This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The software on starlink on Subaru has been a huge burden while driving or in parking mode.When driving the starlink will constantly connect and disconnect to phone.It constantly changing the music by itself.And the navigation system will input random addresses.Messing with my navigation and ability to concentrate.Ive tried many different things to not have this issue.Like turning off the whole radio itself but it turns it-??s self on and off there-??s been many times where I almost crashed due to this issue.Ive also contacted Subaru since this is a very big known issue.But they did not want to take responsibility the only solution they gave me was to pay $4,000 to change the starlink system.A service that is way out of my budget and something I should not have to pay for.
My car's belt had been screeching for a few weeks. I was planning on taking my car in the next day. When i turned my car off, all the electrical went out and it started smoking on the driver's side. I got my car towed to the nearest auto shop. They replaced the battery and belt and yet the electrical was still out. When they tested the fuse, the driver's mirror caught on fire and was smoking. Thank goodness I was not driving when this occurred as that could have been scary. They replaced the fuse, but now I can't auto up / down my window. When I reached out to Subaru, they wanted $200 just to inspect it and $1,000 for a mirror replacement. I told them the situation and they didn't care. I also emailed them and never received a response. I googled this issue and other Subaru cars have had this issue and noted water coming in the mirror so now I'm frightened to get a car wash. There was no warning light or anything unfamiliar.
During regular use of the radio and head unit, at times the touch screen or controls, dials, buttons will be unresponsive. The Android Auto software tends to malfunction and will randomly disconnect and the audio will blast, full volume at the driver with the inability to control the volume other than to pull over and turn the vehicle off or manually power down the radio. This has happened on several occasions and with young children in the car, it can damage hearing, cause traumatic injury OR if in motion the driver can become quickly surprised or distracted and jerk the steering wheel or react to the jump in sound level that could injury passengers, or other vehicles occupied that may be nearby. This seems to be an issue with the inability to control sound level between different modes. At times though, the car will start and the radio will be blank, or be unresponsive until the car is turned off and back on again.
8 inch Starlink Multimedia System screen delamination causing display for backup camera to not be displayed clearly along with irratic behavior of Starlink system.
The entire radio screen is delaminating. The dealer said it needed updated. They said they updated it. And a new screen would be about $3,000. As you can see in the picture the screen is very bubbled. It is almost completely inoperable. The top right hand side has a button that keeps popping on and off. It is very audible and is distracting to the point of being undeliverable. The only way to stop the constant beep, boop, beep, beep, beep, boop, beep, boop, beep, book, beep, boop. Is by pushing on the screen WHILE DRIVING!
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the headlights failed to illuminate, and the rearview camera was intermittently flashing and displaying a blank image. The contact stated that on various occasions when the vehicle was parked, the parking brake failed to activate as needed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the head unit software needed to be updated; however, the part for the repair was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired and occasionally failed to start. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V935000 (Visibility) or Number: 18V626000 (Parking Brake). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,191.
Subaru battery drainage defect. CAN electrical system causing battery to drain when car isn't running. Car may unknowingly not start at any time battery could be dead. Just put new battery in 1 year ago this did not fix the issue. I shouldn't have to worry about being stranded with my child if my car doesn't start due to a known battery issue.
I forgot to add a item to my issue with the battery change - With changing the battery items acted odd in the vehicle - window issue with windows not working and Radio issues in which the car would randomly start controlling the electronic features of the phone, radio, cd player and maps. Car will randomly beep as to act like someone is touching the screen, it will also change radio channels, turn on CD make random calls to people on my contact list, providing mapping - it's as if it is possessed. Tried to make attempts to get it into the dealer - first appointment failed as it conflicted with something else. Now I can't get the vehicle in until October per them.
Battery Fail on 2018 Legacy Sport Model. No warning or indication. Went in the car evening of July 17, 2022. Vehicle was not responsive to starting - battery dead Had to go to 3rd party and obtain a battery as it was the weekend - had no other form of transportation. Had not indication there was in-fact an issue with Subaru and their batteries draining vehicles leaving cars stranded. When I called the Subaru Dealer in regards - this information was not volunteered.
Window on right passenger door doesn't stay up when we close the window with the power window button. Sometimes at night the eyesight system turns off. At times the radio entertainment system doesn't want to work.
This vehicle currently has about 55,000 miles on it. I recently had to replace the battery which seems premature for a vehicle just over three years old (at 48865 miles). I have recently been made aware that it is alleged that this Subaru model is defective in such a way to precipitate early battery failure. I want my experience added to that of others. I have documentation of this battery replacement which I could supply upon request.
P014A error code. Started car and was about 1/8 mile away from home driving at 40 mph on country road, and all the lights came on the dash (check engine, eyesight off warning light, battery, oil, etc...). immediately turned around and went home. My obdii scanner said P014A error. I reset the code. Called dealer to see if it was safe to drive and drop off (30 miles away) and they said yes. They then said if they cannot read the code they cannot do anything about it (because I reset it and it is not historically saved in the car). The code happed Aug 17, 2020 has not appear again as of Sept 22, 2020. I don't know if they are related, but I have been having very strange problems with the radio volume since then. I've rotated the heat dial and it's turned the radio volume up / down, started the car and the volume is at maximum (after quickly turned the volume to zero, turned it to one is accpetable and 2 is way too loud).
My vehicle is having issues with the factory battery, the vehicle is having issues starting. The dealership is going to replace the battery, its less then three years old a D out of warranty by miles.
While exiting off highway, the can unexpectedly shut off nearly causing a wreck. Car would not restart. The entertainment screen remained working the entire time. The instrument cluster went black and remained this way. Automatic windows, entertainment screen, radio all worked but car would not start. A similar issue had happened two weeks ago but we were not driving... the car would not start and a master Subaru tech looked at car and they said nothing was wrong with it.. obviously they were wrong. Very disappointed in Subaru. This is a very dangerous issue.
My Subaru starlink infotainment system has experienced 5 events of total blackout to the infotainment screen over the 9-month period since purchasing. This has resulted in loss of functionality to the phone, bluetooth, radio and backup camera capabilities. Safety was the number one reason why I chose this car (backup camera, lane departure assist, adaptive cruise control). To know that roughly 30% of all minor vehicle accidents occur due to backup-related issues, it scares me that my car is not protecting me from this potential risk. Not only is this a risk to basic safety principles, but it also makes my everyday travel chaotic and stressful. I drive for up to 2-3 hours at a time, and to have zero access to basic fm radio, siriusxm radio, bluetooth-connected podcasts / E-books makes focusing difficult. Additionally, with no bluetooth phone connection available, I am forced to hold my phone while driving, taking one of my hands off the wheel, and distracting me from focusing on driving. It's absurd to me that this issue has been raised by hundreds of Subaru owners across multiple model vehicles, and it has not been addressed. If, god forbid, something was to happen to me or my wife while driving this car due to an issue that Subaru knew about, I don't know what I would do. To make matters worse, I was just informed after 2 hours in the service waiting area that the Subaru-issued software update will not fix the issue, and I have to come back in 2-3 weeks after the dealership receives a completely new radio display board system for install. When there is something safety-related at hand, and the company in question makes no escalated effort to expedite the solution, it heightens my concern with the company's commitment to safety. This situation is frustrating, yes; but more than anything, it questions whether or not I am best protected within the confines of a Subaru.
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 18V773000 (electrical system) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. The contact received the recall notification in November of 2018. Prestige Subaru (4271 E black horse pike, turnersville, NJ) stated that the parts were not available for the repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact stated that the fuel gauge displayed that the vehicle had 40 miles left. After the contact drove 10 mph, it ran out of fuel. Parts distribution disconnect.
On the dashboard showed that the remain mileage was 70, but it stopped all the sudden due to no gas. I almost caused an accident because the car stopped on a public street with heavy traffic. After many times trying to start the car, it did not work; it was completely dead. I had to leave the car stranded to go and get gas to the nearest gas station.
The radio/navigation screen went blank. The rear view camera, navigation, stereo. Etc. No longer work. I took the car to the dealer today and was told the radio head needs replaced. Problem is they are on national back order and no one can say how long it will take to get it. This is a major safety issue because back up camera no longer works and cross traffic warning no longer works and the navigation no longer works.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ramona, CA, USA