Subaru of America is hit with another class action lawsuit involving its Starlink multimedia system. A new report from Top Class Actions says Subaru vehicles equipped with the allegedly defective Starlink infotainment system now include the 2019-2023 Subaru Outback, 2019-2023 Forester, 2019-2023 WRX, and 2019-2023 Legacy vehicles, according to the new Subaru Starlink lawsuit.
Previously in 2020, Subaru of America settled a lawsuit concerning its Starlink multimedia system involving the 2018 Subaru Forester, 2018 Subaru Outback, 2018 Crosstrek, 2018 Legacy, 2017-2018 Impreza, and 2018 BRZ. A New Jersey Judge signed an order valued at $6.25 million benefiting 785,000 Subaru owners and lessees.
This month, attorneys Andrew W. Ferich, Robert R. Ahdoot, and Bradley K. King of Ahdoot & Wolfson, PC filed the lawsuit against Subaru, claiming the automaker is guilty of “unjust enrichment, common law fraud, and fraudulent concealment, and of violating the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act and New York General Business Law, among other things.”
Plaintiffs Marco Cillufo (2021 Subaru WRX), Jeffrey Quarles (2019 Subaru Forester), Pamela Doze (2022 Subaru Outback), and Carl Jean-Louis (2019 Subaru WRX) claim the allegedly defective Subaru Starlink system presents a safety risk for drivers of the 2019-2023 Subaru Outback, Forester, WRX, and Legacy vehicles by disabling safety features and presenting drivers with “distracting and frustrating” effects.
The Subaru Starlink head units involved in the previous class action were Harman Gen 3 audio and navigation head units. However, Subaru recently switched to Starlink head units built by Denso.
According to the new class action lawsuit, the Subaru multimedia system problems can only be fixed by replacing the display screen. According to the new class action lawsuit, the Subaru multimedia system problems can only be fixed by replacing the display screen. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges replacement Starlink head units fail because they are as defective as the originals.
The new Subaru Starlink lawsuit also says Subaru was aware of the alleged defect based on “related service bulletins” because it conducted pre-release vehicle testing, and the suspected deficiency “manifests so quickly.”
In addition to the Starlink system issue of rebooting and other malfunctions, the lawsuit alleges the automaker’s EyeSight driver assist safety technology can fail. The new class action further alleges Subaru knew about the multimedia system problems because the automaker settled a previous Starlink class action lawsuit.
The report says plaintiffs Cillufo, Quarles, Doze, and Jean-Louis “are demanding a jury trial and requesting injunctive relief along with an award of punitive damages for themselves and all class members.”
What can Subaru owners do?
If you are experiencing problems with your Subaru Starlink system in your 2019-2023 Subaru Outback, Forester, WRX, or Legacy, take your vehicle to a Subaru retailer. The Starlink equipment is covered under the new vehicle warranty of 3 years/36,000 miles. Stay tuned, and we will bring Subaru customers any further information on the Subaru Starlink lawsuit.
If you have purchased or leased a Subaru vehicle equipped with a Starlink multimedia system and believe it is defective, let us know in the comment section.
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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Comments
My 2021 Legacy Screen keeps…
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My 2021 Legacy Screen keeps rebooting and I can't control anything on the screen (A/C, Radio, Nav, Safety Features, and everything else on the screen). Please help! My vehicle is out of warranty. My screen was acting up when I first got the vehicle, it would turn off and on or play the radio on full blast out of nowhere. I took it to a dealer about it and they ran a test on it and said nothing was wrong with it (while in warranty) and now it doesn't work at all with it being out of warranty. What a Scam!
2019 Subaru Crosstrek My…
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2019 Subaru Crosstrek
My multimedia system has been having problems for months. It started out as just the display every so often resetting itself. It now resets itself over and over again to the point where it never fully turns on. The audio in my car has now stopped working. The backup camera still works 100% of the time, so I know it’s not an actual screen issue. It seems to happen whenever my car has been on, so after the engine gets hot. Subaru dealership did a software update and said if it doesn’t fix it that they’ll need to replace the entire thing.
I purchased 2024 Subaru…
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I purchased 2024 Subaru Forester in January, 2024. It doesn’t even have 3,000 miles yet and the StarLink/EyeSight System is already starting to have problems. I’m really concerned now by what I’m reading in several places.
I have a 2019 Subaru Outback…
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I have a 2019 Subaru Outback that has bubbles inside the touch screen. It started in 2022 or 2023 and has gotten worse.
I have a 2019 Subaru Outback…
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I have a 2019 Subaru Outback That has been having random problems with the navigation system, X mode and eyesight not working properly or unresposive. The Navigations screen might freeze and/or flashing on and off.
My 2019 Subaru Outback…
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My 2019 Subaru Outback Starlink multimedia system is annoying as heck and cannot be used due to the ghost touching. I am so frustrated and disappointed about this. It makes it very hard to drive and extremely distracting. Not to mention that I cannot even use the radio or car play. Which was one of the features I required in a vehicle. I was going to hand down this vehicle to my new driving teenage daughter, but now I do not trust it to keep her safe. SHAME on you Subaru.
2019 Outback Bubbles under…
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2019 Outback
Bubbles under the screen, constantly changing source, messes with settings and options, does not react to touch/unable to use the touch screen
2022 Impreza with recurring…
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2022 Impreza with recurring Starlink issues, only about 26,000 miles on it, but nearing 36-month warranty cutoff . Screen goes black, radio stations changing randomly, screen freezes, volume doesn't come on sometimes on a CD song until I forward to the next song, extremely loud static-ey sound from psgr side speaker one time (even though I never have volume up nearly that high). Have had it in twice and was given the software update "fix". Had no idea that it was such a prevalent problem for so many, for so long now. Have not seen any Imprezas listed yet, although my understanding is that they are essentially the same as the Crosstreks, just with lower body clearance. Just wanted to put it out there that at least one 2022 Impreza is having the same problems with Starlink, and it's not getting fixed with the software updates. Staff at the dealership are great at giving no indication that this is not the first time they are dealing with these issues, I'm sure....
In May I purchased a…
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In May I purchased a slightly used 2023 Subaru Outback Onyx edition, wanting to give Subaru another chance after the headaches I had with a well-used 2020 OB with head gaskets needing changed and extended warranty trying to balk, the thermo control value failure, and once again the extended warranty saying not covered and I fought with SOA and finally between dealer and SOA cost was covered. A few months later it was finally a recall item.
But now this dang head unit issue, and a new one at that, after Subaru lost the previous class action over the same thing!!
About a month after purchase I reported to the dealer about the "reboot" I experienced driving down the highway. They were supposed to have checked it at my local Wichita Subaru dealer when I took it in for an interior and exterior treatment. Turns out they forgot. I kept having bizarre things happening, from delayed responses to inputs, random "butt dials" with iPhone connected, etc.
I took the car in just two days ago and was told they'd look at it but that usually an update to firmware fixes all issues. Less than 24 hours later I was having issues again!!
I called the dealer at 5 pm on a Friday and talked to the service advisor, who is new to the dealership, and expressed my extreme frustration, and told him I would be doing research on this issue so I didn't want any BS nonsense and patronizing when he called me back tomorrow morning!!
Besides my Subaru tech giving problems, I've had a bizarre week of tech-generated problems, from canceled doctor appointments due to faulty tech, to bogus messages from another office portal saying I still needed to fill out the health history I already had. I called each to see what the heck, and they just apologized for the inconvenience, but when pressed they admit nothing will probably be fixed!! To even having a Domino's Pizza delivery kid show up at 12:30 am and wake me out of a sound sleep because the order said my address was the correct one!!!
Anyway, Subaru not being willing to truly fix their problems and then BSing their customers has me very angry tonight!!!
2019 Outback - I bought a…
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2019 Outback - I bought a used Outback last year. I have the bubbles and the touch screen goes crazy like someone is pushing buttons constantly, jumping around. How do I become part of the class action lawsuit? Any help appreciated. I guess I'll take it to dealer and see what they will do, if anything. Crazy that Subaru won't recall for this obvious blunder. I bet they love that supplier.... not!
I HAVE A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK…
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I HAVE A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH NAVIGATION. MY SCREEN IS GOING HAYWIRE AND FLIPPING FROM SCREEN TO SCREEN , CHANGING CHANNELS, AND EVERYTHING BY ITSELF. WHEN IT DOES THIS NONE OF THE DISPLAY BUTTONS DO ANYTHING. WHEN I PUSH THEM. I GET NO RADIO, NO PHONE, NO ANYTHING. WE HAVE TRIED REBOOTING...STILL NOTHING. WHAT CAN WE DO?
My 2019 Subaru Outback 51k…
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My 2019 Subaru Outback 51k miles has the same problem with the screen glitching and becoming unresponsive. The quoted repair cost was $2100. I have a case with SOA but no response yet.
2019 subaru outback bubbles…
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2019 subaru outback
bubbles under screen, ghost screen jumps around stations, won't respond to touch, then suddenly will start working again.. sometimes can only be controlled with the steering wheel controls. Also AM radio stations will no stay saved on the preset stations
My infotainment center on my…
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My infotainment center on my 2018 Subaru outback has delaminated and touches itself so activating things that I did not ask for it too as well as not allowing me to select what I want on it am I included in the lawsuit? If so, how do I get it fixed Free of cost
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