Nothing says "good morning" like a click and a dark dashboard in your own driveway. If your Forester does it once, maybe a door was ajar. If it keeps doing it, you're in very well-documented company.
The 2015-2020 settlement
Owners sued claiming Subaru batteries drained even when the car was off. The case, *In re: Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation*, covered the 2015-2020 Forester, plus 2015-2020 Outback, Legacy and WRX and 2019-2020 Ascent. The final approval hearing was set for November 29, 2022. Terms, per CarComplaints:
| Replacement | What Subaru pays |
|---|---|
| First replacement, up to 5 years / 60,000 miles | 100% (original owner or lessee) |
| Subsequent replacements, up to 5 years / 60,000 miles | 100% |
| Subsequent replacements, up to 7 years / 84,000 miles | 80% |
| Subsequent replacements, up to 8 years / 100,000 miles | 60% |
Coverage depends on the dealer's battery test (Subaru's "Midtronics Protocol"), and the reimbursement claim period is long over. A 2015-2018 Forester is now past all of these windows. A late 2019 or 2020 might still be inside the 8-year/100,000-mile tier for a repeat replacement, so ask a Subaru dealer to check.
The 2026 lawsuit (2021-2024 Forester)
In May 2026, Jalopnik reported a new class action covering a long list of Subarus, including the 2021-2024 Forester and 2022-2025 Forester Wilderness. Plaintiffs claim at least one electronic module fails to put the car into low-power sleep, so the battery drains while parked, and the problem keeps happening after a new battery. These are claims, not findings, and there's no settlement yet. The earlier drain was linked to the telematics module trying to reach the shut-down 3G network. This one has no single known cause.
How to tell a bad battery from a drain
- Dies after sitting 2 or 3 days, starts fine after a jump and a drive: classic parasitic drain.
- Slow crank every morning, even after daily driving: a weak battery or charging problem.
- Brand new battery, still dying: drain, or the alternator isn't charging. Get both tested.
- Battery light on while driving: charging system. Don't ignore it.
Easy things to try first
- Check the obvious: dome lights, the cargo light, a tailgate not fully latched, or a phone charger or dash cam plugged in all the time.
- Lock the car and walk away. If you sit in the car with the key nearby, some modules stay awake.
- Drive longer. Lots of 5-minute trips never fully recharge the battery.
- Get a free battery test at a parts store or dealer. It tells you if the battery itself is shot.
- Use a battery maintainer if the car sits for a week or more.
- Ask a shop for a parasitic draw test. They measure current with the car asleep and pull fuses one at a time to find the circuit that won't shut off.
What it costs
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Battery test | Often free |
| Battery replacement, 2019 Forester, dealer | $378 to $443 (parts $226 to $265, labor $151 to $178) |
| Battery replacement, 2019 Forester, independent shop | $387 to $455 |
| Battery only (general range) | About $45 to $250 depending on the battery |
| Parasitic draw diagnosis | Ask for a quote, usually billed as diagnostic time |
KBB's figures are for a Columbus, Ohio ZIP code, so expect some regional difference.
What to ask the shop
- "Did you test the battery, the alternator and the parasitic draw?"
- "Which circuit is drawing current with the car asleep?"
- "Is any of this covered by the battery drain settlement or my warranty?"
- "Are there software updates or bulletins for my VIN?"
Is it worth fixing?
Yes. A drain that kills batteries every few months costs more over time than finding the cause. If you have a 2021-2024 Forester and keep replacing batteries, save every receipt and service record in case the 2026 case leads to a settlement.
More Forester help lives on the Subaru Forester repair page. Transmission acting up too? Read our Forester CVT warranty guide. Prices checked October 14, 2026.
