Consumer Reports claims that Subarus have excessive electronic problems.

[Mango]

Have you experienced multiple problems with electronics in Subaru Outbacks?

 

[bmart]

Maybe a model year would help...and what kind of electronics?

 

[piste]

Sure. head unit replacements. window controls. The extent of electronics in most modern vehicles almost guarantees it...and it just getting worse.

 

[bmart]

While sales started to go up with the 2010 platform, they've only gotten "worse" over the years from a driver's standpoint. Bloaty and floaty. Too big in every direction. CVT. WAY too many electronics...and many problems with them. My dad's newish outback is in the dealer all of the time for dumb electronic issues. .

 

[nellie]

I don't recommend ppl to buy Subaru because at least once a year something acts up. Maybe all new cars are like this since everything uses electronics to work but I have had it with my 2016 Outback. Especially when had a problem with GPS under warranty and service manager told me he didn't know anything about GPS so I should fix it myself. Same day had problems of battery dying constantly and turned out Subaru put motorcycle battery in car that died due to cold weather but was sold in Ohio. Same manager said battery was fine and had to buy one on my own on a 2 year old car.

 

[legendmc]

Have you experienced multiple problems with electronics in Subaru Outbacks?

Yes. I have a 2023 Outback Touring XT. The Radio head/ Infotainment system is always giving me grief! On every long trip (2 hours or greater) it goes on the fritz. Turns off and on, screen blanks and doesn’t go back to previous! Very frustrating! From the dealer “sorry, we can’t duplicate the problem.” VERY FRUSTRATING! It will probably steer me away from purchasing another one.

 

[Howard264]

2017 Legacy Sport. Problems with battery dying within 3 days or so. No lights left on, no freezing temps, etc. Turns out it was computer coding issue. Who coded it? It wasn't me, had to be a dealer who serviced the car - BTW I no longer use a dealer to service it.

 

[bmart]

Stealerships are the worst. Kudos on getting it solved.

 

[Begwi]

Yes. I have a 2023 Outback Touring XT. The Radio head/ Infotainment system is always giving me grief! On every long trip (2 hours or greater) it goes on the fritz. Turns off and on, screen blanks and doesn’t go back to previous! Very frustrating! From the dealer “sorry, we can’t duplicate the problem.” VERY FRUSTRATING! It will probably steer me away from purchasing another one.

I had the same very frustrating problem, but the last software update was a big improvement. I have not had a problem since. I recommend you look for a software update after connecting your car to wifi.

 

[Kweeksdraw]

Have you experienced multiple problems with electronics in Subaru Outbacks?

Have you experienced multiple problems with electronics in Subaru Outbacks?

Yes! I love my 2015 Outback. I hate my 2022 Legacy.

 

[jeffbazell1]

Love my 2023 Legacy Ltd. But the infotainment is the slowest responding system I've ever owned, and this goes back to 2013. You'd think by now the IT dept at Subaru would've given us a faster processor for all the safety Eyesight sensors it has to handle.

 

[Daniel Renaud]

I don't recommend ppl to buy Subaru because at least once a year something acts up. Maybe all new cars are like this since everything uses electronics to work but I have had it with my 2016 Outback. Especially when had a problem with GPS under warranty and service manager told me he didn't know anything about GPS so I should fix it myself. Same day had problems of battery dying constantly and turned out Subaru put motorcycle battery in car that died due to cold weather but was sold in Ohio. Same manager said battery was fine and had to buy one on my own on a 2 year old car.

Funny my 2020 Outback the battery still working great after 4 years no, and issues with electronics?

 

[piste]

link to the CR source report???

 

[Dick Foster]

Funny my 2020 Outback the battery still working great after 4 years no, and issues with electronics?

I wonder if it's a problem restricted to some but not all model years? So far my 2021 Forester Touring, that I bought used, has been troublefree.

 

[piste]

All cars have excessive electronic problems. Compared to those same cars 20 or more years ago. The question is...do contemporary Subarus have more than other brands and until I see empirical evidence the answer is no they do not.

 

[Bugzilla46310]

We received a notice from Subaru that the infotainment head unit on 2019-2023 Gen 3.1 will now extend your new vehicle limited warranty for 8 years 150,000 miles, vs 3 year, 36,000 miles, under the new car warranty. Seems to cover Forrester, Impreza/Crosstrek, WRX/STI, Ascent and Outback/Legacy. They give a hot line number for questions, 877-551-7149

 

[piste]

We received a notice from Subaru that the infotainment head unit on 2019-2023 Gen 3.1 will now extend your new vehicle limited warranty for 8 years 150,000 miles, vs 3 year, 36,000 miles, under the new car warranty. Seems to cover Forrester, Impreza/Crosstrek, WRX/STI, Ascent and Outback/Legacy. They give a hot line number for questions, 877-551-7149

Extension covers all car components of the orig warranty or just head unit?

 

[Bugzilla46310]

Extension covers all car components of the orig warranty or just head unit?

Head unit

 

[piste]

Head unit

What i thought. Good to have that coverage.

 

[Kweeksdraw]

Can we get it removed and a bank of buttons and knobs installed instead?