Starlink Class Action Alleges 2019-2023 Subaru Models Equipped with Defective Infotainment Systems [UPDATE]

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A proposed class action alleges certain 2019-2023 model year Subarus are equipped with defective Starlink infotainment systems.

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The 59-page suit says 2019-2023 model year Subaru Outback, Legacy, Forester and WRX vehicles are plagued by touchscreen Starlink systems that can freeze, become non-responsive, experience “ghost touch” or phantom input, shut off, reboot, or work intermittently or not at all.

The filing claims that Subaru is “aware of the problem” yet has been unable to fix the issue by way of repairs, replacements or software updates. The suit says that because the Starlink defect often manifests quickly in the impacted vehicle models, the automaker’s pre-sale testing “necessarily would have revealed the defect to it.”

According to the case, the defect poses a significant safety concern as a malfunctioning Starlink system can distract a driver, frustrate vehicle occupants and impact critical safety systems, including Subaru’s road-scanning EyeSight feature. 

The “head unit” of a Starlink system resides in a vehicle’s center console and includes, among other things, the display for the backup camera, controls for audio and radio systems, cell phone connectivity, the navigation system and weather information, the complaint relays. The case shares that impacted Outback, Legacy, Forester and WRX models are equipped with an updated Starlink system from previous model years, one manufactured by Japanese supplier Denso. 

The filing stresses that the newer Denso-made Starlink head units are purported to have been cured of the issues that hampered the prior model Harman Gen 3 units.

As the lawsuit tells it, none of Subaru’s rosy marketing statements about the Starlink system are reflective of drivers’ real-world experiences. 

“The Starlink system suffers from a range of issues caused by a defect in the infotainment system, including: system freezing and re-booting, shutting off, audio skipping when connected to Bluetooth, radio channels skipping, non-responsive touch screen, detection of phantom or “ghost” inputs on the touch screen, and screen flashing, among other manifestations and malfunctions.” 

Of particular concern, the case relays, is the potential failure of an affected Subaru’s backup camera, as back-over crashes kill hundreds each year and injure thousands more. 

Drivers who bring their Subaru to a dealership for repairs or software updates often receive replacement head units hampered by the same defect, the case alleges, while others may not even receive a replacement unit due to backorders. 

Worse, some consumers are routinely forced to pay out of pocket for ineffective repairs or replacements, the lawsuit says. 

“Some owners have had their head units replaced only to find that the issues persist,” the suit reads. “Many consumers have paid hundreds or thousands of dollars at their own expense to replace the Starlink system’s head unit.” 

Despite knowing about the Starlink issues, Subaru continues to sell and lease 2019-2023 Outback, Legacy, Forester and WRX models without fixing the problem or disclosing it to consumers, the case says. 

In 2019, Subaru of America paid $6.3 million to settle a proposed class action filed over allegedly similar Starlink problems in certain 2017 and 2018 vehicles. 

The lawsuit looks to cover all consumers in the United States who bought or leased any of the Subaru models listed on this page equipped with a Starlink infotainment system. 

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