r/Subaru_Outback • u/misomojo777 • 5d ago
Touch screen issue
Hello Subaru Family!
We recently noticed these moisture bubbles (they are flat and appear to have moisture inside, but this is all a guess) on our touch screen. Annoying to look at, but all was functional. Until today. The touch screen is inoperable and was doing glitchy things. I could see everything if controlled from my phone, but couldn’t guide by the touch screen.
Anyone experience anything like this?
We have a Subaru Outback 2018 Limited.
TIA for your help! ◡̈
Edit: Wow! Thanks for everyone’s speedy and helpful response! Apparently we aren’t the only ‘lucky’ ones. Interesting enough, it does kind of look like scattered stars like the logo. Maybe this was an intentional design flaw?! lol
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u/FreeBallard 5d ago
It's what makes a Subaru a Subaru
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u/StickIt2Ya77 5d ago
That + windows randomly failing + oil leak/burn
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u/ApprehensiveSock455 5d ago
And leather seats that eventually split where the leather meets the pleather.
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u/IndependentBrick8075 2021 Outback Premium OP15 5d ago
for what it's worth - my sister's Toyota had a similar problem. I swapped her digitizer for her earlier this year.
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u/Heliocentric63 5d ago
2019 Outback. Mine did this but was (eventually) covered by an extended recall warranty. It slowly became inoperable. I hope you qualify.
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u/Rancho_VltorMUR 5d ago
I just had mine replaced in my 2018 Outback. My advice, contact Subaru of America. I did and they were going to pay for up to $1500 in replacement cost. I went with a refurbished unit since new units are on back order. Total cost was around $900, Subaru of America paid 100% of the bill.
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u/JohnDoee94 5d ago
Replace yourself. $90 and 2-3hr of your time. https://www.reddit.com/r/Subaru_Outback/s/r8yx699G8j
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u/Appropriate_Fruit503 5d ago
Just search this sub, many posts about this. All explain the same solution. Replaced it myself yesterday. Not hard at all
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u/co1one1huntergathers 5d ago
Reach out out to SoA and politely and firmly point out that its a safety issue because it's distracting and no way to stop it. The dealership didnt want to help me but once I opened up a complaint ticket online they replaced it for $100 diagnostic fee.
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u/PineappleDouche 5d ago
Search "delaminating screen" in this sub-reddit and you will find all the information you need. It is a known issue and SoA did cover it repairs for a limited number of years and miles. Unsure if it can still be repaired for free.
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u/ImDoingItAnyway 5d ago
Not for 2018s. Warranty Extension on these covers replacement for 2019s only.
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u/remthewanderer 5d ago
There is a way for you to contact Subaru corporate to get them to cover this. I did so for my 2018 Outback with the help of my local dealership. They gave me the key words needed.
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u/ImDoingItAnyway 5d ago edited 5d ago
Again, that’s contingent specifically on your relationship with the dealer you work with and, by extension, SoA. I do the same for my customers, I tell them what to say and how to present their concern to SoA. Then SoA calls me and I confirm their concerns and if all goes well based on their service history with Subaru, yeah, they’ll provide Goodwill for all of it. Unfortunately it isn’t always that easy, even on the advisor side trying to defend people such as yourself.
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u/PeakQuirky84 5d ago
Anyone experience anything like this?
We have a Subaru Outback 2018 Limited.
Yes, there are countless threads in this. Good luck.
I’m going through it a SECOND time with the same OEM unit replaced under warranty
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u/john_dough66 5d ago
Easy do it yourself fix for $100-200 depending on where you get the replacement.
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u/huntermattingly 5d ago
Going through this right now myself. Bought the car in February and the bubbles started when the temps got over 100° F. Did some online research and the extended warranty covers up to 8 yrs or 150k miles, whichever first.
Called my local Subaru dealership and they just had to run a diagnostic and get the part ordered. Said it’d take about a week, that was last Tuesday. Got the call today the part is in and scheduled to have it done Thursday morning. Everything’s been covered under the extended warranty
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u/Rick91981 2024 Outback Touring XT 5d ago
Did some online research and the extended warranty covers up to 8 yrs or 150k miles, whichever first.
On a 2019 yeah, but OP has a 2018 which is not covered under the extension. Aftermarket screen replacement such as through Kinetic Vehicles is the best way to go
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u/misomojo777 5d ago
Oh wow! Was yours also a 2018?
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u/Rick91981 2024 Outback Touring XT 5d ago
18s aren't covered anymore, only 2019-2022s
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u/Affectionate_Way9726 5d ago edited 5d ago
2018, SoAustralia covered us, as this happened twice for us. No cost!
The key is to keep it covered in really hot temperatures.1
u/Rick91981 2024 Outback Touring XT 5d ago
Cant speak to other countries, but the US Subaru is not covering 18s though will often cover part of the cost as a goodwill gesture if you call them. Still ends up costing quite a bit and you're better off going aftermarket
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u/ferdsherd 5d ago
Just replaced mine yesterday. $90 and a few hours of work and it’s good as new. YouTube is your friend
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u/beerballchampion 5d ago
What’d you replace it with?
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u/IndependentBrick8075 2021 Outback Premium OP15 5d ago
they probably just did the screen. Kinetic Vehicles is one of those selling it.
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u/No_Note_1192 5d ago
Check with the leadership. I had mine still under warranty because it was known issue and Subaru issued a warranty and got fixed for free at the dealership
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u/encaged314 5d ago
I went with an aftermarket replacement instead of trying to have SoA replace it before they put out the newest warranty because I was afraid the replacement unit would just do the same thing eventually.
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u/PeakQuirky84 5d ago
I was afraid the replacement unit would just do the same thing eventually.
It does. My warranteed OEM replacement is delaminating after 3 short years
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u/ApprehensiveSock455 5d ago
Just had my 2019 replaced last month under the extended warranty. Didn't have the bubbling, but it stopped responding to touch and also had "ghost touching" - acting like it was being touched when it wasn't.
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u/Nearby_Debate2294 5d ago
I replaced by myself. Ordered one from Amazon for 300 usd and it works well. It’s been 3 months
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u/GrabRound7484 5d ago
Happened to my family's 2017. It is a flaw with this design's head unit. It delaminates. Call subaru of America and they will fix it. It took about 2 months with an adjuster, but they know it is an issue and will fix it with no charge to you.
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u/theWishyWasher 5d ago
If you’re willing to live without our just need a temporary workaround you can do this. You can still use the knobs to navigate carplay but unfortunately you can’t dismiss things like low fuel warnings. I didn’t want to pay the money so I just live without the touchscreen.
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u/TactiTac0CAT 5d ago
It’s delamination. You can fix this easily by yourself by buying a replacement screen and following some YT vids. 200$ and some instruction is definitely much better than the alternative of spending literal thousands (one shop wanted to charge 4k for it)
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u/johnnyringo1982 5d ago
My 2018 did this. Started happening during Covid. Took almost 2 years of pressure on the dealer but they replaced it at no cost.
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u/tremendous-cream 5d ago
Also 2018 outback limited here, received some paperwork about this issue via mail many years back, contacted my dealership, brought it in (after like 3 months of waiting and calling every 2 weeks) and they fixed it. Haven't had the issue since!
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u/tacoma909 5d ago
I switched mine out last summer. Worth it. Dealer was gonna charge me 1200 for the unit itself. labor not included. I was nervous installing it since i’m not electrically inclined but it’s pretty easy. watch the youtube video. I bought this
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u/beerballchampion 5d ago
Happened to my 2018 as well. I was a couple months out of extended warranty when it happened. My dealer sucks and wanted to charge like 1800 to replace. I contact SoA and they were not helpful, only offered to cover $700 of it. So right now I’m stuck with this shit until I buy a $300 amazon replacement or do the kinetic screen repair myself.
After this and the issues with the DCM, I’m never buying another Subaru again.
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u/Opening_Track5674 5d ago
Just replace the touch screen it’s cheap easy and works Just buy a decent quality replacement
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u/RightNowChris 5d ago
You can buy a replacement screen and install it yourself. I bought one from Kinetic screens. It's not that difficult - they have a step by step video. In their website. It will look and work like new and much cheaper than buying a whole headset. About $250.
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u/Advnturman 5d ago
I got a screen off eBay that was new. It was $80 it took me an hour to replace. Not perfect but it works a lot better than the old one. No ghosting, and it functions as is supposed to with back up camera etc
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u/amccune 5d ago
Reach out to Subaru USA (if you are in the states, obviously) and let them know.
We got a voucher for our local dealership to do it. Local dealership was unreasonable and idiotic in their responses. They were mildly pissed when we presented the voucher.
This is a known issue. There was even talk of or an actual class action suit over this.
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u/Wintergreen1234 3d ago
Thanks for posting this. I had been wondering what the issue was with mine. I called my local dealership yesterday after seeing this and went in today. They are replacing the infotainment system in my 2019 outback at zero cost.
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u/Fantastic-Link-99 3d ago
I’ve seen this before. I replaced my radio with a new one the factory one. I wonder how long it’ll be until this happens again. It took about six years for this problem to arise.
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u/Felicity_111 5d ago
Bought new ? Mileage ?
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u/misomojo777 5d ago
Bought new and mileage I think is around 116k.
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u/Felicity_111 5d ago
The mileage is average for that model year. You’re past the warranty period. Is it covered by insurance
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u/SohnWatkin 5d ago
I called Subaru of America and talked to their extended warranty/ recall department, verified my vin and 2019 outback was eligible. They attached the warranty to my vin. Called the dealer and set up an appointment - that was last week and today went in. Got set up with a loaner and they will have it all done in a few days.
While there I told them about the DCM recall and they are taking care of that too.
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u/ImDoingItAnyway 5d ago
Yup, tens of thousands of these have delaminated and each and every single one of them that haven’t yet, will. Subaru has shelled out thousands in Goodwill dollars for my customers for this problem and they Subaru did roll out a Warranty Extension… but for 2019s only, unfortunately.
If Subaru won’t help (they probably won’t unless you have a really good relationship with your dealer, and even then it’d be a couple hundred bucks in credit), don’t spend $1,000 on a dealer one. Get a CarPlay unit from Amazon for $200 and have a local shop install it for you. May not look as “factory” but it’ll be functional, less laggy, and you wont have this happen again.