Some people complain about problems. Some people fix problems. Wise and generous people fix problems and help others to do the same. Very thoughtful and well made video. Thank you.

Had this problem in my 2019 Outback a while ago. Took it to the dealer to look for a parasitic draw. They allegedly found nothing. Afterwards, I never had a dead battery again. However, as discussed in the video, we eventually realized that our bluetooth was not operating correctly. Took the car back to the dealer to diagnose the problem, and we were advised for the first time that during the last visit, they removed a fuse which in turn affected the bluetooth. To fix the problem, the dealer wanted $450 to install a workaround that Subaru came up with since the car was out of warranty. I politely requested that the dealer call Subaru because I was not going to pay to fix an inherent design problem that Subaru acknowledged by engineering a fix. Immediately, the service writer agreed that there would be no charge.

April 22, 2024: Subaru issued a Warranty Extension for the DCM which should fix this problem, AND reimburse the owner for New Batteries, Tows, and other costs associated with the DCM battery drain. The Extension is 8 years and 150,000 miles

This fix worked! My 2019 Subaru Outback sits for two weeks while I'm gone each month. I've burned through three batteries since my travel has been going on. For less than $12 on Amazon and about 10 minutes to do the job, it worked! My car just started right up for the first time in months! Thank you!!!

Update 2/10/2024 Called SOA, they sent me to my dealer for a NO CHARGE replacement of the DCM unit. They stated it is a VERY WELL KNOWN issue and did not even argue with me. FYI

After being told by the dealership's service manager that I'm driving too many short trips, and after having my local mechanic replace the battery only to have the problem recur, I found your video . Eight dollars and fifteen minutes' work later, I had your fix installed. A month of driving now, and the battery is holding its charge perfectly. Thank you, thank you! (And by the way, I've experienced no glitches whatsoever with the sound system.)

Thank you so much for this awesome video! All the same issues with my 2019 Outback; likewise, my niece's same car had these issues. Subaru needs to do a recall for this nightmare issue.

Thank you for taking time to make the video to explain the battery drain issue. I have a 2019 Legacy, and had replaced two new batteries over the last 12 months. The last battery replacement was just one month ago and after let my car sits for a week (it is my weekend car), I need to jump start it. I am fortune enough to find your video and see other people's comment. I took my car to Subaru dealer today and they acknowledge the issue, installed a DCM bypass box free of charge. I hope the problem will go away after this fix.

Excellent explanation and resolution. Thanks!

El Dude-I am going to call my local Subaru dealer and try to get him to replace the DCM for free. If not, I'll remind him that we bought the 2016 and 2019 (2.5 engine) Outbacks from him (new) and we are now on our 4th batteries for EACH vehicle. The latest failure on the 2016 (3.6 engine) is with an Optima battery. Different battery and same results. I had removed the Fuse # 9 from both, not inclined to ever buy another Subaru, just run these units out to high mileage pasture and forget about the brand. It should be called the BS machine instead of Luv machine! You have the Best Subaru Battery explanation video on KZfaq!!!!

2019 Outback. Dealer identified the problem and gave me the the Subaru Customer Care number, They replaced the battery and the DCM module. I paid $150 labor fee to replace DCM. Problem resolved.

Watched the video, couldn't have been more clear, did the work and voila just avoided a $650 "replace the DCM module" repair bill. Funny, they knew what it was right away. Had to cancel the DCM they were all hot to trot to get for me. THANKS!

I get intimidated by wiring in general but you really broke this down incredibly. I’m inspired to give this a go for our Outback. 2021 and it’s like all of a sudden the battery dies and can’t hold a charge. Replacing the battery will fix the now but this mod will fix future problem. Thank you!

Awesome video

Great video!

Wow this is an insanely good video. Thanks

Thanks for the great video, overview, and diagrams and pictures. I will give this a go immediately.

Excellent video. We are currently dealing with this issue and just got news from the Subaru dealer that it is a $900 fix.

Thank you so much for this. I am sharing it with as many as I can.

Very helpful!

Thank you for creating this video and posting to share with us. I just received a letter of the warranty being extended with the dcm but to 100,000 or eight years but my Forester is at 96,000 so this extension is really almost over and they decline my claim with the battery not lasting 5 years or so. You are right about this creating us a problem and will not fix till it's really a problem or needed to charge us. They should recall and fix the dcm,update or replace.

Great video, one of our family friends has 2019 Outback same car. She took it to Subaru and they are aware of problems. Said DCM back ordered for over a year. They charged 185.00 to diagnose and told her they would remove the fuse. Also would affect Bluetooth and radio. I’ve followed your advice and am going to try the jumper solution.

thank you for this video.... just purchased those pigtails and installed last night.. i believe this should solve my issue

Thank you so much......this happened to both my 2016 and 2018 outbacks. I documented with multimeter and pulling fuse 9...will ry your fix.

Thanks for this informative video. Hopefully this fixes our customers issue with her battery drain.

I left my hatch open for 5 days in my garage working on a car camping build. I consider that a good test. I did use the hack to trick the lock, and she started right up at the end. Keep in mind i have drained my battery in the past, three times, by keeping the hatch open too long so i have experienced it. I also installed a red top battery recently because it was due. The hack definitely works. Btw, you don’t even need a carabiner; you can use your finger or an Allen wrench and pull it out.

You! Are! The Man!!!

This works! Thank you so much! Timmons Subaru in Long Beach is charging 1200$ to fix this. They are scoundrels! That is so dirty! Now I just have to replace the defective radio.

With this by-pass, as-is, it would sometimes blow the 7.5A fuse. When 19 cuts off, it goes to ground. Sometimes, don't know why, the DCM module would feed back about 2 volts. I added a diode, stripe toward fuse 9, to prevent this backflow. This seemed to solve the problem.

You're awesome 🎉 thank u so much

This was exactly what I was dealing with and yours was the first video that addressed the DCM. About a week ago, I got a letter from Subaru, which will give you the choice of disabling 3G hunting by disabling Star Link. According to the dealer, all the other functions that go through that circuit will still work, blue tooth, etc. The second option is the subscribe to Star Link and they will upgrade the DCM for free (but you have to buy two year subscription upfront).

Close the Starlink, quick! Dead battery at the airport. I feel your pain. Thank you so much for this idea. I'm going to try to implement this on my 16 Forester. Thankfully, I already replaced the buggy head unit with an aftermarket one, so I'm not concerned about Bluetooth. The front speakers do get routed through the DCM, though. (I tried removing it altogether when I installed the Pioneer touchscreen with Carplay.)

Thanks for this, I will use this method to cure the parasitic draw. I -really- think SOA should offer this as a solution to this well-known and widespread issue. I do NOT consider this a 'hack' at all.

I have this problem with my 2018 Outback. The car is out of warranty, in fact, I purchased it used with a branded title. I called SOA and asked if they would fix it for me. They told me I had to get it diagnosed by the dealer, so I took it to my local dealer and they did in fact diagnose it as the DCM, however, they did not offer to fix it for free. It was either pull the fuse (but they said blue tooth might stop working) $650 to replace the DCM or $215 to reset the system to "factory mode" which they said would fix it, but I would not be able to use starlink. So I called SOA again and they had me send them the documentation from the dealer showing it was the DCM. They said they would assign a case manager who would get back to me. I am keeping my fingers crossed they will fix it for free. However, if they do not, I plan to do this hack. Thanks for the info.

Thank u

My wife drives the 15 outback which has battery discharge problem, this happens in just letting the car off 1/2 hour from driving until taking it back to find the battery is discharge and it won't crank. Jump it, charge the battery at home and discharge test under 100 Amp real load test comes back good. Re-install same battery and have no issues for months then same occurs again. Tested battery load with car Off comes down to 30mA after 3 or 4 minutes. first few seconds is up at 5 Amps, then 100mA and finally 30 mA. Charging voltage at idle 14,3V. I suspect something intermittent, either the alternator does not charge sometimes or load remains On while car is turned Off. Tested DCM Fuse 9 load and it corresponds to 30mA load. in theory a group 24 lead acid rated at 60Amp/hour should last 600 hours with 0.1 Amp load thus why I suspect not every time the car is switched off does it go to full sleep mode. I have ordered the fuse carriers and will do the mod just because but I suspect my car also has another issue. not mentioning every time the battery gets flat you have to deal with all kind of systems going berserk (hill descent, Snow etc) it's like a christmas tree in there.

2019 Outback here - I called Subaru Customer Care and they agreed to cover the DCM module replacement on Subaru's dime. There is also an extended battery warranty on these models due to some litigation. I did try the dealership first and they wanted $800 to replace the DCM.

For what it's worth, Subaru sent out extended warranty notices in Feb 29, 2024, addressing the issue of faulty Telematics Data Communications Module (DCM) for • 2016-2018 Legacy, Outback, Impreza, Crosstrek and Forester • 2017-2018 WRX The notice states in part, vehicles "may experience a dead battery as a result the DCM continually trying to access the 3G network which is no longer available and have not received a previous DCM update." See complete notification online.

My 2019 Subaru Outbak is having the same issue. I already bought a new battery back in 2022 not knowing this was a known issue. Lately, this new battery is dying if I do not use the car for about 24 hours. I want to try your hack before I take it to the dealer. However, i am not tech inclined. Can you make the cable and sell it to me? Please let me know...this will save me some time trying to order and figure out how to...very much appreciate any assistance in getting the cable. LMK and I can send you email or contact. Thanks.

Interesting. Thanks. I have a 22 forester with a battery issue. Subaru just replaced it under warranty but it looks like that’s not the solution. Maybe with Starlink being discontinued this pinging has stopped?

Hey man, great video! It seems I also need to buy two mini fuse? Bc you said OEM is a micro size?

Pull the DCM fuse then put your ammeter across the fuse contacts to determine car-off DCM power consumption. Is a tiny fuse so this isn’t the easiest thing in the world.

2018 2.5 Touring Outback: I have the hatch open issue, but (touch wood) my car hasn’t drained when sitting for a long time. Any ideas why some do and some don’t?

It actually affects 2015-2019 models, at LEAST.

Hi I want to do this on my 2019 Wrx. Is this fuse locations the same as yours? #9 and #19. I bought the jumper wires but need to know which number fuses I need to do it on my specific vehicle.

How about make a loop into the cab and put on a toggle of and on,loop would have the fuse holder before the switch ? But this is manual way to do it Just concerned to keep it on its original circuit !

Well no wonder why my MySubaru app isn’t working. I don’t have the battery drain issue so I’m assuming the previous owner of my Legacy pulled the fuse.

@justagaragehack Really great video! Out of curiosity, why are you using the mini fuse taps as compared to OEM low-profile mini fuse taps?

I ordered the taps. Could you please explain how you fit the mini connectors of the taps into the fuse receptors that are for micro fuses? Is that okay to do? Seems kind of a poor fit when I tried.

the video shows (2) 7.5v fuses on the Add a Fuse but the link goes to amazon showing 15v fuses. should I use the 7.5v of the included 15 v fuses? Thanks for this.

I have a 2020 Ascent with the same DCM problem. DCM is 10a #5 fuse. Which could I jump it to that would work the same way? #15 is a 7.5a Aux, but I'm pretty sure it's already used. How do I find an empty slot that would work?

Disappointing Subaru did not own to this and initiated a Nationwide recall for DCMs. It damages their brand. I am already not very happy with the eyesight (had an accident at relatively low speed and eyesight did not even blink) now this nonsense about defective DCM draining batteries and leaving people stranded. That is a safety hazard. Maybe time to rethink Subaru for my next vehicle?