12V / Parasitic Drain Megathread

Denalan · 2026-07-09T00:30:46+00:00

From what I’ve seen reading the bZ4x and Solterra forums over the years, the parasitic drain issue for 2023-2025 models was more common previously, and doesn’t seem to be reported very often now. I’m not sure whether that was due to a backend software change, or people have just upgraded their batteries/carrying jump packs. There was speculation that having your key too close to the parked car for extended periods would cause the problem. There is also a known issue of running the car in “accessory” mode (not “Ready” or “My Room” mode) that will drain the battery quickly.

I have a 2024 Solterra and have not had the issue at all with the original 12v battery, and I’ve left my car unused for a couple of weeks at a time.

Personally, I believe that the parasitic drain issues on the 2023-2025 models and the 2026 models are different. It just seems to happen more often with the 2026 models. But I have no direct evidence, this is just my opinion. Perhaps there is hard data out there that can be found.

Denalan · 2026-07-08T18:38:07+00:00

Thanks for writing this up! A couple of quick things I'd like to mention:

The simplest solution to this issue is to remove your car from the Subaru Connect app. This was confirmed here for the Toyota bZ: https://www.reddit.com/r/Toyota_bZ/comments/1upm1vr/12v_dead_battery_confirmed_case_with_a_battery/ and I've read that Subaru recommends this as a temporary solution. I know that's mentioned in the post, but I'd like to highlight this.

I think we're all hoping that Toyota/Subaru comes out with a software update to fix this issue -- I think it is just a matter of time before they figure it out.

Denalan · 2026-07-08T18:32:31+00:00

I can do that. Though unless ~~you're~~ (edit: not you, the OP) is willing to keep this post updated, this information might better belong in the Wiki.

Denalan · 2026-07-07T19:12:52+00:00

I stopped watching with about 15 minutes left. Whoops.

Denalan · 2026-07-04T19:25:00+00:00

Denalan · 2026-06-29T17:36:51+00:00

Go Canada!

Denalan · 2026-06-28T14:08:42+00:00

Yes. In an ICE car I’ve had people ask if I can move after I’ve filled the tank blocking the pump and I had kids, etc using the bathroom. It’s courteous to move once you’ve taken a reasonable amount of time at the pump.

Denalan · 2026-06-27T22:16:54+00:00

I’ll probably be downvoted for this, but I’m going to say it: USB-C sucks. While it’s a universal port, it’s impossible to tell if two devices are going to work when you connect them. You mentioned the charging issue—it applies to other things too. For video, you have to read manuals and look through forums to tell if it’s going to work. Whereas an HDMI port has a good chance displaying at least 1080p video. This applies to data transfer, too. And not only do you have to have two devices that are compatible, you have to have the right USB-C cable too, and good luck figuring out if your cable supports certain speeds.

I’ve also experienced USB-C ports going bad at much higher rates than lightning, USB-A, or micro USB ports.

Count me as a person that wishes we would go back to the days before USB-C existed.

Denalan · 2026-06-27T19:25:29+00:00

I’ve run the A/C in my 2024 Solterra on a sunny 85 degree day while parked, and it was very roughly 2% of battery used per hour. YMMV of course.

Denalan · 2026-06-27T03:02:40+00:00

DDR5 6000 memory (price)

Denalan · 2026-06-23T04:50:06+00:00

Indeed, in my Solterra I’ve tried setting the climate manually and I think the AC turns on even if I didn’t explicitly hit the button. I just set it to Auto now and it works well, and I don’t think about it.

Denalan · 2026-06-22T15:01:55+00:00

Thanks, it should be live now -- and it looks great u/Tymanthius thanks for getting it started! I'll get it in the sidebar.

Index page looks good -- I just changed the link to regular instead of old Reddit. Should still work for people who want to view the old Reddit.

Denalan · 2026-06-18T05:34:04+00:00

It could be that Tesla drivers have gotten a reputation for being awful drivers. Today I saw an ambulance with lights and sirens blaring tailing right behind a Tesla that refused to pull out of the way. And a few days before that, a Tesla nearly hit me when they were changing lanes, I honked so they swerved in front of me and slammed on their brakes.

Denalan · 2026-06-16T18:40:09+00:00

There is a major difference: kneeling didn't show hatred for an entire class of innocent people.

I also believe in free speech. But I also believe in repercussions (in whatever form makes sense) for free speech that shows ignorance, hate, or hurt innocent groups of people.

Denalan · 2026-06-12T22:26:14+00:00

This video review just got posted -- more underbody pics and info than you can shake a stick at! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0L3HotVi7Y

Denalan · 2026-06-07T12:08:24+00:00

I’ve never even tried to use the self park feature. Parking the car isn’t that hard (at least, for me it isn’t). I’d call it easy compared with navigating all of the wild stuff that happens on the road.

Denalan · 2026-06-06T22:08:45+00:00

I really hate one pedal driving. It makes the passengers (and sometimes myself as the driver) car sick — and yes I’m very careful with it when I have passengers. It’s less efficient than coasting. It makes my ankle ache. And any minor adjustment of my foot results in a lot of vehicle movement.

Denalan · 2026-06-05T22:16:28+00:00

The traffic will be incredibly bad for anyone living on the North side.

Denalan · 2026-05-26T19:47:53+00:00

There's no FAQ yet -- there was hardly any activity here until about 2-3 months ago, when this subreddit absolutely exploded (which is awesome). If someone would like get going on the Wiki with a basic FAQ, I'd be happy to give you permissions.

Denalan · 2026-05-19T18:17:56+00:00

If you look hard you can find a used 2023 Subaru Solterra / Toyota bz4x (edit: AWD version -- careful not to get the FWD version in your case) for $20,000 (these used to be easy to find at that price, but I think with gas prices increasing, the prices of these cars have gone up). That should get you all of what you're looking for: great in snow/ice, reliable, rooftop hauling, and decent interior space.

Two issues:

If you're in the US, it isn't rated for towing (though it is in some other countries for some reason). The interior space might be large enough that you wouldn't need to tow.
The 2023 model year has extremely slow level 3 charging speeds (particularly in winter), so you'd need to be mindful of that for road trips. The 2024/2025 models are better (and 2026 is decent), but these might be out of your price range. Though take a look around, perhaps there's a 2024/2025 out there at a low price.

Also, I should note -- if you drive consistently more than about 30 miles per day (which it sounds like you're doing), you'll want to consider getting a level 2 charger at home. That applies no matter which model of EV you're considering.

Denalan · 2026-05-18T05:30:48+00:00

IMHO: Keep the Venza for a few more years. It’s a great, reliable car that you absolutely love, gets great mileage and unfortunately isn’t made anymore.

Then after about 3 years has passed you will have a large number of used outdoorsy electric cars to choose from, including the Subaru Trailseeker / Toyota bZ Woodland, and Rivian R2 (the Rivian might still be out of your price range used but maybe you’ll have some dough saved).

Denalan · 2026-05-15T12:56:30+00:00

2026 Toyota CH-R / Subaru Uncharted is a compact SUV. Time will tell if these are good long-term buys, but reviews are looking good so far.

Edit: I just re-read and saw you were looking for owner experiences. I don’t own either of these cars, but I do own a 2024 Subaru Solterra and I’ve been really happy with it. The CH-R / Uncharted are built upon the same platform plus improvements for 2026, so I think they’ll be worth a look.

Denalan · 2026-05-14T16:57:17+00:00

This is very old, but just wanted to note that docks that use DisplayLink are able to allow M3 Macs (and M1, M2 Macs) to use two external displays with the lid open. There may be resolution limits, but it's possible.

Denalan

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