The Subaru battery settlement resolved a class action alleging that certain 2015–2020 Subarus suffered from a defect causing premature battery drain, and it was granted final approval by Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on January 24, 2023.1Bloomberg Law. Subaru Battery Drain Class Settlement Gets Final Approval Cash reimbursement claims closed on May 8, 2023, and all payments have since been issued. The extended warranty portion of the deal is still in force, and eligible owners can use it without having filed anything earlier.2SubaruBatterySettlement.com. Case Status
Vehicles Covered by the Settlement
The class covered roughly 3.78 million vehicles owned or leased by residents of the continental United States, Hawaii, or Alaska.3SubaruBatterySettlement.com. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Final Approval The models and years:
- Outback, 2015–2020
- Forester, 2015–2020
- Legacy, 2015–2020
- WRX, 2015–2020
- Ascent, 2019–2020
Vehicles with salvage or total-loss titles, non-Subaru batteries, or certain aftermarket equipment (such as aftermarket audio systems, remote starters, or security devices) were excluded from settlement benefits.4NHTSA. Subaru Service Bulletin 07-207-22R
What the Lawsuit Alleged
Plaintiffs said the affected models kept drawing power from the battery even while parked. The alleged culprit was the Data Communications Module tied to Subaru’s Starlink telematics system. When 3G cellular networks were retired, the DCM lost its connection but kept trying to reach the network in a continuous loop, pulling current from the 12-volt battery.5The Autopian. Why Subaru Batteries Are Dying All Across the Country The plaintiffs claimed violations of consumer protection statutes and breaches of warranty. Subaru denied that its vehicles were defective.6SubaruBatterySettlement.com. In Re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation
Extended Warranty You Can Still Use
The most valuable ongoing benefit is an extension of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty for qualifying battery failures. For a first battery replacement, Subaru covers 100% of the cost within five years or 60,000 miles of the vehicle’s in-service date. Vehicles that had already passed those limits when the settlement notice went out received a smaller benefit: 50% coverage for three months, and only for the original owner or lessee.7SubaruBatterySettlement.com. Frequently Asked Questions
For later battery replacements, coverage scales down with age and mileage:
- 100% up to five years or 60,000 miles
- 80% up to seven years or 84,000 miles
- 60% up to eight years or 100,000 miles
The extended warranty also covers a free software reflash meant to improve the vehicle’s charging logic.1Bloomberg Law. Subaru Battery Drain Class Settlement Gets Final Approval
Cash Reimbursement (Deadline Passed)
Owners who had already paid out of pocket for battery replacements, diagnostics, testing, or towing could file for cash reimbursement at rates between 55% and 165% of what they spent, depending on the number of repairs and the vehicle’s age and mileage at the time. Owners who had two or more failures within five years or 60,000 miles could also claim 140% reimbursement for related expenses like hotel stays and meals when stranded at least 50 miles from home, plus a one-time $140 Subaru service coupon.7SubaruBatterySettlement.com. Frequently Asked Questions The filing deadline was May 8, 2023, and all payments have been issued.2SubaruBatterySettlement.com. Case Status
How to Get Warranty Service Now
You do not need to have filed a claim earlier to use the extended warranty. If your covered vehicle experiences a qualifying battery condition, complete a warranty authorization form on the settlement website before service.7SubaruBatterySettlement.com. Frequently Asked Questions The settlement administrator, JND Legal Administration, can be reached at 1-855-606-2625, by email at info@SubaruBatterySettlement.com, or by mail at Subaru Battery Settlement, c/o JND Legal Administration, P.O. Box 91305, Seattle, WA 98111.8SubaruBatterySettlement.com. Contact
Subaru’s Separate DCM Warranty Extension
Apart from the settlement, Subaru issued a voluntary warranty extension aimed specifically at the DCM in certain model years. A revised service bulletin from February 2025 extended the DCM warranty to eight years or 150,000 miles on 2019 Legacy and Outback models and on 2019–2021 WRX and STI models. When the DCM is confirmed as the cause, Subaru covers testing, recharging, or replacing the 12-volt battery, along with replacing the module itself. Owners who previously paid out of pocket for DCM-related repairs can apply for reimbursement within one year of notification.9NHTSA. Subaru Service Bulletin 15-318-24R Subaru has stated this is not a safety recall.
Newer Models Are Not Covered
The 2023 settlement does not reach model years after 2020, and Subaru’s DCM warranty extension is limited to the models listed above. On May 1, 2026, a new class action, Taylor v. Subaru of America, Inc. (No. 2:26-cv-04935), was filed in the District of New Jersey targeting a broader set of newer vehicles, including the 2021–2024 Forester, 2021–2022 Outback and Ascent, 2021–2023 Legacy and WRX, 2019–2023 Crosstrek and Impreza, 2019–2024 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2022–2025 Forester Wilderness.10Yahoo Autos. Subaru Hit With Lawsuit Over Recurring Battery Drain The plaintiffs allege a “sleep-state” defect in which electronic control modules fail to enter low-power mode when the vehicle is off, creating a parasitic draw, and they say the earlier settlement did not fix the root cause. The complaint seeks a recall or buyback.11Law360. Taylor et al v. Subaru of America, Inc. et al Subaru has not issued a recall on this issue and says its vehicles meet applicable standards. The case was in early stages as of mid-2026.