Subaru Starlink Lawsuit - New $6.25 Million Agreement Benefits 785,000 Owners
The class-action lawsuit that claimed Subaru’s Starlink infotainment systems are defective has reached a final settlement. The agreement affects the 2018 Subaru Forester, 2018 Subaru Outback, 2018 Crosstrek, 2018 Legacy, 2017-2018 Impreza, and 2018 BRZ. A New Jersey Judge signed the order this week that is valued at $6.25 million and could benefit 785,000 Subaru owners and lessees.
The Starlink systems consist of Harman Gen 3 audio and navigation head units, and the lawsuit alleged the head units created safety concerns for Subaru drivers.
Owners have been experiencing a number of problems that include 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.
What will owners receive from the Subaru Starlink settlement?
The seven plaintiffs represented by attorney’s Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith will each receive incentive awards of $3,500. About 9,500 class members will be compensated for visits to a Subaru retailer for a Starlink repair or complaint.
According to court documents, they will be compensated $150 for two repair visits, $300 for three or more visits or, as an alternative to the retailer visit, owners can opt to receive two separate $100 coupons redeemable for Subaru merchandise, or a $400 credit towards the purchase or lease of a new Subaru vehicle.
They will also receive $16 per day during the period of time when Starlink replacement head units were on backorder and refunded up to $90 for the costs of alternative transportation while their car was in the service department.
Subaru, represented by Neal Walters and Casey Watkins of Ballard Spahr’s, said in an email, “Although Subaru denies the claims in the lawsuit, it has, in the interest of customer satisfaction, agreed to extend the warranty for up to five years or 100,000 miles and will reimburse customers for certain out of pocket expenses.”
“We believe that by entering into this settlement, Subaru has affirmed its reputation for standing behind its products and taking care of its customers,” they said in a joint statement.
What can Subaru owners do now?
Unless you are a class member, you are not eligible for any additional payment, but you will benefit from the new extended warranty on your vehicle.
If you are experiencing problems with your Subaru Starlink system in your 2018 Subaru Forester, 2018 Subaru Outback, 2018 Crosstrek, 2018 Legacy, 2017-2018 Impreza, or 2018 BRZ, take your vehicle to a Subaru retailer. The Starlink equipment has been extended from the old warranty of 3-year/36,000-miles and is now covered under a new 5-year/100,000-mile Subaru Limited Warranty.
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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 and the founder of 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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