Subaru class action claims vehicles’ features inoperable following 3G phaseout

Subaru class action overview: 

• Who: Subaru of America Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit from plaintiffs James Garrett, Christopher Roach, Demaris Martz, Marcum Martz, Kimberly Rohrberg, Robert Donnelly and Taylor Paddock. 
• Why: Subaru is accused of creating telematic systems in vehicles that became inoperable when cellphone manufacturers phased out 3G technology in favor of 4G and 5G.
• Where: The Subaru 3G class action was filed in federal court in New Jersey.

Subaru of America is facing a class action lawsuit claiming that telematics software in its 2016-2019 vehicles led to some features becoming inoperable when technology companies phased out 3G technology in favor of 4G and 5G.

Those features include automatic collision notification, enhanced roadside assistance, emergency assistance, stolen vehicle locator and Bluetooth hands-free calling. The technology stopped working when the major cellphone carriers began to phase out 3G in 2022, the Subaru 3G class action says.

Plaintiffs James Garrett, Christopher Roach, Demaris Martz, Marcum Martz, Kimberly Rohrberg, Robert Donnelly and Taylor Paddock claim the technology change diminished the value of the vehicles and became costly to replace the inoperable 3G technology.

Upgrades for Starlink subscribers allegedly left 710,000 vehicles remaining with issues

The proposed class includes those who purchased or leased a 2016-2019 Subaru Forester, Legacy, Outback, Impreza, Crosstrek or WRX vehicle.

Subaru initially suggested one fix to the issue would be a complimentary upgrade for those with a Starlink Safety and Security subscription.

“Of the approximately 820,000 Subaru vehicles with 3G telematics, those with a Starklink subscription only amounted to approximately 110,000 vehicles,” the Subaru 3G class action claims. “This left a population of approximately 710,000 vehicles with a chance of experiencing various issues due to the loss of 3G connectivity.”

The remainder of vehicles were then left at risk of a drained battery due to the changes, the Subaru 3G class action says.

Consumers filed several class action lawsuits last year against automakers accused of fitting their vehicles with 3G telematics software that no longer functions amid wireless networks’ decisions to shelve the technology. 

Did you lose functions on your vehicle when 3G technology was phased out? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Lisa J. Rodriguez of Dilworth Paxson LLP. 

The Subaru inoperable features class action lawsuit is Garrett, et al. v. Subaru of America Inc., et al., Case No. 1:23-cv-20971, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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