So, While Camping In My 2024 Subaru Outback In the Middle of Nowhere, I Left My Tailgate Open, and 2 Hours Later My Battery Is Dead 

What happens when you take a new Subaru Outback Wilderness on a camping trip and get off the grid?

Angelica (@earthy.ang) tells the story in her TikTok clip and recently purchased a 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness. She was excited to take the outdoor-themed model on a camping trip. It's why she bought the rugged off-road SUV. If you ask Subaru, they will tell you, too.  

Subaru says, "The Outback Wilderness is designed for a higher level of adventure. It's always ready to take on challenging terrain." This reassures buyers that the vehicle is up for the task

You've Seen the Ads

Imagine going into the Subaru dealer, knowing you want to buy an Outback Wilderness. It's the vehicle you've had your eye on because you are an outdoor enthusiast. It's the perfect vehicle for outdoor adventures, or so you think.

You love to go hiking, rock climbing, and camping. You've been camping but have never been able to go deep off the trail and get off the grid. With your new Outback Wilderness, you can go places you've never been before and see things you've never seen.

Now the Fun Begins

It's the ideal adventure vehicle to get you to that camping spot you've been researching, where no one will be around. You plan the trip with your best friend and are now ready for the ultimate camping excursion. 

Your ideal camping vehicle is perfect.

As you drive to your secluded destination, the Outback Wilderness is all it was touted to be. With its all-terrain tires and extra ground clearance, the vehicle gets you deep off the trail without any problem. 

You find a secluded spot off the trail, park your new Autumn Green Metallic Outback Wilderness on a level spot, open up the rear tailgate, and begin unloading your gear.

You set up your campsite with a portable table and begin making lunch because you are famished after the long drive. After lunch, you lower the rear seats, set up your air mattress inside the rear cargo area where you will sleep. 

Now you get inside and check out the incredible view as you lie with your feet at the back of the car. Life is good. It's everything you expected.

And then the unexpected happens. 

However, as the sun sets and light begins to fade, you turn on the dome light to get your gear put away. To your surprise, the light does not come on. You try to start the car, and your battery is dead. This unexpected turn of events can be a real downer on your camping trip. 

Now, you are far off the trail, and no one is around to help. Your fun camping trip is now not so fun. The Subaru salesperson didn't tell you that leaving the tailgate up would drain the battery. 

Let's hear what Angelica says now about her Outback Wilderness.

"We were in the middle of nowhere with no one around, and I left the tailgate open while we unpacked our gear. It never crossed our minds that having the tailgate open would be a problem, but now my car battery is dead. What’s a camping trip without a lesson learned?"

"You would think that because this is a car that's designed to be an adventure car, this would have been better designed by Subaru, but thankfully, now I found a hack thanks to this lesson learned."

"I found out that what drains the battery is the electrical stuff that controls the automated trunk opening/closing mechanism." 

What is The Hack That Angelica Found?

"With a carabiner, push it into the latch, and it will trick the car into thinking the trunk is closed." However, Angelica didn't find this out until she began researching the issue after returning home. 

"The whole time, we had a carabiner with us and didn't know until we got home and watched some YouTube videos." 

Does the Outback Wilderness have a battery drain issue? 

Leaving the 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness tailgate open can cause a battery drain. The vehicle's computer system, including the hatch's power window/door, needs power when the tailgate opens. If left open for an extended period, this can drain the battery. 

Here's why: 

• Computer System: The car's computer system needs to be on while the tailgate is open, and it will continue to draw power while the hatch is open.
• Timer: While the computer system does have a timer that shuts it down after a specific period, it resets every time the tailgate is opened.
• Power Draw: Even if the timer shuts down the system, the process of opening and closing the tailgate still involves drawing power from the battery.

Solutions:

• Close the tailgate: The most straightforward solution is to close the tailgate when not in use. 
• Carabiner Trick: Some owners use a carabiner trick to simulate the closed tailgate, which can help reduce battery drain when you need to keep it open. 
• Consider a Hatch Catch: Aftermarket hatch catch products are available that can also help prevent the battery drain. 
• Dealer Assistance: In some cases, a Subaru dealer can assist with troubleshooting or finding solutions to reduce the battery drain. 

What are Other Outback Wilderness Owners Saying? 

Let's hear from Jules, NorCal with Kids, Beepo, and Eva. They've all had similar experiences and have some advice to share.

Jules - "The same thing happened to me while camping when I had my Subaru!"

NorCal with Kids - "Get the Hatch Catch! That's what we use. I think Subaru should recall that, though. It's sooo annoying not being able to leave your trunk open!"

Beepo - "That such a strange oversight for a brand/model so heavily marketed towards outdoor activities. I feel like that's something that could've been easily caught in actual utility testing!"

Eva - "This happened to us while camping too.... had to get a jump start in the middle of the woods and the tow truck guy had the worst time finding us."

Reddit user Jheely99 says, "I have a '21 Outback XT with 15K miles on. Loving the car except for this one issue that just started happening. I'm an avid scuba diver, based in the PNW, where we have a lot of shore diving. You roll up to the beach and assemble/disassemble your diving kit on the tailgate of your car. Needless to say this involves a lot of time with the hatch open."

"Last week, I finished my dive and my buddies drove off. I start my car, and the battery is dead on a car with only 15K miles! Fortunately, one of my buddies had jumper cables, and I got them to return and get me started. I now have a set and have been trying to reproduce how the battery drain is happening consistently."

Conclusion

Leaving the Subaru Outback Wilderness’ rear tailgate open like Angelica for extended periods will drain the battery. Outdoor enthusiasts are resourceful and have figured out an easy fix to the problem. Some owners have used a carabiner trick to hold the hatch open and prevent the computer from recognizing the open state, effectively stopping the drain. 

However, because it's a known problem, you would think Subaru would devise a solution. 

It's Your Turn

Do you own a Subaru Outback or another model and use it to go camping? Tell us about your experiences with leaving the tailgate open. Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Price Is Right Car Winner story: “I Didn’t Want the Nissan Versa, So I Traded It For A Toyota RAV4, But Now My 'Free' Car Comes With A $400 a Month Payment”

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Angelica