2026 Subaru TrailseekerRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

“Since owning the vehicle at the end of April 2026, there has been a phantom drain on the accessory system that causes the 12-volt battery to drop below the minimum operating voltage, requiring a jump start in order to get the vehicle to operate. The first event happened within weeks of owning the vehicle and after leaving the car turned off, including all lights, and doors locked for around 72 hours. Even after a jump start and getting the 12-volt battery charged up a bit, the drain caused the battery to require a jump-start soon after. There was enough voltage in the 12-volt battery to unlock the vehicle via the key fob and attempt to get the vehicle into READY mode, before cutting out. The dealer ran tests on the 12-volt battery to find no issues. The second event happened a few weeks after the first event, but the drain had depleted the battery enough that the driver-side door had to be unlocked using the physical key. A jump start as required. The third event, in which the vehicle had been off for less than 24 hours, had the 12-volt battery was badly depleted requiring a jump start. Immediately drove the vehicle to dealer to have them investigate. They had…”

“Door seals allow significant dust infiltration.”

“I went to start my 2026 Trailseeker and the 12 volt battery was dead. I contacted Subaru Roadside Assistance to jump the vehicle. After they jump started the vehicle I received the following warnings on the dash.."Brake Override Malfunction..Visit Your Dealer".."Braking Power Low..Visit Your Dealer." "Braking Power Low Stop in a Safe Place See Owners Manual." The car was un-drivable as I was unable to release the brake. I disconnected the battery cables and those warnings went away but the EV malfunction light remains on. The car was towed to the dealership and in their possession, the battery was dead again and had to be jumped by them. They said they found nothing wrong with anything. I requested a new battery and they said it would not be approved by Subaru as they found nothing wrong with the battery. I took the car home and connected a battery monitor and found..if I have the Subaru Connect app connected to the car, it drains the battery overnight. If I disconnect the battery, the battery does not drain. I did get a bad battery notification from my battery charger as I charged the battery because I would not be driving it for a couple of days. Subaru was…”