Subaru CarPlay Issues Independent owner project · Not affiliated with Subaru

Subaru Impreza CarPlay & infotainment failures: 5 owner complaints

Every complaint below was filed with NHTSA by an owner of a 2019–2023 Subaru Impreza. Subaru has acknowledged these failures in its own service bulletins, and owners are still reporting them.

5owner complaints 60%describe a safety impact while driving 3filed after Subaru's USB fix bulletin (Oct 2023)
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Head unit reboots constantly, cannot be turned off and is distracting while driving

2019 ImprezaFiled Feb 6, 2025NHTSA #11641024
Safety impactBlack or frozen screenRebooting
Read the owner's complaint
Head unit constantly rebooting. Completely unable to use the head unit. No longer functional. Unable to power the screen off. Very distracting while driving especially at night. Power button no longer works. Started about a year ago, then randomly seemed to of temporarily resolved itself until a couple of months ago. Head unit is now 100% nonfunctional and constantly reboots. No warnings when first occurred. Issue has been confirmed by independent service center. Puts myself and others at risk due to the screen rebooting on repeat and no way to turn the screen off. Extremely distracting and unsafe

Public record. Verify by searching #11641024 on NHTSA's 2019 Impreza page.

Display flashes green and distorts when reversing; dealer advised replacing the radio unit

2019 ImprezaFiled Dec 4, 2024NHTSA #11628815
Safety impactBackup camera lost
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When you put in reverse my 2019 Subaru Impreza Sport, the control display flashes green and is distorted. It is very difficult to detect an obstruction or a child when backing up. Recently we bumped a pedestrian. This Is A Safety Issue! The condition was observed at the Orlando Subaru dealer. Their solution is to replace the whole radio control unit at a cost of $1341. We ordered it to not gamble on safety.

Public record. Verify by searching #11628815 on NHTSA's 2019 Impreza page.

Android Auto and CarPlay drop intermittently, forcing driver to replug the phone mid-drive

2023 ImprezaFiled Dec 17, 2023NHTSA #11560504
Safety impactCarPlay / Android AutoUSB dropouts
Read the owner's complaint
This Subaru model and most other models I have researched is having connections issues with the infotainment systems, connecting and keeping a connection with Android auto and apple. It's not like just a small annoyance, this is causing me big issues when it does connect to Android auto then it is intermittent causing the driver to take their attention off of the road to unplug replug in the phone then stopping and turning off the car/ restarting phone to try fixing this issue, this have become very distracting iv almost been in multiple accidents trying to get my cars systems to work properly. This is something I have took to the dealership they assured me there was an update coming and told me they would not service my vehicle for this issue, even tho it's still under manufacturers warranty, it has now been 6 months and still no update or fix for the problem that is a serious distraction, some people might say no big deal drive without it, but when u are counting on directions and your map to work then it continues to jump on and off the completely tanks this is a big issue they are ignoring!

Public record. Verify by searching #11560504 on NHTSA's 2023 Impreza page.

Radio repeatedly loses power as part of a wider electrical problem

2019 ImprezaFiled May 9, 2022NHTSA #11463862
Other failure
Read the owner's complaint
Electrical issue affecting the headlights, radio, clock, gauges. Headlights constantly flicker/dimming, also causes the bulbs to burn out rapidly. Radio constantly losing power Clock/miles left in tank display resets occasionally The the speedometer and tachometer display loses power dropping all the needles to 0 for a second before popping back. These issues got worse after the last recall was done

Public record. Verify by searching #11463862 on NHTSA's 2019 Impreza page.

Map and radio screen behaved erratically after a jump start; dealer updated radio software

2019 ImprezaFiled Apr 14, 2021NHTSA #11408077
Other failure
Read the owner's complaint
II BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2019. I HAVE HAD 8 TIMES WHICH I WOULD BE OUT SOMEWHERE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I LIVED IN FORT WORTH AND AAA WOULD COME. AT NO TIME HAS SUBARU ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE OF WHY IT WILL NOT START. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO CLEO BAY IN KILLEN ON SATURDAY THE 10TH BECAUSE I WAS AT LUNCH IN BROWNWOOD AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT IT WOULD NOT. I HAD TO GET IT JUMPED AND THEN THE SCREEN FOR THE MAPS AND RADIO ACTED LIKE IT WAS ON DRUGS. SO I DROVE AND LEFT IT WITH CLEO BAY SUBARU. THEY SAID THEY DID AN UPDATE TO MY RADIO BUT WON'T ADDRESS THE REAL ISSUE OF WHY THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND I HAD TO GET IT JUMPED.

Public record. Verify by searching #11408077 on NHTSA's 2019 Impreza page.