Why does my Subaru Forester battery keep dying?

Short answer: Repeated dead batteries on 2019-era Foresters are often tied to the power rear gate module, which Subaru has a bulletin and service program for. A weak battery can also be the cause. Ask the dealer to check your VIN and test the battery.

Symptom: The car won't start after sitting a day or two, or it needs a jump every few days.

What to check first

1. Ask a Subaru dealer whether your VIN has an open service program for the power rear gate module.
2. Have the battery load-tested.
3. Ask the shop to measure the parasitic draw after the car has gone to sleep.
4. Make sure the rear gate, doors and dome lights are fully off when you park.

Likely causes

1. Power rear gate module drawing power. Subaru issued a bulletin and a service program for some 2019 Foresters to update or replace the power rear gate control module. Subaru says it can keep drawing too much power after the car is off and drain the battery.
2. Weak or small battery. Short trips, auto start-stop and long periods of sitting can drain a battery that's already weak. Owners often replace it with a stronger one.
3. Other parasitic draw. A parasitic draw is something that keeps using power after you turn the car off. A shop can measure it.

What it usually costs

Service program work is free on included VINs. A new battery is a normal maintenance cost; these threads didn't post prices.

Is it safe to keep driving?

A dead battery won't hurt you while driving, but it can strand you. Carry a jump pack until it's fixed.

DIY or shop?

Battery testing and replacement are DIY. Measuring a parasitic draw and module updates are shop or dealer work.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA lists 6 recall(s) for the Subaru Forester in these years, and none match this problem. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 192 keyword-matched complaints for Subaru Forester 2019–2024 (of 1857 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-11-08; keywords: battery, drain, dead, no start, won't start, jump) (NHTSA returned no data for 2 model-year queries). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In 2019 Forester Premium Battery Issues - Suggestions Appreciated on Reddit r/SubaruForester, a 2019 Forester Premium owner asked for help with repeated battery problems.
• In 2019 Subaru Forester battery drain help on Reddit r/SubaruForester, another 2019 Forester owner asked for help with a battery drain.

Quick tip

If the dealer only puts in a new battery and it dies again, ask them to measure the draw.

Vehicle focus: Subaru Forester fifth generation (2019–2024), especially 2019 models with a power rear gate.

Safety / mechanic note

A dead car in a remote place can be dangerous. Verify with a mechanic.