2018 Subaru Legacy Electrical System

I am writing to raise a serious and ongoing issue regarding the infotainment system in my 2018 Subaru Legacy. The problem centers on the widespread and well-documented screen delamination defect, which has caused persistent and unsafe behavior in the vehicle’s head unit — a critical system affecting both usability and driver safety. In my case, the screen began delaminating around the 100,000-mile mark, just outside the warranty. Since then, the problem has progressively worsened and now renders the infotainment system unusable. The screen ghost-touches and rapidly changes menus, inputs, and radio stations, often without any driver interaction. This is not merely an aesthetic defect — it poses a substantial safety hazard and functional impairment. Most alarmingly: The radio will change frequencies automatically, sometimes switching away from AM emergency broadcast channels without warning or input. This poses a clear safety concern in weather-related or disaster scenarios when access to emergency broadcasts is essential. The screen unpredictably shifts menus and settings while driving, creating a visual distraction that competes with the driver’s focus on the road. This is an unacceptable risk in a vehicle designed with safety as a brand hallmark. Hands-free and navigation functionality are affected, which may compel drivers to interact with the system in motion — violating hands-free laws in many states and contradicting Subaru’s commitment to safe vehicle design. The issue is widely reported across Subaru owner forums, independent shops, and social media. It is linked directly to a known defect in the Harman-made infotainment units used in 2018 models and related vehicles. This is not an isolated or unique case. Despite this known problem, Subaru of America continues to decline support for owners affected outside the extended warranty period. Even though the issue eventually effects every single model. Subaru cherry picks who they choose to repair after 100k

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the display touch screen laminated cover had developed bubbles, causing the touch screen to malfunction. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the display erroneously turned on or erroneously turned off. During the failure, the touch screen feature was inoperable, and the driver was unable to access certain safety features within the settings on the display. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the touch screen display unit was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 30,000.

The issue began as air bubbles appearing on the center touchscreen. This has escalated to the screen having episodes of complete loss of control, it acts as if it’s rapidly receiving input and will change settings, perform or end calls, change what’s being displayed. My biggest concern is that it will turn the radio volume completely up. When these episodes occur, I am unable to override anything that is happening. We had the stereo volume turn completely up while on the highway with my [XXX] child in the car and I was unable to turn it down. This was a safety concern for us because if I spent time troubleshooting the screen I was distracted from watching the road while traveling at high speed, but I couldn’t leave the volume blasting with a [XXX] old in the car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I bought my Subaru brand new directly through them in September 2017. Not too long after the warranty deadline (2018 timeframe) my entire touchscreen randomly stopped working. Subaru had said there was nothing they could do without having to replace the entire system. It randomly does its own thing clicking on different buttons like someone is pressing them. There was nothing that happened prior this that would affect the touchscreen from stopping to work.

The software on starlink on Subaru has been a huge burden while driving or in parking mode.When driving the starlink will constantly connect and disconnect to phone.It constantly changing the music by itself.And the navigation system will input random addresses.Messing with my navigation and ability to concentrate.Ive tried many different things to not have this issue.Like turning off the whole radio itself but it turns it’s self on and off there’s been many times where I almost crashed due to this issue.Ive also contacted Subaru since this is a very big known issue.But they did not want to take responsibility the only solution they gave me was to pay $4,000 to change the starlink system.A service that is way out of my budget and something I should not have to pay for.

2018 SUBARU LEGACY CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BATTERY ISSUE. THE CONSUMER STATED THEY HAVE TO GET A NEW BATTERY EVERY YEAR. THEY HAVE TO BUY A CAR BATTERY CHARGER TO CHARGE THE CAR BATTERY

The entire radio screen is delaminating. The dealer said it needed updated. They said they updated it. And a new screen would be about $3,000.00. As you can see in the picture the screen is very bubbled. It is almost completely inoperable. The top right hand side has a button that keeps popping on and off. It is very audible and is distracting to the point of being undeliverable. The only way to stop the constant beep, boop, beep, beep, beep, boop, beep, boop, beep, book, beep, boop. Is by pushing on the screen WHILE DRIVING!

8 inch Starlink Multimedia System screen delamination causing display for backup camera to not be displayed clearly along with irratic behavior of Starlink system.

Subaru battery drainage defect. CAN electrical system causing battery to drain when car isn't running. Car may unknowingly not start at any time battery could be dead. Just put new battery in 1 year ago this did not fix the issue. I shouldn't have to worry about being stranded with my child if my car doesn't start due to a known battery issue.

Battery Fail on 2018 Legacy Sport Model. No warning or indication. Went in the car evening of July 17, 2022 . Vehicle was not responsive to starting - battery dead Had to go to 3rd party and obtain a battery as it was the weekend - had no other form of transportation. Had not indication there was in-fact an issue with Subaru and their batteries draining vehicles leaving cars stranded. When I called the Subaru Dealer in regards - this information was not volunteered.

I forgot to add a item to my issue with the battery change - With changing the battery items acted odd in the vehicle - window issue with windows not working and Radio issues in which the car would randomly start controlling the electronic features of the phone, radio, cd player and maps. Car will randomly beep as to act like someone is touching the screen, it will also change radio channels, turn on CD make random calls to people on my contact list, providing mapping - it's as if it is possessed. Tried to make attempts to get it into the dealer - first appointment failed as it conflicted with something else. Now I can't get the vehicle in until October per them.

Premature battery failure, defective battery or electrical parts failure.

I have experienced numerous battery replacements, and had electrical problems. If you don’t drive every day, the battery goes dead.

This vehicle currently has about 55,000 miles on it. I recently had to replace the battery which seems premature for a vehicle just over three years old (at 48865 miles). I have recently been made aware that it is alleged that this Subaru model is defective in such a way to precipitate early battery failure. I want my experience added to that of others. I have documentation of this battery replacement which I could supply upon request.

MY VEHICLE IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE FACTORY BATTERY, THE VEHICLE IS HAVING ISSUES STARTING. THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, ITS LESS THEN THREE YEARS OLD A D OUT OF WARRANTY BY MILES.

MY SUBARU STARLINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM HAS EXPERIENCED 5 EVENTS OF TOTAL BLACKOUT TO THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN OVER THE 9-MONTH PERIOD SINCE PURCHASING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY TO THE PHONE, BLUETOOTH, RADIO AND BACKUP CAMERA CAPABILITIES. SAFETY WAS THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY I CHOSE THIS CAR (BACKUP CAMERA, LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL). TO KNOW THAT ROUGHLY 30% OF ALL MINOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS OCCUR DUE TO BACKUP-RELATED ISSUES, IT SCARES ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT PROTECTING ME FROM THIS POTENTIAL RISK. NOT ONLY IS THIS A RISK TO BASIC SAFETY PRINCIPLES, BUT IT ALSO MAKES MY EVERYDAY TRAVEL CHAOTIC AND STRESSFUL. I DRIVE FOR UP TO 2-3 HOURS AT A TIME, AND TO HAVE ZERO ACCESS TO BASIC FM RADIO, SIRIUSXM RADIO, BLUETOOTH-CONNECTED PODCASTS / E-BOOKS MAKES FOCUSING DIFFICULT. ADDITIONALLY, WITH NO BLUETOOTH PHONE CONNECTION AVAILABLE, I AM FORCED TO HOLD MY PHONE WHILE DRIVING, TAKING ONE OF MY HANDS OFF THE WHEEL, AND DISTRACTING ME FROM FOCUSING ON DRIVING. IT'S ABSURD TO ME THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RAISED BY HUNDREDS OF SUBARU OWNERS ACROSS MULTIPLE MODEL VEHICLES, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. IF, GOD FORBID, SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPEN TO ME OR MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT SUBARU KNEW ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I WAS JUST INFORMED AFTER 2 HOURS IN THE SERVICE WAITING AREA THAT THE SUBARU-ISSUED SOFTWARE UPDATE WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE, AND I HAVE TO COME BACK IN 2-3 WEEKS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP RECEIVES A COMPLETELY NEW RADIO DISPLAY BOARD SYSTEM FOR INSTALL. WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING SAFETY-RELATED AT HAND, AND THE COMPANY IN QUESTION MAKES NO ESCALATED EFFORT TO EXPEDITE THE SOLUTION, IT HEIGHTENS MY CONCERN WITH THE COMPANY'S COMMITMENT TO SAFETY. THIS SITUATION IS FRUSTRATING, YES; BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT QUESTIONS WHETHER OR NOT I AM BEST PROTECTED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A SUBARU.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V773000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN NOVEMBER OF 2018. PRESTIGE SUBARU (4271 E BLACK HORSE PIKE, TURNERSVILLE, NJ) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD 40 MILES LEFT. AFTER THE CONTACT DROVE 10 MPH, IT RAN OUT OF FUEL. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

RAN OUT OF GAS ON A FLAT HIGHWAY, WHEN THE INDICATOR SAID THERE WERE 30 MILES LEFT. GAGUE WENT FROM 1/4 TO 0 IN LESS THAN 20 MILES.

CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED. KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM ALLOWED DOORS TO BE OPENED. UPON SITTING IN DRIVERS SEAT, BEFORE ANY ATTEMPT TO START CAR, A MESSAGE ON DASH SAID "REMOTE KEY DEACTIVATED". AFTER THAT, NOTHING WORKED, NO FURTHER MESSAGES, COULD NOT LOCK DOORS, COULD NOT START CAR, NOTHING FUNCTIONED. FINALLY HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, CASEY SUBARU, NEWPORT NEWS, VA. LATE NEXT MORNING, DEALER CALLED TO SAY CAR WAS READY FOR PICKUP. THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM, BOTH REMOTE KEYS FUNCTIONED WELL, NO PROBLEM CODES FOUND. CAR OPERATED WELL ON MY DRIVE HOME, <5 MILES. HOWEVER, I HAVE A REAL CONCERN OF GETTING STRANDED IN FUTURE.