring again. Just looked, and wire was broken again (found by removing passenger side rubber boot covering wires between lift gate and body). Will try to fix myself, this time.
ODI 10731633
Electrical System · Visibility/Wiper
09 outback was blowing fuses on the door lock circuit. Put in a new fuse and it would blow in a few days, often when car washed or driven in rain (or perhaps when rear hatch operated). Last replacement fuse has held for a few weeks now, through summer. Then the rear wiper stopped working. Saw this video and then pulled the wiring boot connecting hatch with body (to right of hatch hinges) and sure enough four wires…
ODI 10637765
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Started my car at night to find out my headlights would not turn on, but the safely lights were still on. Upon further inspection, the brake lights and reverse lights would not work either. The lights above my rear license plate had been out for a couple of weeks also so i am not sure if that is related as well. Looked on-line to find out many other subaru outback owners had a similar problem and suggested looking…
ODI 10520538
Air Bags · Electrical System
Problem 1: experienced rear wiper (station wagon) not working. Car still under warranty, took it to the dealer and was told the wiring harness that goes through the hinge area was broken. It was repaired. Now the car has 72,000 miles and i am having rear wiper problems again as well as the rear door not locking. Wires frayed and broken again. This is a known issue both with subaru and on the forums on the web. This…
ODI 10679625
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The headlights on this vehicle are grossly inadequate when using lower beams. I have contacted subaru and was told that there is no problem. I contacted the local dealer and was informed that they are aware of the problem, but nothing can be done - it is a subaru engineering decision to have that 'quality' of headlight. *tr
ODI 10567509