Radio/tape Cd Player Problems of Subaru Outback

My complaint is the Outback head unit. This unit has a delaminated surface on the inside of the Outback touch screen. This was explained to me by the service manager, at the local Subaru dealer. The screen looks to have little bubbles inside the touch screen covering 45% of screen. During the daytime the sunlight shining on the screen and the bubbles, blocks the feed from the backup camera when the car is shifted in reverse. The head unit will also bounce the various apps in the unit, in a totally random pattern. From the radio (fm to am to sirius), then to the cd player, to car play and the blue tooth app. The head unit has added the navigation into the mix in the last week. The only way to negate this mess is to turn the head unit off while operating the vehicle. After talking with Subaru customer service and the Subaru dealer, my cost to replacement would be $345. 90 and Subaru would cover the rest. This was discussed on March 5th. I have tried to get any updates for replacing the head unit and no one from the dealer or Subaru customer service have returned calls or text messages.

See all problems of the 2019 Subaru Outback 🔎.

On 3 occasions the car would not start after being driven. The dashboard lit up, radio worked, but no starter or engine noise. Subaru says there is nothing wrong with the car or battery. This appears to be a common Subaru problem.

See all problems of the 2020 Subaru Outback 🔎.

Battery issues are non stop! battery dies all the time. We had a new 2016 Outback previously, that had to be towed because it would just die. We traded it in for a new 2017 Outback and it's even worse. Battery has been replaced (not sure how many times), and issue is still the same. Leaves us stuck/stranded in random places, and back hatch will sometimes beep non stop even though it's completely closed. We have to keep an emergency jump kit with us constantly. The back hatch won't open when battery is dead/low, which is crazy that there isn't some type of override to this. I have seen countless battery issues for this vehicle and I'm beyond shocked that this hasn't been fixed/addressed by Subaru. We are fed up with the battery drain, and do everything we can so we can (hopefully) proactively start our vehicle (have all interior lights off, radio off, air off - all systems possible turned off). Even that doesn't always work. We spend extra money on gas just to recharge the car by driving it more miles than we want to. I'm gonna be done with Subaru after this.

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The key got stuck in the ignition, and the visor on passenger does not swing correctly, the radio turns on when I start the car even after the radio was turned off.

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My Outback has horrible wind noise. Its so loud I cant use the bluetooth phone, nor listen to the radio. Absolutely horrible and will impact my next purchase.

Started car this morning and the unit that controls the radio, backup cameras, navigation and bluetooth is blank and unresponsive. . Dead. Car in garage when starting. Car drives fine except for above deficits.

Entire center radio cluster has failed. Car was parked in a garage and got into the car and started car and entire unit was black. This impacts radio, hands free cellular phone use, navigation, back up camera and warning system, vehicle notifications, star link program. This may sound just like a minor thing but this has significant safe operation impacts in regards to traffic and driving, cell phone use and navigation of the vehicle.

Infotainment screen went black on December 17, 2018. Radio, navigation system, bluetooth and rear camera are all inoperable.

The radio display head unit failed. The rear back-up camera and and warning signals are inoperable. I have been without the systems for three weeks and Subaru customer service can not provide a date when this repair can be made. This is a safety concern as they aid in backing up the vehicle in parking lots at night when visibility is poor.

Bluetooth will randomly disconnect. Sometimes it lasts a few minutes, sometimes a couple hours. Unable to re-connect once it does, so we have to mess with settings while driving to switch to aux cable, radio, etc or pull over and restart the car completely. We have verified the issue with 6 different devices. None of the devices demonstrate the same issue with any other bluetooth devices (we use a speaker for hours on end in the house with no issues). Combine that with the infotainment screen being incredibly slow, this is a frustrating issue.

On start up of vehicle the radio automatically comes on at a loud volume and cannot be adjusted or turned off for a couple of minutes. This is very dangerous when trying to backup or move out of a parking situation. I have been informed by Subaru mechanics that there is no way to keep the radio from automatically coming on when I start the car. Other owners have also complained about this feature. This has been a problem since I purchased the car 7/4/18.

Radio freezes often, week ago dealer put new firmware but looks like it did not help. Another problem I have for about 10 days (since my last visit to Subaru service) my ignition key gets stuck and I can't take it out for good 15-20 seconds. After playing with it releases and I'm able to taki it out.

See all problems of the 2016 Subaru Outback 🔎.

On infrequent yet multiple occasions since purchasing the car in spring 2018, after hanging up from a bluetooth phone call, the radio would blast at full decibels and be unresponsive to attempted adjustments with the volume control. On all occasions except for today's event, I was driving on major highways, becoming startled, then having to immediately try to rectify the ear-blasting sound. Today, I was in a parking lot, having turned off the engine--the radio continues to play and the bluetooth remains live in an Outback for 5 more minutes, until the door is opened--I made a call, hung up, and the radio volume was fine; I immediately made another call, hung up, and the radio blasted at full decibels again. This time, I was unable to elicit a response by turning the volume knob, with the radio stopping shortly thereafter because it had reached the 5-minute limit. This event occurred whether I hung up first or the other person hung up first. I have had the car back to rafferty Subaru on multiple occasions, with a variety of fixes attempted, most recently by swapping out my amp with one from a loaner vehicle. I have found identical complaints on the Subaruoutback. Org forum, with others achieving no resolution as well, and with other being concerned about this uncontrollable condition occurring while driving at high speed on highways. This appears to be a problem in the 2019 and 2020 models as well.

Starlink radio in touring model with 8"screen unreliable. Had issues with touchscreen freezing and cd loading error from purchase date in August to Dec. 18, 2017. Dealer tried to perform software update and fried radio. Radio was replaced. Issues worse with new radio. Took 2500 mile trip and had complete failure of radio, navigation, bluetooth, backup camera. Letting car sit cleared some errors but later similar problems reoccurred. Also have issue with doors do not always lock when shifting into gear or unlocking when shifting into park. The radio controls these settings and all doors are to unlock when shifted to reverse or drive and unlock when shifted to park. Sometimes no doors lock when shifting into reverse or drive. Sometimes only the front doors unlock when shifting to park sometimes no doors unlock when shifting to park. During one period when radio was out the car would not start until the drivers door was opened and closed 3 times. Issue with loss of radio and other components occurs when starting the car. It has never occurred while driving. Extremely concerned about doors not locking and unlocking serious safety issue. Subaru appears to know about the issue but dealers have have little information and Subaru has not notified owners of the issues but numerous posts in Subaru Outback forum indicate numerous other owners with the 8" screen are having similar issues.

2007 Subaru Outback. Consumer writes in regards to service department refuses to repair/replace vehicle radio. The consumer was informed it would cost $1,00 to replace the radio.

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New 2014 Outback with static noise coming from the audio / speaker system; both with or without the radio being turned on. This will happen randomly, with no particular set pattern or obvious reason; it's impossible to predict when this will happen or even try to re-create. We don't have the navigation package. I have a harmon radio without satellite. There doesn't appear to be a pattern and the dealer cannot pinpoint the issue. This happens even when the radio is off and I am not using the bluetooth. This has happened with or without engine running. This has continued to happen since I have owned vehicle randomly.

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Car brought in 4 times to service for radio freezing navigation system and other parts on dash incidents happened from date of purchase but thought it was breaking in. First time brought it in to be checked . Was told there is no problem, then told had to update software, then told had to have radio (head unit) replaced which I had to wait for since so many other Subaru owners has same problem. Replacement head unit no good (was a refurbished radio since they had no new ones (Subaru has since switched to another vendor because of all the problems) now car is at service center waiting for engineers from Subaru to diagnose problem. I bought a new car not a car with refurbished parts. They cannot provide me with a new part since they can't get one. I do not want a part that will constantly fail and eventually leave me with a bill when warranty ends when the navigation fails in the middle of a trip it is disconcerting this happens when driiving.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Outback 🔎.

Hvac / radio (cd 6 disc changer model) fast flashing, all functions stay enabled but can not be controlled from the panel. Can not turn on defrost unit or adjust temperature or radio controls while flashing occurs. This happens intermittently for a year and has gotten significantly worse where controls are unavailable for 20 minutes or more at a time. Dangerous situation in winter when you can not use the defrost buttons to deice windows or control window fogging.

See all problems of the 2008 Subaru Outback 🔎.

There is a gloss finished plastic touch pad kind of cover that covers the entire navigation system. This is approximately 6"x8". It is not only the navigation system, but the radio, fuel information, etc. It is slanted as part of the front dashboard, and when the sun hits it, it bounces directly into the drivers eyes. This navigation system should have been recessed into the dash, or at a minimum, a matte finish instead of a glassy finish on the plastic. It is definitely a hazard to the driver, as it is blinding. If you are travelling on the highway, with the sun at an angle, the reflection of light in your eyes is as blinding as someone holding a flashlight steadily into your eyes. I have pictures that I took of the screen. It must be recalled soon, with either some type of replacement cover that is a matte finish, or an attachment that goes around the screen so it would appear recessed. I paid thousands extra for navigation, and not only is it blinding, but I cannot even see the navigation screen anyway. Before I cause an accident that injurs myself or others, or someone else does, please consider recalling this. I would be happy to provide you with the photographs to show the reflection.

There is an interference with the car audio system. There is an 'am' type buzzing sound that comes thru the speakers at random times. Sometimes it is very low in volume and is sporadic. Earlier this month while driving out of town for a 3 hour drive, the buzzing was very loud and continued whether the radio was on am, fm, cd, satellite and even continued when we turned the radio off. This loud buzzing sound went on for over 1/2 hour and was extremely frustrating. Reported to my Subaru dealership 3 times now with no resolution. I am sure there is something that is not right with this vehicle and I expect the dealership to find it and fix it.

See all problems of the 2011 Subaru Outback 🔎.

While playing the cd player on the 7th track the cd would skip back and forth. Consumer removed the cd and noticed that the cd was extremely hot. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, and mechanic was not able to duplicate the problem, and the cd player was operating as designed.

See all problems of the 2003 Subaru Outback 🔎.

Windshield wiper switch and radio will stop working, and then in an hour they will work again. Fuses were checked and no problem. Dealer contacted and will have to evaluate the vehicle when it is not working. Problem still exists. . Et.

See all problems of the 1997 Subaru Outback 🔎.

The location of the cup holder right above of radio, caused liquids to seep into the stereo system. The radio began to malfunction and smoke started to pour out of the dash. The dealer is aware of this problem. The radio has been replaced 4 times.

Coffee cup holder placement is above the radio, and by it being directly over the radio, spillls or fluids coming directly into the radio, causes the radio to burn out. The holder should not be over the radio. It causes a problem with no radio, having to drive long distances, not falling asleep.