Update:
- A federal judge in New Jersey declined to dismiss a class action lawsuit accusing Subaru of manufacturing and selling certain vehicles containing defective Starlink infotainment systems.
- U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler determined the court did not have enough facts to dismiss the common law claims of fraud, breach of warranty, unjust enrichment and fraudulent concealment.
- The judge also allowed all but one state consumer protection claim to move forward, ruling the class action adequately alleged the Starlink information systems did not work as advertised.
- Subaru, in its attempt to dismiss the claims, argued some of the claims were untimely and that any warranty would have been made solely by Subaru of America.
- The judge ruled it was too early in the case to distinguish the liability or severability between Subaru of America and Subaru Corp.
Subaru Starlink class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Marco Cilluffo, Jeffrey Quarles, Pamela Doze and Carl Jean-Louis filed a class action lawsuit against Subaru of America Inc. and Subaru Corp.
- Why: The plaintiffs claim Subaru manufactured and sold certain vehicles equipped with allegedly defective Starlink infotainment systems that create a safety risk.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court.
- What are my options: Advance Auto Parts carries many options when it comes to entertainment systems.
(April 14, 2023)
Subaru of America manufactured and sold certain vehicles equipped with Starlink infotainment systems containing a defect that has rendered them partially or wholly inoperable, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiffs Marco Cillufo, Jeffrey Quarles, Pamela Doze and Carl Jean-Louis claim the Starlink systems contain a defect that causes them to “freeze, become non-responsive, experience ‘ghost touch’ or phantom input, shut off, reboot, work intermittently or not at all.”
The plaintiffs argue further that Subaru falsely promises the Starlink systems will provide drivers with “seamless navigation,” “extra safety” and “everyday convenience.”
“Instead, Subaru sells and leases Class Vehicles equipped with defective Starlink systems that fail intermittently or altogether, causing serious inconvenience and safety concerns for lessees and owners, their passengers, and other drivers on the road,” the class action states.
The plaintiffs want to represent a nationwide class and Arizona, New York, New Hampshire and Washington classes of consumers who have purchased or leased a Subaru vehicle equipped with a Starlink infotainment system.
Certain Outback, Legacy, Forester, WRX vehicles have defective Starlink systems, class action says
Subaru vehicles equipped with the allegedly defective Starlink infotainment system include model year 2019-2023 Subaru Outback, Legacy, Forester and WRX vehicles, according to the Subaru class action.
The plaintiffs claim the allegedly defective Starlink systems present a safety risk for drivers of the class vehicles by disabling safety features and presenting drivers with “distracting and frustrating” effects.
Further, the plaintiffs argue Subaru must be aware of the alleged defect based on “related service bulletins” and since it conducted pre-release vehicle testing and the alleged defect “manifests so quickly.”
The plaintiffs claim Subaru is guilty of unjust enrichment, common law fraud and fraudulent concealment, and of violating the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act and New York General Business Law, among other things.
Plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting injunctive relief along with an award of punitive damages for themselves and all class members.
Subaru initiated a recall in December for certain of its model year 2019-2022 Subaru Ascent vehicles over concerns an issue with the fastening of their Positive Temperature Coefficient ground terminals could pose a fire risk.
Have you purchased or leased a Subaru vehicle equipped with a Starlink infotainment system you believe is defective? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Andrew W. Ferich, Robert R. Ahdoot and Bradley K. King of Ahdoot & Wolfson PC.
The Subaru Starlink class action lawsuit is Cillufo, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:23-cv-01897, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
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124 thoughts onSubaru class action over Starlink infotainment defect escapes dismissal
Screen goes crazy and clicks switches and freezes. Since this started happening, my car has not started in the morning 4 times. This has to be related. I can’t believe with all of these issues Subaru is not doing anything to rectify the issue. What a shame. Once these things are fixed I don’t think I will buy another Subaru again!
We replaced Car Battery in my 2019 Subaru Outback 2.5L in Feb. 2024, during a cold freeze. By September 2024, just a mere 7 months later, battery was dead! Most likely the Starlink/3G issue. Called Warranty number for Subaru. Rep said to get a “Bypass” switch installed at dealership. This is ONLY a temporary fix to this Starlink issue. The Actually fix will not be ready until Sept. 2025. You have to ask dealership to be placed on a list to be called to get the real repair for this Starlink issue NEXT September in 2025. I mentioned the thread on internet about the whole infotainment systems glitching. She claimed its a different issue. I mentioned the possible ClassAction info pertaining to the Infotainment being unresponsive, etc. Described to her how the radio glitching started during Spring of 2024. Now, September 2024, it is a daily occurence in my car. Same little condensation bubbles appeared being screen. System randomly ghosting
and unresponsive, changes menu, radio stations, volume, and randomly dials numbers of favorites phone list, also drops calls. Unresponsive when you try to turn radio on/off, bluetooth on/off or disconnect/reconnect car battery. The rep at warranty was great, really, she listened and was a helpful and empathetic customer service persn, but she didn’t have answers for me regarding the radio/infotainment problems. She instructed me call/contact Subaru corporate level which I’m planning to do. I really don’t want to have to cover the cost new panet and infotainment system, something that is breaking in all of our cars. Subaru has to fix this issue.
I have a 2019 Outback with about 40,000 miles and have been having ghost radio issues for a while now. The screen will freeze, or randomly start to change channels and I have, what look to be bubbles in the upper right corner behind the screen.
2019 Subaru Outback. Bubbles under the touchscreen, touchscreen locks up, and goes on and off, makes beeping noises, dials random numbers from my recently called list. Interferes with phone calls.
I have 2019 outback. I have same ghost screen issue since last year.
We have a 2019 Outback, purchase new having less than 21K miles as of September 1, 2024. We are experiencing the same Starlink Ghosting issue. Been difficult working with the local Subaru Dealer (where we purchased the car) registered a complaint with Subaru of American and the acknowledge the issue and have attempted to communicate with the dealer with no response. Justs reached out to the dealer again to try and get some sort of resolution. Listening to the “pinging” and not being able to turn the radio off is very distracting when driving.
I have a 2022 Outback Wilderness. My infotainment system shuts off randomly. Sometimes my media button doesn’t do anything. All my safety sensors turn off at once. I have 35000 miles on it. I brought these issues up to the dealership and was told “it’s because the sensors are being covered up”…… I
I have a 2019 Subaru Legacy and I am experiencing this.
I have a 2019 legacy that is experiencing all of this. Subaru told me that they would split the cost with me.
How do we join this class action? This is my 3rd year owning my 2019 Subaru Outback Premium and this just literally started happening last month!
Wondering the same thing my touchscreen has been glitching for over a year and I’ve been stranded more than once for battery drain. Subaru just replaced my DCM and battery but my touchscreen still hasn’t changed. Can’t even use the radio half the time and had to buy a battery pack to charge my phone since usb ports glitch out too.
I have a 2019 Outback that I purchased new in Jan. of 2019 and I have less than 25,000 miles on it. Now everything that has been described it doing is now occurring. I did reset it once and it seemed like it was working properly by disconnecting the battery. Unfortunately it only lasted for a few days. Screen freezes, radio switches by itself from Sirius to FM to AM constantly, backup camera has gone out a couple times. So now I have the pleasure to take it into the dealership and spend a couple hundred dollars to just get it diagnosed.