Subaru Keyless Access Failure, Battery or Bigger Issue

As someone with some hands-on experience with electronic key issues, I had a very similar problem with my 2013 Subaru Outback last winter. The symptoms matched yours exactly, inconsistent unlocking and keyless entry problems. The low battery warning was the first clear sign. I initially tried a DIY battery replacement in the auto key, which cost 37€ at an auto parts store. The electronic key uses a CR2032 battery, and replacing it solved all issues completely. The whole process took about 10 minutes. Key points from my experience: Get quality batteries from a reliable source, Clean the battery contacts when replacing, Test all functions after replacement, Keep the spare key ready during replacement To help you further, could you confirm: Have you checked both key fobs if you have a spare? Does the problem occur more in cold weather? Are there any other electrical issues with the car? When was the last battery replacement for the key? A battery replacement should fix these symptoms, but knowing these details would help rule out other potential issues with the keyless entry system.

Last key fob battery change was done during my 140920 KM service last month. I tried both keys, same problem with each. After checking the forums, it seems several other owners had similar dead key symptoms. The key battery is definitely new, so I am thinking there might be an issue with the receiver module or door sensors. Has anyone had success fixing similar problems by cleaning the door sensors or checking the wiring harness? The main frustration is the inconsistent behavior, sometimes the keyless entry works fine, other times not at all.

Thanks for the additional details. Since you already replaced the key battery during recent service and both fobs show the same symptoms, this points to a system issue rather than a low voltage problem in the keys themselves. On my Outback, I encountered similar inconsistent behavior after confirming the electronic key batteries were good. The fix involved: 1. Cleaning the door handle sensors with electrical contact cleaner 2. Checking and reseating the wiring connections at the door handles 3. Testing the voltage at the receiver module under the dashboard The culprit turned out to be corroded connections at one door handle sensor. After cleaning and applying dielectric grease, the keyless system worked reliably again. Total repair cost was about 15€ for supplies. A quick test you can try: Stand close to each door handle individually and try the keyless entry. If it works better at some doors than others, this suggests a door sensor issue rather than a central receiver problem. Before visiting a workshop, check: Door handle sensors for dirt buildup, Wiring connections at door handles for damage, Battery voltage (low car battery can affect keyless systems), Receiver module connector under dash for loose pins If cleaning and connection checks dont help, the receiver module may need diagnosis with proper scan tools.

Based on this information and my symptoms, I will try cleaning the door sensors and checking the connections first. The inconsistent behavior between different doors makes sense now, probably explains why it sometimes works and other times doesnt. Will get some electrical contact cleaner and dielectric grease to clean those sensors and connections this weekend. Really good to know about checking individual doors to narrow down the problem. My rear passenger door seems more responsive than the others, which fits with your suggestion about sensor issues. Also smart to check the car battery voltage since all these electronics depend on stable power. If the cleaning and connection checks dont fix it, I will have the receiver module checked professionally. At least now I know what to ask them to look at specifically rather than going in blind. Better to try these basic fixes first before spending money on workshop diagnostics. Thanks for walking through the troubleshooting steps. Having a clear plan makes this much less frustrating to deal with.