Sounds like a possible ground issue, or ECU. i agree with the comments made above.
FYI they might have already changed the ECU because you mentioned that they had to update the instrument cluster. if they did replace the ECU then the dealer had to take the odometer reading from your previous ecu and then program it in to the new one. this is what tuners do to turn back their mileage, subaru just did it legally with out turning back your mileage.
or maybe for some extra cash they would lol.JK
all seriousness this is a big problem and odometers are being turned back alot. odometer readings is what we all use to help asses value of a vehicle, so to turn back an odometer is not just fraud but theft. Kbb would tell you that one car with less miles, is worth more, then the same with less miles.
i wish that your dealer is as detailed as mine with their repair order writing.
I think you should go back this week and speak with the service manager and get a very detailed account of what they did and write it down on the repair order they gave you when you accepted the car back. its your car and there should be no voodoo. you should be fully aware of what they do to your property. you never know what may come down the road and an educated consumer is always going to do better.
since they "updated" the cluster and possibly replaced the ecu they have to carefully and methodically document everything, so that they would not be accused of rolling back odometers. this entire area we are talking about, is high regulated and controlled by state laws and then more stringently by Subaru corporate policy.
OK, I took the car in this morning and noted the following as there's a few more symptoms since my initial post:
1. TPMS light always on, it's not blinking like it did back in July when it went out the first time.
2. Neither key fobs are working.
3. Back lift gate is not opening whether from the button in the front driver's area or the actual button on the back of the car. No lights, beeps or anything.
4. The car alarm goes off when unlocking the door and opening manually since the key fobs are out.
5. The digital MPH gauge box that's on the drivers screen is out, the buttons to the bottom left of the steering wheel do not turn it on as usual.
6. Cannot control the passenger side window from the driver side but the switch on the actual passenger side door is working.
The service guy said #6 happens when the battery is disconnected and to reset the window you have to press and hold down the window switch on the passenger side door and continue to hold for 5-10 seconds after it was all the way down, then hold up and continue to hold for 5-10 seconds after it's already up. It should make a clicking sound.
Anyway, they diagnosed it as a bad TPMS module again on the spot and gave me a loaner Outback for the weekend since they won't get another one in until Monday. I'm not holding my breath though because they spent more time trying to upsell me an oil change, tire rotation, throttle body service and an "ethanol treatment service". I lol'd and said I changed my oil/rotated tires myself less than 2 months ago and I always update the date/mileage in the maintenance screen which they obviously didn't check. Also the car has less than 15k miles on it and I often fill it at an ethanol-free gas station so just fix the core issue since it's under warranty. I told them to please put a note in the system to not upsell me on any more BS especially when you haven't even brought it in the back and inspected it yet.
Anyway, I'll update the post again on Monday when they put in the new module. The last one lasted 6 months so we'll see what this new ones does...
I just read this. you have a faulty Body Control Module. it links all these things together. BTW they sometimes fail after a dead battery or a battery with charge but it cant start the car.
Update: What was supposed to be a 20 minute job done the same day, I finally got my car back today after 5 days. I had fun driving the 19' Outback loaner vehicle but glad to have the Forester back. I won't go in to too many details and I really should file a claim with SOA with the amount of BS I went through with the dealership (one guy would call and lie to me, then an hour later a different guy would call and tell me the complete opposite lie not realizing the guy sitting next time had called me an hour early trying to BS me about something else). Oh, and I was told it was done on Monday so I went to pick it up and NOPE, "sorry for the confusion" so I went back Tuesday when they said it was done and the guy said, "2 more hours" so 2 hours later they said "it'll be done tomorrow". Finally when I went this morning it actually was ready but they also replaced the engine air filter for some reason and wanted to charge me $47 even though I told them multiple times to ONLY do the warranty work related to the TPMS issue so I rejected that.
Anyway, they had to replace the TPMS module (again so this is my third one) as well as the Keyless Module and also had to do firmware updates on the infotainment system as well as the instrument cluster (I didn't know the cluster even had software updates?). So everything is working (for now). Last time, back in July, they ONLY replaced the TPMS module and not the keyless board so maybe it was the culprit this time?
FYI they up-sale you because they make very little on warranty work. all those other services is where the dealer and the tech make real money. just think of it as going to new york city and being frustrated, every time your there, that some guy on the street asks you for money. its just the way things are, just politely say no and keep moving forward.
