Consumers say that Subaru vehicles equipped with EyeSight driver assist technology pose serious and deadly problems due to defects in their components in a nationwide class action lawsuit filed in New Jersey federal court.
The lead plaintiffs, all current and former Subaru owners, say that EyeSight technology suffers from a number of dangerous vehicle safety defects. These defects allegedly cause the lane assist function in Subarus to engage without reason, as well as the automatic braking system. Their class action lawsuit contends that the carmaker knew of these defects, but still sold the cars, touting their safety and reliability.
Lead plaintiffs Laura and James Sampson say that they purchased a new 2017 Subaru Outback limited in their home state of Illinois. They say that they depended on Subaru’s claims that the car was reliable and safe when making their purchase, but began to experience problems with the EyeSight driver technology within the first year. They allege their vehicle would stop abruptly, even though there were no obstacles, while they were backing out of their driveway and that their complaints were “brushed off” by the dealership.
Lead plaintiffs Anthony Ventura and Joanne Fulgieri Ventura of New York say that they decided to lease a 2020 Subaru Forester based on claims made about the car’s safety; however, they too allegedly ran into problems with both the lane assist technology and braking, including the car slowing significantly despite no obstacles.
Pennsylvania plaintiff Elizabeth Wheatley says that she purchased a new 2019 Subaru Crosstrek in 2018. The class action lawsuit says that Wheatley experienced the vehicle’s brakes suddenly engaging without reason on several occasions. Wheatley says her concerns were also dismissed by the Subaru dealership.
Lead plaintiff Shirley Reinhard, who is also representing her deceased husband Kenneth Reinhard, claims that the EyeSight defect caused their certified pre-owned 2015 Subaru Outback to get into a severe accident that caused the car to roll four times. Reinhard alleges that the couple had brought the Subaru in prior to the accident after experiencing problems with the braking system, but the dealership refused to do a repair.
The class action lawsuit alleges that the EyeSight system suffers from defects that affect the vehicles’ lane assist technology and braking. The technology includes cameras and sensors mounted on the front and back of the vehicles.
The components that make up the EyeSight technology are not calibrated correctly, allege the plaintiffs, and also have other issues that cause them to malfunction. In addition, Subaru allegedly failed to properly test the technology to ensure it was safe for motorists.
The plaintiffs seek to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased or leased any 2013 to 2021 Subaru with the allegedly defective EyeSight technology.
Do you own a Subaru with EyeSight technology? Have you had trouble with the automatic brakes or lane assist functions? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
The lead plaintiffs are represented by Russell D. Paul, Amey J. Park, Abigail J. Gertner, and Natalie Lesser of Berger Montague PC, and Steven Weinmann, Tarek H. Zohdy, and Cody R. Padgett of Capstone Law APC.
The Subaru EyeSight Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Sampson, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc, et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-10284-RMB-KMW in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
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76 thoughts onNationwide Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Subaru Eyesight Problems
I bought my 2020 Forester new and like any new technology it has its issues. Only problem I have is coming up on stopped traffic I need to bring the speed down first. I can see the problem lack of testing would lead to.
I recently got a Subaru legacy certified pre owned front hunter dodge dealership and I’ve have issues with it since I got it first with having worn out arms and rotors had to be resurfaced and not even 3 full months later the eyesight has caused me panic attacks due to it stop and apply ebrakw when I’m at a safe distance to break and it started showing up on the dash board as a warning and check engine light turned on
The Eyesight feature failed in my 2019 Outback not allowing the brakes to be applied and the car hit the vehicle in front of me.
I own a Subaru Crosstrek 2021 and have been experiencing scary problems with the Eyesight technology for about a year. When there is blinding light and it hits the windshield, the car stalls. This has happened multiple times at intersections. When I recently took it to Subaru, the rep blamed SafeLite for improper glass calibration. (A few years prior, a rock hit my windshield, cracking it, and my insurance company directed me to have it replaced at SafeLite.) If possible, I would like to join the class action lawsuit.
I have mae many complaints and posts regarding my 2019 forester that saw break lights on an adjacent street, slammed on breaks and forcing us off the road , deploying all the airbags eventually because I was unable to stop. The car flipped on his side and slid across the main street into the median barely stopping before and enter highway during rush hour.
We were luck to be alive if you see the accident photos
I have a 2021 Outback that randomly brakes for no reason. For example there is a mailbox with 3 green reflector tapes that triggers my brakes to automatically engage. There are other random issues like this that engage the automatic braking.