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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.
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
68 thoughts onNationwide Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Subaru Eyesight Problems
I was involved in a collision today, 4/30/2022. I had a similar incident happen to me
in my 2016 Outback Limited and the car stopped in plenty of time avoiding a crash (twice in fact during the time owned). This time the speed was about identical and my 2017 Outback Touring did absolutely nothing to stop the car, no warning, nothing.
At a Yield crossing traffic, the driver in front started to go; I also double checked and no one was coming and proceeded, then for some reason the driver in front of me stopped short and I hit her van in the rear, I didn’t even have time to touch the brake.
The damage to her van, a Honda Odyssey, was to the rear bumper and rear lift gate. The damage to my car was the front bumper cover and grill, pushing out the wheel well trim on the driver side.
Damage to these vehicles I’m sure is going to be expensive to fix and insurance rates raised. I decided to look on line to see if others have had similar experiences and found that there are at least two class action law suites against
Subaru of America regarding the Eyesight system from 2013 though 2019 and again with the newer 2021-2022 vehicles with most having the exact same issue or having their vehicle slam on the brakes when nothing is in the way.
With this in mind I’d like to know how to proceed? We have three Subaru’s 2017 Forester Touring, 2019 Subaru Forester Touring and the 2017 Subaru Outback Touring. I have had the Eyesight work flawlessly in the other two vehicles on more than one occasion (daughter driving), this was the first time the 2017 Outback was put to the “test” and failed. I am completely not understanding what went wrong and am a bit skittish now to the reliability of this “safety” system, not only in my car but the other two as well. One of the main reasons we purchase Subaru’s over the years is because of the safety features offered.
We have a 2017 Subaru Outback PZEV and the eyesight goes out at night, light or heavy rain, when trees are overhead. What do we do. Any ideas please let me know at chrbet@att.net.
I have only had minor issues with braking but my lane keep has almost caused several accidents on the highway. It constantly tries to pull me into the left lane and I have to fight it. Too make matters worse it usually does it when there is a vehicle next to me.
My 2021 outback slams the breaks on at what I call completely unreasonable distances. Today I was parking and backing in, it slammed the breaks on and there was nothing in the vicinity! I looked up the error to see if anyone else has had the issue after I called the dealership and got dismissed.
My son was driving our 2017 Impreza Premium which we purchased brand new with the new eyesight feature to help keep him safe. This evening he was following another vehicle which stopped very quickly to avoid hitting a racoon. My son hit the breaks but eyesight did nothing to assit, infact it never activated at all and he ended up hitting the other car. Luckily he was not tail gaiting and was driving at a slow rate of speed (maybe 30MPH) so nobody was injured and the vehicle that he hit had very little damage but the front end of the Impreza is trashed. Very dissapointed…. The sole reason we ordered and waited for this car failed us today!
Having similar problems. Eyesight applies brakes for no apparent reason, almost got rear-ended. Lane keeping assists turns off and on randomly. Twice in the last month the car shut off in traffic because of Eyesight failure, luckily it wasn’t on the highway. I had to put the car in park and restart…in traffic.
How do we join this class-action suit?
I just leased a brand new 2021 Crosstrek Limited. I took a brief drive on the highway (I-90 in IL) the 2nd day with all of 50 miles on the vehicle. Using the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, the car was trying to jerk me over into SEMI’s! I had just traded in my 2019 Impreza and was used to the technology. This was not like the smoothe centering I had been used to- this was jerking me only over to Semi’s. I immediately called the dealership and drove back up to WI. Their mechanic took it for a drive and said the exact same thing, that he took on the highway and it was jerking him towards semi’s and said it was “sketchy” and thought maybe because of the wind generated and was windy out it was maybe 12mph winds. The dealership suggested I just don’t use the feature. Ummmm… part of the price is due to the technology. I’ve stuck w Subaru for their safety features and the lane assist is a key component. My payments are based on the technology, which I’m being told to just disable. The car has 200 miles on it now and I’m deeply regretting trading in the Impreza. I don’t feel safe in it. It feels like it’s going to kill me.
Hi!! I purchased a 2022 outback limited and have had it in the dealership repeatedly for the eyesite going down. 3 times on a 30 mile trip. (Stopping at stores) I turn on the car and the eyesite was on but would turn off about 2 minutes into the drive. I kept being told it was my fault. Or turn off the lane assistant. Then told it is the personal monitor system and need to turn that off. Well I did and it still comes back on when ever it feels like. It auto stops when there’s nothing in front or in back of me. But when someone started to take a u-turn in front of me NOTHING!! He was already in my lane which forces me to go into the oncoming lane as I slammed on my brakes. Then a mile down the road it slammed on the breaks when a car was taking a left hand turn and was already out of my way. I swear the car is haunted. It does what it wants when it wants to. Very frustrated with Subaru although I love their products. I just wish they could fix the problems with the eyesite!!
Btw the car only has 3,600 miles on it and it’s been back to the shop more times then my 2016 outback did the whole time I owned it!! Actually gave it to my daughter because the car was so good!!
G’day and warm greetings to Cindy from The Land Of Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi [Australia].
How are things going in the U.S.A. with the class action re Subaru?
I’m having the same problems with the ‘eyesight’ cameras on my 2021 Subaru Forester, ie it slams on the brakes for no reason at all.
This car is potentially lethal to me and anyone who may be driving to close behind, and without doubt I would be held responsible for any accident.
Also, my car will exceed the set speed by up to 9 kilometers per hour in hilly areas. Here in Australia I can be booked by the police for exceeding 5 kph being the reason I like to use cruise control.
I contacted my local Subaru dealer and was told I should not be using cruise control in hilly areas, also I should not be using cruise control on winding country roads.
I sent Subaru Australia an email complaining of the cruise control faults and a customer service person replied by simply suggesting I read the owners manual to understand how the ‘eyesight’ system works.
What a [i.m.o.] disgusting complete and utter dont care attitude from Subaru.
I’ve only now just started on my journey and you are the 1st person I have contacted re my concerns with Subaru, so any help or advice you may be able to give will be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanking You,
Ken.
Hi,
I bought my 2021 Forester a year and a half ago, brand new. Just recently it is braking hard for no reason that I can see. I had it on cruise control at the time. Both times it happened on the same 2 lane road, each time a different place, with a speed limit of 45mph. Most people go at least ten over the limit. I am very concerned that this might happen on the freeway now! Also a couple of times my engine died for no reason when backing out of my driveway. I no longer even want to drive my car. I don’t feel safe.
My 2020 forester recently started having these issues and it could be related to my active grill shutter being broken. I am replacing this shutter tomorrow but I read on Reddit that someone else had similar issues and it was all tied to this part being broken. I think mine maybe was hit by a rock. I will keep you posted. I wonder if anyone having same issue could look and see if maybe their active grilll shutter is also malfunctioning or broken.
I have been trying to get this Eye Site system repaired for over a year now. In an out of the shops with no luck. Reached out to Subaru Corporate and have gotten no help so far. I can’t even get rid of it with all the warning lights lite up. Eye Site is off, and so is all components tied to it, S.I. drives, XMode, RAB, warning systems, etc…