Subaru Legacy Door Lock System Failure Fix Guide

Had a very similar issue with my 2006 Subaru Outback Diesel. This central locking problem is somewhat common in these models. After some basic troubleshooting, the workshop found the locking mechanism was getting signals, but the issue was with a faulty cable connection to the central locking control unit. The repair involved accessing the door panel and replacing some corroded wiring that connects to the keyless entry system. Total repair cost was 95€ including diagnostic and labor. The car locks have worked flawlessly since then. Before heading to a workshop, worth checking a few things: Battery voltage in your key fob, Fuses related to central locking, Try locking/unlocking all doors individually with mechanical key Could you share: current mileage? Have you noticed any other electrical issues? Does this happen with both key fobs? Any recent work done on doors or electrical system? This info would help determine if you are dealing with the same root cause. The door locks issue could be something simple like a loose connection or might need the control module replaced.

Last serviced at 61968 KM and having a similar door locks problem now. Tried all the suggested checks including both key fobs and fuse box inspection. Battery in both fobs is good and all fuses seem intact. The mechanical key works fine in all doors. No other electrical problems noticed and no recent work done on doors or electrical system. Definitely interested in checking those cable connections you mentioned since the symptoms match exactly. The central locking stopped working suddenly without warning. Could you share which specific wiring areas were corroded in your case? Also wondering if weather conditions played any role in the wiring deterioration.

Thanks for the additional details. In my case with the 2006 Outback, the main corrosion was found in the wiring harness between the driver door and the central locking control unit. This area is particularly vulnerable since it flexes each time the door opens and closes. The mechanic discovered the problem was worst where the wiring bundle passes through the rubber boot between the door and body. The security system would sometimes read the signal from the key fob but couldnt send the commands properly to the door locks due to the damaged wires. Weather definitely played a role, the corrosion was worse because water had gotten into the rubber boot area. The keyless entry system is sensitive to this kind of wiring damage. Your mileage is similar to what mine was when the issue occurred. Since your symptoms match exactly and the mechanical functions still work, Id strongly suspect the same wiring issue rather than a failing control module. When they repaired mine, they also applied some protective coating to prevent future corrosion of the central locking wires. The repair was straightforward once they identified the specific wire bundle causing the problem. Much cheaper than replacing the entire central locking module or keyless entry components.

Appreciate the detailed information about the wiring harness location. This matches what I was seeing with my vehicle remote locking issues. Very helpful to know about the common failure point in the rubber boot area, will definitely have the mechanic check there first. Going to book it in for repair next week and will make sure to mention the wiring corrosion between the driver door and central locking unit. Makes perfect sense that the constant door movement could cause wear in those cables. The fact that your repair was straightforward and relatively affordable is encouraging. Really valuable to know they can apply protective coating to prevent future issues with the car locks. Will ask about getting that done too. Good to hear this is likely just a wiring problem rather than needing a whole new control module for the security system. Thanks again for sharing your experience, saved me a lot of diagnostic guesswork and gave me a clear direction for the repair.