00:00Subaru drivers file complaints over ads being shown on infotainment screen.
00:05Subaru drivers are speaking out after a number of complaints surfaced online about full-screen ads taking over dashboard touchscreens, sometimes while the vehicle is in motion.
00:14The controversy started gaining more attention shortly before Thanksgiving, when a Subaru owner posted to Reddit about an ad that took over his 11.6-inch infotainment screen while driving.
00:24He urged other drivers to file complaints with NHTSA to get the issue on the radar of federal regulators.
00:32One user said the ad took over his AC controls and CarPlay navigation system, leaving him no choice but to touch the screen to regain control of basic functions while still driving.
00:42The issue appears to involve serious XM promotional messages, which, according to Subaru, are shown twice a year, once around Memorial Day and again near Thanksgiving.
00:52This is the first we've heard of any issue, the company said.
00:57But this wasn't the first time the problem had come up.
01:00If I don't have any business with serious XM, YouTuber Louis Rossman said, then I should not have to sign up for an account just to stop the ad.
01:08Some have also wondered aloud whether such advertising could fall under state lemon laws, especially when the ads interfere with safety features or required driver functions.
01:17This Subaru issue comes as automakers look for new revenue through tech features.
01:23Toyota charges up to $25 per month for services like remote start and door unlocking, while Stellantis has fielded complaints about in-vehicle ads.
01:32Subaru drivers, meanwhile, say their dashboard ads promote third-party services like SiriusXM or NFL content.
01:39According to Kelly Blue Book, the average price for a new vehicle hit $50,080 this past September, a record high.
01:48Even so, manufacturers continue looking for new revenue streams, including advertising space inside the car itself.
01:54For now, Subaru says they're listening to customer concerns.
01:58But if the complaints keep coming, especially those tied to safety risks, regulators may get involved.
Be the first to comment