Subaru Legacy CarPlay & infotainment failures: 26 owner complaints

Multimedia component is not working correctly and it could cause an accident due to trying to change/control the component over and over again. It has a mind of its own. I turn it off and it turns on by itself. It switches radio stations by itself. The screen changes apps all by itself. I can't correctly use any of it anymore. I try using my phone and even though I don't want it sent to audio on the car it switches to it and then the conversation cuts in and out. I've tried resetting it a million times but it's useless anymore to even do that. I haven't brought it to a dealer as of yet. I looked it up and seen there are other complaints with this same issue. I received a letter for reimbursement if I changed it out but I didn't do that because I was able to reset the system at the time. I feel Subaru should be responsible for this as they know it's happening to vehicles and they've reimbursed for it.

Public record. Verify by searching #11730262 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

The entertainment system got bubbles and stopped working only after 50,000 miles.

Public record. Verify by searching #11669029 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

The navigation screen has delaminated and no longer works. You can see where there are layers of screen that are discolored and has a matte finish underneath and the entire screen is erratic and works only 10% of the time. I cannot answer calls through the car any longer and I have to try to navigate long trips from my phone as this function of the car is down. It's a serious problem and puts me and others on the road at risk every time I have to use the car as I travel by myself and I struggle to navigate the roads without this system. The car has a mere 70,000 miles on it and has been well cared for. I bought the car new and this issue is serious. There were no warning signs other than it erratically works less and less. I have researched the issue and see there are so many with this same issue that I wanted to add to the list. I cannot find a second hand part as the demand is too high. The car is available for inspection and I haven't had it to the dealer for this issue. It has been inspected by an auto repair shop and agrees the component needs to come out and be replaced. Please help!

Public record. Verify by searching #11662265 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

Main infotainment display delamination, this causes a safety concerns, as the screen can become irresponsive, and even black out during reverse making the backup camera, nonfunctioning. The other safety issue at risk is that because of the delamination it causes "ghost-clicking" on the screen, and makes the screen irresponsive, veering the drivers attention away from the road, potentially causing accidents as the main display controls all radio and bluetooth, and navigation. There are no indication or warnings from the manufacturer that the vehicle could be a risk to drive. When I called Subaru of America, I was told by the agent that they could not assist, when I brought up, based on my research this was a known issue, Subaru of America offered to pay $600 towards the replacement of the head unit. The head unit dependant on the dealer and labor time can vary from $1400-2200 for the repair.

Public record. Verify by searching #11631631 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

The Starlink screen becomes uncontrollable and begins changing screens on its own making driving very distracting and losing all control of vital functions such as radio, gps and phone. I have no control over it. I have video of the incident but cannot figure out how to upload it. I k low previous year models were recalled for the same situation and I believe there is a class action lawsuit.

Public record. Verify by searching #11629599 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

Infotainment system touchscreen failed and it became unstable. Bluetooth connected to phone failed, gos failed Yes Yes No

Public record. Verify by searching #11626593 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

On the beginning of a trip the screen, Infotainment system started jumping, and shaking. We had been using the system for guidance while driving in unfamiliar area. The screen then started randomly selecting buttons while we were still trying to use directions from the screen. Then it called a contact on my contact list 8-9 times, and I had to keep hanging up in order so it would stop. Finally I had to shut down the entire screen. We lost control of the Infotainment and then after I had to turn it off, I tried several times again to turn it back on with no luck. The screen would not respond and continues to be completely frozen. As I have discovered this is a common problem that Subaru dealers have heard about from thousands of customers. Subaru needs to issue a recall.

Public record. Verify by searching #11625805 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

The radio/ starlink system begins changing screens on its own thus losing all control of critical functions such as phone and gps. There appears to be marks behind the glass of the screen which are not able to be cleaned. There are recalls for this issue on the 2018 Subaru Legacy and there needs to be one for the 2019 Subaru Legacy and other affected Subaru models.

Public record. Verify by searching #11624187 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

ODS sensor recall still not fixed/remedy available, used heat for first time since i purchased the car, minor cracks in the windshield, car radio/monitors randomly go black, reverse camera won’t work, restarts on there own after a while

Public record. Verify by searching #11623360 on NHTSA's 2021 Legacy page.

Radio is delaminating and causing random calls and radio changes while driving. Serious safety issue. Subaru covered a portion of the replacement but entire cost should be covered due to it being an obvious manufacturer defect.

Public record. Verify by searching #11614471 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

Infotainment system screen began bubbling. Then it started randomly selection icons by itself. Then it got to the point where it is unusable and constantly is making selections on its own. I can’t even make selections if I want to. Whole screen is effected. Subaru of America is aware and my dealer first denied knowing it was an issue but later admitted to me they have gotten several complaints of the same. Dealer ordered a replacement over a year ago and I have still not gotten a replacement because they keep telling me it is back ordered and that they put a rush on it. Still nothing in over a year. This problem also causes the battery to drain while parked. I had to put a brand new battery in and it still drains. A year or so after that, Subaru sent out a notice that they will reimburse for that issue. I don’t have any paperwork left from my replacement costs. Again, dealer denied knowing that the battery drains and later admitted they knew.

Public record. Verify by searching #11605122 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

There is a recall for this issue in Subaru vehicles through 2018 but our 2019 Legacy has the same issue. The head unit very soon after purchase (brand new from dealer) started to delaminate and not respond to touchscreen interaction. Now it is so bad that it is as if the head unit is possessed. It changes radio and settings randomly, cycles the screen, makes random phone calls if a phone is connected, changes navigation (Android Auto) on its own and suddenly it's navigating you to Mexico... Even if we aren't using the screen it is dangerously distracting because it is constantly glitching. We are out of warranty so the dealer wants us to pay for this repair on our own. We want to see the recall expanded to include 2019 and later model years. According to numerous reports online, I know we are not the only ones. We also have issues with this vehicle's battery draining unusually fast but that is not as critical an issue as this head unit problem.

Public record. Verify by searching #11585135 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

Stereo head unit has white spots all over screen. Radio skips stations, calls numbers on my phone when connected to the car, touch screen does not work properly not allowing to turn it on or off or stop random skipping of stations or activity. Unable to see back camera when in reverse due to multiple spots on touchscreen.

Public record. Verify by searching #11573750 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

The "infotainment system" screen is delaminating. I can not see my surroundings when in reverse. The system is paired with my mobile telephone and randomly calls persons in my contact list without my requesting it do so. The radio can not be turned off and it consistently makes noises as if it is attempting to scan different radio stations. These defects first appeared at 34,000 miles, well below the 36,000 mile warranty period.

Public record. Verify by searching #11556680 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

The radio, which is also impacts screen, is defective. It is available for examination. The radio jumps stations with beeps, the sound can’t be eliminated by turning down the volume. It indiscriminately jumps from satellite to FM. It will hold a station for a while but then it jumps around. I get a few seconds of a music or talk station and then it jumps. It is a safety hazard since the beeps distracts the driver. It doesn’t recognize AppleCarPlay that is used for GPS navigation. The screen when it manages to show the menu, does not respond to touch so you can’t use GPS or access other vehicle processes such as clock, brightness, etc. I can’t use the phone for navigation while charging only seeing turn-by-turn directions, no map. The dealer has ordered a replacement radio but it is back ordered. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than Dan Perkins Subaru in Milford, CT. No warning indicator, it just started exhibiting the jump problem. The experience started gradually and would go back to working order. It got worse over several months, first appearing 7 months ago. Internet search shows this is an issue with several Subaru models and years.

Public record. Verify by searching #11550903 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

Touch screen driver information system has random display and audible warnings. Audio and navigation display cannot be controlled and does random radio channels and map displays. The screen developed bubbles under the front panel that appears to activate the touch sensor for the display. This condition is very distracting to the driver and might cause unsafe vehicle operation. The display changing and beeping during driving causes an unsafe situation. It also impacts the ability to use and see the rear view camera as the display is distorted due to the delamination/bubbles. This problem was identified by many Subaru Legacy and Outback owners in 2018 which led to a recall and warranty extension for repairs. The radio/nav display is manufactured by Harmon. It was widely reported in 2019 and the problem persists. Subaru contends that the display bubbles are caused by liquid contamination of the display, but this has not occurred in our vehicle, and dealers will not accept responsibility for the defective displays.

Public record. Verify by searching #11545633 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

Center console/head unit will regularly lock up and eventually reboot when Apple CarPlay is in use, cruise control, lane keep will turn off, and car will warn that ADAS is not available, backup camera does not work during this time. HVAC controls are not accessible during this time as well

Public record. Verify by searching #11520756 on NHTSA's 2020 Legacy page.

Touch screen driver information system has random display and audible warnings. Audio and navigation display cannot be controlled and does random radio channels and map displays. The screen developed bubbles under the front panel that appears to activate the touch sensor for the display. This condition is very distracting to the driver and might cause unsafe vehicle operation. The constant display changing and beeping may also stimulate seizure symptoms for affected people also causing unsafe operation. This problem was identified by many Subaru Legacy and Outback owners in 2018 which led to a recall and warranty extension for repairs. The radio/nav display is manufactured by Harmon. It was widely reported in 2019 and the problem persists. Subaru contends that the display bubbles are caused by liquid contamination of the display, but this has not occurred in our vehicle, and dealers will not accept responsibility for the defective displays.

Public record. Verify by searching #11480111 on NHTSA's 2019 Legacy page.

On average about twice per month, the touch screen will lock up. This causes the entire system to crash turning off cruise control, emergency braking, lane departure, lane keep assist, and almost every other "smart" function of the vehicle. There is no specific action that causes this, it is purely random. The "lock-up" can last anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes. The dash notifications telling you that all of the assistance features have turned off don't come on until the system has rebooted, even though they stopped functioning at the same time the "lock-up" started. On a typical day, there is a significant delay in controlling these features via the touch screen. Minor issues where the assistance features are delayed by several seconds have happened often, but this does not result in a complete system reboot. The best way I can describe it is as if the vehicle is controlled by a computer running Windows Vista with so many viruses it can barely function. Even just adjusting the electric seats or stereo volume can have up to a 30-second delay from user input to the system response. I have noticed that during these delays, the assistance features (like lane keep and collision warning) are also delayed.

Public record. Verify by searching #11462388 on NHTSA's 2022 Legacy page.

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing out of the garage, the rearview camera froze. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact’s wife was able to reset the rearview camera with the assistance of his daughter who looked up the information on the internet. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that no issues were found. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who completed a 504-software update; however, the failure reoccurred twice while the contact was driving from the dealer to his residence. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would either ship a head unit to the dealer for the repair of the vehicle or they would buy back the vehicle. The manufacturer followed up with the contact and informed him that they would not assist as the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V766000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the vehicle year was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

Public record. Verify by searching #11447088 on NHTSA's 2021 Legacy page.

This vehicle is equipped with the Subaru "Eyesight" system which is a number of safety features like automatic cruise control, lane keep assist, and others. About once a week on average while driving the entire system will shut down and the screen will go dark. You lose the radio, bluetooth, navigation, and all the Eyesight systems. After about 30 seconds it will reboot and things will come back online but this is a major safety issue because you loose systems that help with safety. The dealership said it's a known software issue and there's nothing they can do until an update is available. I called Subaru USA customer support in September and they said an update would be available by the end of October and nothing was released. I called in early November and they said they were still working on it but had no release date.

Public record. Verify by searching #11442179 on NHTSA's 2020 Legacy page.

Info screen froze and didn't come back of for 5 minutes while driving

Public record. Verify by searching #11440874 on NHTSA's 2021 Legacy page.

There seems to be an issue with the infotainment system. The system will randomly turn off which also turns off the safety features. I would like to associate this while CarPlay is in use, but I have witnessed it happen without CarPlay. Subaru has already replaced the head unit under warranty, but the problem continues. For the cost of the car, this should not be an issue.

Public record. Verify by searching #11432643 on NHTSA's 2021 Legacy page.

There is an ongoing problem with the center display in this vehicle. While normally just an inconvenience, it will randomly stop working / lock up / restart while driving. When this becomes a problem is when using the built in navigation or Apple Car Play for navigation. Multiple times now, it has locked up and reset while using Google Maps via Apple Car Play. Additionally, on the one trip where I attempted to use the built in navigation while on a trip, it simply stopped navigating without warning. The issue is that when you don't know where you are going, it becomes hazardous to interface with the system to restart navigation. The dealer admits there is a known issue with the system, yet there is not yet a repair being offered. At this point, my system is in some dealer diagnostic mode. I've been instructed to hit the defrost button four times when it does something abnormal so the system can be reviewed.

Public record. Verify by searching #11429123 on NHTSA's 2020 Legacy page.

1. The infotainment system crashed (happens often), which caused the touchscreen in the center control stack to turn black and become unresponsive. This also caused the EyeSight safety system, adaptive cruise control (with lane keep assist), and reverse auto braking to all shut down (my dashboard lit up with warning lights and errors). 2. Not only is this an annoyance, but having all of the safety systems in my car unexpectedly shut down is extremely unsafe, especially adaptive cruise control. Other functions of my car, such as the radio and climate controls are also inaccessible when this happens. 3. A Subaru dealer has replaced the touchscreen in my vehicle to try and remedy the slowness and crashing, but it did not seem to fix anything. My car safety systems have not shut down prior to this incident, but on this day (June 6th), they did when the system crashed, which was after the replacement. After waiting weeks to get a replacement which didn't fix anything, I felt as if I needed to go elsewhere for help with this issue. 4. Only the manufacturer has inspected this issue, and I've also emailed Subaru directly after this incident, as to which I have not gotten a response yet (emailed on Monday, June 7th). 5. The warning lamps (for EyeSight, reverse auto breaking, and adaptive cruise control) all appeared on my dashboard as soon as the infotainment system crashed on June 6th. Prior to this, my vehicle had no warning lamps. They went away a few minutes after the system rebooted (all while I was driving on the highway), and system functionality returned to normal. Other Notes: This vehicle only has about 15k miles on it, and is only 1 year and 3 months old. Issues like this should not be happening. Before the replacement of the touchscreen, I had issues with it being extremely laggy and crashing, but my car's safety systems never shut down before. This is a new issue, which prompted me to report it to NHTSA.

Public record. Verify by searching #11420703 on NHTSA's 2020 Legacy page.

RADIO AND CONTROL UNIT RANDOMLY RESTARTS AND FREEZES, AFFECTING THE RADIO FROM WORKING, THE VEHICLE CONTROL AND DRIVING ASSISTANCE OPTIONS, AND THE TWO USB PORTS WHICH ARE THE ONLY POWER SOURCES IN THE VEHICLE FROM WORKING CORRECTLY. I HAVE NO AUDIO AND CANNOT RESET THE RADIO AND CANNOT CHANGE VEHICLE CONTROL FUNCTIONS. WHEN I SELECT CERTAIN BUTTONS IT DOES NOTHING.

Public record. Verify by searching #11396240 on NHTSA's 2020 Legacy page.