2019 Outback Stereo / Nav Bubbles / Replacement

[Glenn 57]

Sure seems that way...

Hi
I had the same problem in Australia, Just been replaced by Subaru at no cost to me, waited 4 months

 

[Glenn 57]

Sure seems that way...

Hi
I had the same problem in Australia, Just been replaced by Subaru at no cost to me, waited 4 months

 

[S. Spear]

Hello all,

The touchscreen on my car stereo started bubbling/delaminating after a couple very hot summer days in California. The radio now starts switching channels without command and goes crazy. Any similar experiences?

I’m thinking to switch out system but replacing with aftermarket seems like a headache with all the additional harnesses/connections for XM Radio, Steering Wheel Radio connection, USB connection, etc. Any online recommendations to switch to an aftermarket?

If you changed with a factory system did you buy through dealer.

The same thing happened to me last year. I was told to contact Subaru America and they told me they would contribute $750 towards the cost of a $1000+ replacement. I went back to the dealer with this information and got it replaced with partly refurbished parts to keep the price down. It ended up costing me $300 for a new radio that only has a 1 year warranty. Sad that they can't stand behind their products.

 

[Glenn 57]

Gidday All
Had the same problem with my 2020 3.6r Outback 8" head unit,here in Australia,took it to the dealership and after 3 months was replaced at no charge to me

 

[rafdesign]

Here is a recounting to the service manager at our local dealer where I purchased and always had the car serviced.
Good Luck!

Yes, I have a 2018 Outback 3.6R. Here goes:
Hello Mr. Atashi,

My name is Joe (Joseph) Sadove. I purchased my 2018 Subaru Outback 3.2R from Subaru Glendale. The car currently has about 20,000 miles.

Since my purchase, I have always had the car serviced by Glendale. I’m sure you are aware of the Headunit/Console/Infotainment problem these cars have. I have that problem and not another apparently as a result of the replacement of the unit.

I believe the first I reported the problem was June 2023. There followed subsequently 2 other times I brought the car in and attempts were made to repair the problem. With no success.

I learned on the https://www.subaruoutback.org/ site that there was a class action lawsuit settled in Maryland more than almost 2 years before. I came in and spoke with the service manager Ross and the Service Director Alvin. They sympathized and said that there might be a fix coming.

I was not told about the route of calling the Subaru Central Customer support or contacted and informed about it from anyone at Glendale. Instead, I found the instructions and the number on https://www.subaruoutback.org/. I then called Glendale services and they confirmed the process was correct. I then followed up through the Subaru Central Customer Support and began a bit of a winding path to finally getting an appointment for replacing the unit. It must be noted that in the run-up to the resolution, there was a back and forth on what the cost would be: First it was going to cost ~$3,000, then one service rep said he could get $1,000 off and I just said whatever, I need a car that has this function, if only to sell it.

When I finally got an appointment to replace the unit, no one asked for money. Great. Maybe there was a change in policy. But the https://www.subaruoutback.org/ blog said from the start there was no cost.

Since I have had the car back, I have brought it in twice to service because something is apparently draining the battery. I have now replaced the first old battery with a brand new one and once again it happened and I replaced the battery again with a new one and the problem persists after 2 new batteries. Mr. Ross Hoststetler has each time said they couldn’t find anything. The only description of the effort was that the car was left to sit first overnight and then over a weekend and each time they said the problem did not occur. I asked if anything was done or looked at and the answer was no.

I would ask you what you think I should do next. Two or three weeks ago I received a mailing from Subaru of America (oddly dated Feb 29, 2024) a “Warranty Extension for the Telematics Data Communication Module for certain 2016-2018MY Legacy, Outback, Impreze….etc. vehicles.”

Would you please give me a call back – ideally today – and provide me with any information regarding what my next steps should be.

I also received a letter from Subaru regarding the DCM for my Subary Outback 2019. I went to the same dealership in Glendale, and they did the repair and changed the battery. I was on my 4th battery...
But strange enough, a few days after the DCM repair, I started to have the radio changed, and I initially thought I had pressed the steering whell button by mustake. Some bubbles in the navigation screen showed right after the DCM repair.
I have called Subaru of America, they listened but at not point they aknowledged or deny the problem. As for Subaru Glendale, I will have to bring it next week, and I was told that they have seen many cars with that bubble problem.

 

[Senthil]

I have the same issue with the 2019 outback. I contacted the dealer and Subaru of America. SOA did not reply back and the dealer asked me to go to the best buy and get a different unit which is cheaper

 

[Glenn 57]

I would be telling the dealer to go there himself,you paid extra for the unit and it doesn't work, write a letter to Subaru US also to Subaru Japan

 

[Glenn 57]

Has anyone got a replacement unit recently? I am now being told I should get my replacement the 3rd week of July.

Yes I got one last week, Mind you I'm in Australia, I waited about 3 months

 

[Glenn 57]

Yes I got one last week, Mind you I'm in Australia, I waited about 3 months

Oh I should have mentioned that we get 5 years factory warranty here in OZ

 

[Lolacosi]

You can add me to the list of people experiencing this issue! I have a 2019 Outback that has been experiencing the touchscreen bubbles and phantom changes! The Sherman Oaks Subaru dealership acknowledged these bubbles an issues seem to mainly have affected the 2018 outbacks. I am concerned, though, as I brought my car into the dealership in January this year and they told me it would be about a six month wait (covered under my extended warranty). Seven months later, they tell me it may take up to 12 months! I am worried that my extended warranty is about to expire.

Does this issue substantiate a class action lawsuit? I informed the service rep, at the Sherman Oaks dealership, that it really is a safety issue! The phantom button presses have made random phone calls, changed directions on my navigation, prevented me from turning off my radio when it keeps changing stations.

 

[sulsj]

I would like to share this. I have found the delamination has just started developing. It's out of the factory warranty as I bought this car in Mar 2019 and the mileage is 40500. I called SOA and they said they would support 100% cost for the replacement as a one-time goodwill gesture. So, if you are in the same boat, please try. Good luck.

 

[JohnboyIII]

I have a 2019 Outback (6 cyl). The Vampire Battery issue (where the batteries get drained because on OnStar (whatever), doesn't turn off when the car is turned off. Took Subaru 2 years to take a very simple procedure to fix it. In the meantime I went through 3 batteries. The fix actually does work. The Head Unit (the screen, navigatio,, dash board speakers, the radio) had bad seals and humidity could get into the equipment - thus the bubbles on the inside of the screen and all the crazy stuff with the radio, the navigation, etc. going nuts. THAT also took almost two years before Subaru acknowledged the problem. After about a year of driving the car, one of the panels on the drivers side seat cracked open. They replaced the cover. Now in 2024, August, the same panel has cracked. The result of terrible quality plasticized seat panels. And now the passenger side front window, once it is opened, when I press the up button it goes to the top and then reverses and goes down 1/2 way, as if something was in between the glass and door frame, like a finger were there. The Dealer said I must have some in the channel that the system interprets is possibly a finger, and thus reverses. The only way to close the window is to send it up and then stop it, and then carefully just go the rest of the way up in short jerks, which then allows the window to get into a full closure mode. All these computer driven "safety" features are a pain in the a__. Especially when they don't work properly. Getting the back trunk door to open is usually a trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. - do I have to have the engine off, the door open, and then hold the open button to open it. Rediculous. or do I have to pat my head and rub my tummy three time counterclockwise to get it to open??? Subaru should relook at all the annoying safety issues is requires us owners to read the damned book every time we use the car. And the long delayed fix of the VAMPIRE battery draining issue was incompetent.
When I was trying to avoid more battery changes while Subaru dragged out the fix, I told my dealer to turn off the "OnStar" like feature - only to find that it dumped the ability to use the speakers on the dash board. Yesh!!!!

 

[juliacooks]

I have a 2019 Outback and have been waiting a year now for the head unit. SOA has been no help and keeps referring me back to the dealer but neither have an ETA on when the radio will be in if ever, they just keep saying it’s on back order. I’ve had to shut the radio to a black screen otherwise it just phantom touches everything and even calls people on my contact list. I filed a complaint with NHTSA. Emailed SOA multiple times. I think waiting a year is completely unacceptable. I’m so disappointed that Subaru is not standing by their product or even offering anything. I paid for the extended warranty, but I am losing faith of ever getting this replaced. I will not purchase another Subaru again in the future.

Did you ever get the new head unit? I ordered mine today.

 

[juliacooks]

Good idea. I also have a 2019
Had to completely disabled it because it was making random phone calls it was asking me to reset things it was just sleeping all over the screens and very distracting. I've been waiting 7 months for Subaru to get the part. I'm kind of afraid that they're just giving them to somebody else when they come in instead of calling me to tell me it's in

Did you ever get the head unit? I ordered mine today.

 

[juliacooks]

I have the same issue. The bubbles appeared on the touchscreen and then it started acting possessed. It started changing radio stations on its own, CarPlay would freeze up, and then the screen started to go black and would have Japanese characters come up on it. I've had an order in with Subaru for a new touch screen console since November and they are now saying the part will come in this summer, but I am not hopefully.

Did you ever get your new head unit? I ordered mine today and they said its back ordered

 

[OutbackAndy]

I have the same problem - Navigation is worthless - jumping all around etc. Have the bubbles (signs of humidity condensation?). These units were built by Harmon-Karden according to my Service Rep at my Subaru Dealer. There are thousands of failed units in these units for 2019 and replacement units (many of them) are on backorder (apparently, the head units were not properly sealed and thus allowing humidity to mess up the electronics - made in China??) . The Service Manager seems to think these things will be replaced at not cost to the owner - the operative words here is "seems to think". So, there is no hard commitment thus far. Frankly, using WAZE instead of the Nav system provided by Subaru is MUCH better - though there is no large screen. But WAZE is seems to know what is going on at any given time, and will fit the route to avoid the traffic or other delays (construction). Lets you know where he cops and cameras are, etc.
At this point I am not excited with the quality of Subaru. Front seat split (the plastic like panel on the Drivers side just split). New seat cover even though the warranty was out. Then I took it in for an Oil Change and an Inspection. They found leaking oil from the right rear shock absorber. This is a famous scam to squirt oil on the shock so you can see the leak - so I asked to see it. Sure 'nuf it was legit. They changed out the shock (not like the shocks I replaced on my Chev wagon - these babies are spring over shocks - $680. Again the dealer is covering it.
Now it is in the shop for an unknown reason. The original battery died - and I am thinking that there is a malfunction in the car where after I turn off the car something is not shutting down and drawing the battery down. Lock it at the end of the day = only to come out in the morning and the car is totally dead. Unlocked the car using the key in my FOB. Then called AAA. The AAA guys declared battery was shot - maybe, but he was happy to sell me a new battery. But after installing the new battery, there would be only a few functions that would work. (Overhead cabin lights, the dash board lights and that's about it). Could not lock/unlock the doors except the drivers door using the key from the inside of the FOB.
I am really concerned about what this is going to cost me. I honestly think something is wrong with the Computer(s) $$$$
Like someone here has said. Will unload this thing as soon as it is fixed. And it only has 40,000 miles on it.

Issue with battery drain is caused by the DCM using 3g on the 2019 outback Starlink system. There are no 3g towers anymore so the system is constantly searching even though the car is off (happens even without Starlink subscription). The drain is significant enough to kill a battery overnight and cause early death to the battery. There is an extended warranty recall on this through 8yrs or 150k miles to either replace the unit with a 5g one or put in a DCM bypass. Call Subaru of America DCM warranty division at 877-551-7149 and they will get you started. Subaru will reimburse you for your battery as well. Hope this helps if you still have this car.

 

[msp77]

I have the same problem - Navigation is worthless - jumping all around etc. Have the bubbles (signs of humidity condensation?). These units were built by Harmon-Karden according to my Service Rep at my Subaru Dealer. There are thousands of failed units in these units for 2019 and replacement units (many of them) are on backorder (apparently, the head units were not properly sealed and thus allowing humidity to mess up the electronics - made in China??) . The Service Manager seems to think these things will be replaced at not cost to the owner - the operative words here is "seems to think". So, there is no hard commitment thus far. Frankly, using WAZE instead of the Nav system provided by Subaru is MUCH better - though there is no large screen. But WAZE is seems to know what is going on at any given time, and will fit the route to avoid the traffic or other delays (construction). Lets you know where he cops and cameras are, etc.
At this point I am not excited with the quality of Subaru. Front seat split (the plastic like panel on the Drivers side just split). New seat cover even though the warranty was out. Then I took it in for an Oil Change and an Inspection. They found leaking oil from the right rear shock absorber. This is a famous scam to squirt oil on the shock so you can see the leak - so I asked to see it. Sure 'nuf it was legit. They changed out the shock (not like the shocks I replaced on my Chev wagon - these babies are spring over shocks - $680. Again the dealer is covering it.
Now it is in the shop for an unknown reason. The original battery died - and I am thinking that there is a malfunction in the car where after I turn off the car something is not shutting down and drawing the battery down. Lock it at the end of the day = only to come out in the morning and the car is totally dead. Unlocked the car using the key in my FOB. Then called AAA. The AAA guys declared battery was shot - maybe, but he was happy to sell me a new battery. But after installing the new battery, there would be only a few functions that would work. (Overhead cabin lights, the dash board lights and that's about it). Could not lock/unlock the doors except the drivers door using the key from the inside of the FOB.
I am really concerned about what this is going to cost me. I honestly think something is wrong with the Computer(s) $$$$
Like someone here has said. Will unload this thing as soon as it is fixed. And it only has 40,000 miles on it.

This battery issue is a know problem and they need to install a bypass for one of the fuses. It should be covered. Mine was even though it was out of warranty.

 

[joetex]

Hi
I had the same problem in Australia, Just been replaced by Subaru at no cost to me, waited 4 months

I had my 2019 subaru outback infotainment system replaced. GPS does not work. Tech told me to drive around a while and the system would find me. It didn't. Found out on my own the wrong map was loaded. I live in the US and came to conclusion a Mexican map was loaded as destinations ended in that country. Even then it couldn't map a route. I came in to the dealer with an operating gps and came out with crap. Need to pursue a solution.

 

[LAinNC]

I have the exact same issues. Splitting front seats, head unit is completely possessed and basically not usable which makes the 2019 Outback I own practically useless. Called subaru of america, they insist on a diagnostics test for a known issue. Which I'll have to pay for, and no guarantee they will replace the head unit without major cost to myself. This is my seventh subaru. I will NEVER buy another one again. Period.

 

[Ludek]

I have same problem with delamination ( bubbles and freezing ) of head unit .... subaru outback 2019 !!! .... I am from Europe/ Czech Republ. ... According to SUBARU service I should order new one from USA for 1000 USD !!! Why , where is SUBARU responsibility ?