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Subaru Slapped With Another Lawsuit; Have You Had Starlink Problems?

2018 could be described as the year of the lawsuit for Subaru. They are slapped with another one. See what they are being sued for now.
2019 Subaru Outback, Crosstrek, Subaru lawsuit, Starlink issues

Subaru gets slapped with another lawsuit and this one doesn’t involve the Subaru Boxer engine. This one involves their Subaru Starlink infotainment system in the 2018 Subaru Outback, 2018 Crosstrek, 2017-2018 Impreza, 2018 Legacy, and 2018 BRZ.

Subaru’s Starlink offers a suite of onboard technology bringing multimedia content with smartphone connectivity, navigation, and extra safety to Subaru vehicles. A driver can use the Starlink system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth. The technology also includes the screen for the backup camera, controls for the radio and audio system.

According to a report from carcomplaints.com, the new lawsuit alleges the Subaru Starlink infotainment systems “freeze and malfunction because the head units fail, and updates offered by the automaker have allegedly failed to fix the systems.” The Starlink systems consist of Harman Gen 3 audio and navigation head units, and the lawsuit alleges it's the head units that create safety concerns for Subaru drivers.

The plaintiff, Chad Udeen, from Tennessee, represented by Chimicles & Tikellis, and J. Llewellyn Mathews, says shortly after he leased his new 2018 Subaru Outback, he began experiencing problems with the Starlink system. Udeen claims the screen went blank multiple times and continued to get worse until the head unit failed in April 2018. After multiple trips to the Subaru dealer, and having the head unit replaced, his problem was still not fixed.

10 alleged Starlink problems

The lawsuit alleges there are 10 problems with Starlink including the backup camera freezing/or shutdowns, loss of audio functions, complete system lockup, display shutoff, inability to shut radio/audio off or turn high volume level down when backing up, radio comes on at high volume when the car is turned on, smartphone favorites aren’t saved, audio/radio functioning is erratic, touchscreen controls are unresponsive, and Bluetooth connectivity issues.

Even though Subaru has issued at least two Starlink software updates to fix the head units, the lawsuit claims some customers weren't helped much by the updates or by technical service bulletins (TSBs) issued by Subaru to dealerships. The lawsuit also says new TSBs are supposed to be sent in July 2019 to correct the problem because the past updates have failed to work on the 2018 Subaru Outback, 2018 Crosstrek, 2017-2018 Impreza, 2018 Legacy, and 2018 BRZ. You can go here to check on any current Subaru recalls for your vehicle.

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Photo credit: Subaru USA

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Comments

Tom Jaklich (not verified)    August 6, 2020 - 1:01PM

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I just purchased a 2020 Legacy XT in July. It went into the shop for four different minor issues with the head unit. Three were fixed but the fourth one nobody can figure out. On page 90 of the STARLINK supplement manual for Outback Legacy it shows several enhancements to the audio system like Virtual Bass. None of these show up on the head unit. Dealer was no help. Called customer service and they gave me another number to call which was no help. Called STARLINK and they went to the same page and couldn’t figure it out. Any ideas?

Marilyn Micknowski (not verified)    July 18, 2020 - 2:39PM

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my 2018 Crosstrek radio and rear backup camera display suddenly stopped working on 7/17/20! I bought the car new from dealer. I just took it in to dealer at the end of last year for a chip recall that could shut car off at anytime for no reason. They updated that, no charge. This is the first problem I've personally had with my car. Now I find out there's a lawsuit against starlink? First they stop making them with CD players because Bluetooth is the way to go! Now this?! I read that this lawsuit started because a woman with her baby was in a car accident in the middle of nowhere and she couldn't summon help with starlink nor her cell! I got this car for the navigation system and backup camera and lane departure! Now none of it works! Including the radio?! Service department said, "don't know what to tell you, bring in to get looked at." WTF?!

Donna Chadwick (not verified)    July 18, 2020 - 10:12PM

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My star link radio started to flicker then reboot continually turn on turn off turn on turn off I could not even manually shut it off it’s still doing that even though in service they said they fixed it this is a nightmare over 2018 cross treck

James Culmone (not verified)    August 5, 2020 - 6:22PM

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I love my 2020 Crosstrek BUT I would NEVER recommend a Subaru to a friend because of the 'infotainment' system!
Starlink is a MESS, remote start app on my iphone is the worst software I've ever seen. My biggest complaint is any time I adjust the volume the whole 8 inch screen goes black and I get an annoying circle in the middle. At night this brightness level change is actually dangerous. Most cars have a little bar at the top or bottom or nothing, I know I'm changing the volume!! I would love to talk to someone from Subaru who actually cares. SAD that such a nice vehicle has such a BAD 'infotainment' system!

Jimmie Brown (not verified)    November 19, 2020 - 12:46PM

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My 2018 outback Starlite system failed almost as soon as I bought the car and the head replaced. Now with 30k miles it is again intermittently failing. I am setting at the dealer, Larry Miller

Jeanne Ratchford (not verified)    December 15, 2020 - 4:15PM

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Love my CrossTrek - HATE the Infotainment system. It intermittently works and takes forever to link to my phone after plugging and unplugging several times. If your car is in reverse, forgetaboutit! Sad that such a great car has such a major flaw!

Ashley Tonella (not verified)    December 28, 2020 - 5:55PM

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I own a 2019 cross trek. Same issues. brought it in for them to repair and said they replaced it only to be in a worse situation that before. My head unit would bug out from time to time. Working on and off, brought it in for repair. They replaced it. But now it wont work at all. They told me to contact my phone company and try and place blame on them instead of taking responsibility for it. I hate Subaru. I have had so many more problems then just the head unit. I have had 5 transmission replacements on my brand new car. sway bar bolts missing. the list goes on and on.

Denise McMichael (not verified)    January 28, 2021 - 2:08PM

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I have a 2021 Crosstrek. It has been in the shop 3 times in the past 2 months for a radio malefunction. The radio has been changed and I am still having problems. The dealership has had my car for a week and they still cant solve the problem. I don't know what to do. The car is brand new and already having problems.

Jordan (not verified)    April 26, 2021 - 2:06PM

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We had a 2020 Outback and took it into the dealer for updates/servicing to try and fix the problem of the screen completely blacking out, shutting down/restarting multiple times a day. After the SIXTH attempt and Subaru not being able to solve the problem (and keeping my car for days at a time), I drove across the street to the Honda dealer and traded it for a Honda Passport.

It's all fine and well (although inconvenient) when your car is under warranty, but what happens when that expires and the problem still isn't solved. Good luck to you. I know just how frustrating this is.

Mark Floan (not verified)    February 15, 2021 - 6:18PM

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2021 Outback - there have been a couple of instances where my radio didn't come on. When I look at SiriusXM it looks like it is scanning channels but no sound. Next time I start the car, everything is good. Also numerous instances of the sound cutting out, even when there are no obstructions around. Most annoying though is that when I start the car (and the station that was previously playing come on) and I press the channel button on the steering wheel, the channel automatically jumps to the last preset channel. For example, I have 18 presets and am listening to preset 6 and press the channel select button, the radio jumps to channel 18. Weird. My 2015 Outback was fine, never a problem.

Gail (not verified)    May 5, 2021 - 10:11PM

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My 2106 Subaru Audio Unit has no function and is completely gone. I took to the dealership and they have just told me that they will pay 40% towards having it repaired and I will be out of pocket $1012.50 to have it completed. Not happy here, I bought the car in 2017 and I don’t think I should have to pay such a huge expense for an obviously big ongoing problem with their audio units. Maybe fair trading can help with this one.

Larry (not verified)    June 6, 2021 - 8:42PM

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My 2020 Legacy has the same set of problems with the Infotainment center going blank while mid-trip, or failing to light up or emit sound upon starting the ignition. The problem is that it is intermittent and occurs at random times. I took it to the stealership and got the brush-off. They said that since they couldn't replicate the problem, they can't replace or fix it. Worthless!

brian krzyzaniak (not verified)    October 31, 2021 - 11:01PM

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sept 02-2021 subaru of saskatoon (in Canada) installed FIFTH radio into my 2018 crosstrek >> BY sept 04-2021 this newly installed radio was Acting Up Already > I talked to subaru-canada about radio problem BECAUSE after 4 years of WASTING MY TIME at local dealer,, I don't want to waste any more of my time dealing with local yokels because they Don't Have A CLUE > Subaru-canada said they would investigate "further" BUT as of Oct-31-2021 (56 days) I have not heard back from them >> GUESSING just another Typical subaru RUNAROUND

Sheryl Woods (not verified)    August 11, 2024 - 8:42PM

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I have a 2018 Subaru Outback with starlink problems. First started out with a few bubbles on the screen. Annoying mostly. Then they started spreading, when I called Subaru they told me it was my fault. I must have sprayed it with fluid. Not their problem. I didn't spray it with anything to clean it, just a dry cloth. It is so bad now I cannot connect my phone to it, or for that matter I have to turn the unit off because it is annoying and a distraction. If I have it turned on it skips from app to app playing Morris code every second. I have looked to see if there are any recalls, and there is not. I have read that others have replaced there unit only to have it happen again and paying over a $1000. out of their own pocket.
I have had engine problems as well, just got it out of the shop costing $5,000. for an oil leak. I guess 2018 wasn't the best year to buy a subaru.