Subaru Outback batteries

20

Asked by GuruB9JHW Dec 05, 2018 at 09:14 PM about the 2013 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

The original battery failed and I had it replaced with a AAA battery that is now
less than a year old.  I took car to dealer and was told that my battery "failed",
even though I was just there for an oil change and did not request a battery
test.  I was told I should install OE Subaru battery for $180.  When I balked I
was told it failed the cold charging test.  I live in Houston and have not had any
trouble with current battery.  Is this a scam being ran by this particular dealer
or have other Subaru owners had problems with AAA batteries (as claimed by
the service advisor)?

6 Answers

1.5 volts, LOL. If your battery failed at 1 year old it should be replaced under warranty. If you want a top quality battery buy an Optima or Odyssey. They are worth the extra cost.

20

The AAA battery is starting my car just fine, whatever its voltage. Temperature in Houston rarely gets below 32 degrees. My concern is that I went to a new Subaru dealership that recently opened near me only for an oil change. I never asked for the battery to be tested or expressed any concern about it. I was told that they tested my battery and it failed and that I should immediately replace it with a Subaru original equipment battery for $180. The service advisor tried to make it sound like any battery other than one I bought at Subaru would not work properly in my Outback! Quite frankly this came across to me as nothing but an attempt to get me to spring for an expensive new battery. I might add that I am a female and not very mechanical, but I have never heard of car batteries being brand specific and that only an "original equipment" battery would work properly in a Subaru. I think I will take the car somewhere else and have the battery tested. If it passes, then it will confirm my concern that the service advisor was just trying to increase my bill.

2 people found this helpful.

I run an Optima battery in my Forester and it is much better than a Subaru brand battery. The dealer is ripping you off. I would complain to SOA.

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