Subaru settles long-running driver-assistance class-action lawsuit

Subaru drivers make up a small share of the U.S. auto market, but tend to be loyal to the brand.

In the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index, released in November 2025, Subaru ranked second for mass-market brands, trailing only Buick. Car & Driver also named three Subaru models to its 2025 Editors' Choice List.

Despite its solid reputation, Subaru has sold between 600,000 and 660,000 cars in the U.S. In comparison, Americans purchase more than 2.3 million Toyotas annually, and Ford sells over 2 million vehicles each year, according to automotive sales tracking firm GoodCarBadCar.

I'm surprised more people don't drive Subies, because they tend to hold their value better than many competitors, according to Kelley Blue Book. And as a former Subaru owner, I can attest that these cars stay on the road for a long time.

When we sold our Legacy a couple of years ago, it had well over 200,000 miles on it, had survived a teenage driver, and still had years of life in it.

Plaintiffs alleged Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance technology was defective

Despite those accolades, 2026 is off to a challenging start for Subaru.

Subaru announced it has settled a major class-action lawsuit after a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey granted final approval to the settlement, formally resolving claims tied to Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance technology.

For background, in April 2021 nine plaintiffs sued Subaru, claiming the company's EyeSight pre-collision braking, rear automated braking, and lane-keeping assist (LKA) features in certain 2013-2021 models could malfunction, according to CarComplaints.

About 3.4 million Subarus are implicated in the lawsuit, including Outback, Forester, Legacy, and Crosstrek models, according to a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) statement.

The plaintiffs alleged Subaru failed to adequately warn customers about problems with the automatic emergency braking systems, which allegedly had defects with software calibration from multiple control modules. The class action lawsuit alleged the brakes would activate when there were no objects in front or behind the vehicle, per CarComplaints.

Court filings also alleged the lane-keeping assist system would shut down completely until the vehicle was restarted, preventing them from offering the safety features Subaru advertised. In some cases, the system would jerk the steering wheel, which could cause the car to steer into other vehicles.

Related: McDonald’s accused of misleading customers on McRib

“As more technology is added to vehicles, manufacturers need to ensure that driver assistance systems are integrated in such a way that enhances safety without detracting from the overall driving experience," Senior Director of Global Automotive Supplier Benchmarking and Alternative Mobility at J.D. Power Ashley Edgar said in a press release.

The lawsuit, Sampson, et al., v. Subaru of America, Inc., et al. (case number 1:21-cv-10284), was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The plaintiffs were represented by at least five law firms.

Subaru denied all wrongdoing, and as part of the settlement, the company stated that the agreement was intended to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation.

Which Subaru models are involved in the class-action lawsuit?

This settlement involves vehicles distributed by Subaru of America in the continental U.S., specifically including the models below, if they were equipped with EyeSight (excluding vehicles with EyeSight Version 4), according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• 2013- 2022MY Legacy
• 2013- 2022MY Outback
• 2015-2023MY Impreza
• 2015-2023MY Crosstrek
• 2014-2021MY Forester
• 2019-2022MY Ascent
• 2016-2021MY WRX
• 2022 and 2024MY BRZ

How much will Subaru owners get?

Each of the nine named plaintiffs will receive $5,000, while the attorneys representing the plaintiffs were awarded $2,428,118.67 in fees and expenses, according to Car & Driver.

Some Subaru owners will have their warranties extended.

According to the settlement notice published by NHTSA, the vehicle’s original 3-year/36,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty will be extended by 1 year or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.

• 100% of a qualifying EyeSight repair will be covered if the vehicle is still within the original 3-year/36,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty at the time of repair.
• 75% of a qualifying EyeSight repair will be covered by SOA if the vehicle is within the 1-year/12,000-mile warranty extension period. The remaining 25% will be the responsibility of the customer.

If the extended warranty period would have expired prior to July 29, 2025, then there will be a 4-month coverage period that expires on 11/29/2025.

• 75% of a qualifying EyeSight repair will be covered by SOA if the vehicle is within this 4-month alternative coverage period. The remaining 25% will be the responsibility of the customer.

Subaru also agreed to an extended warranty for repairs to the EyeSight system, as well as reimbursement for some out-of-pocket expenses.

Subaru agreed to cover 75 percent of repair costs, but the covered repairs are limited to 48 months or 48,000 miles from the vehicle's original in-service date, which will likely draw criticism from owners whose cars are beyond those limits.

What Subaru owners should do now

Anyone who owns a Subaru with a model year between 2013 and 2021 should check to see if the car is equipped with EyeSight (excluding Version 4).

Subaru owners should receive a settlement notice by U.S. mail or email with instructions about their eligibility for a warranty extension or reimbursement.

Beyond that:

• Gather all receipts and record repairs related to EyeSight and driver-assistance features.
• Contact your Subaru dealer if you experience EyeSight warning lights, braking irregularities, or lane-keeping assist malfunctions, as the repairs to these systems may be partially covered.
• Confirm claim deadlines related to this class-action settlement.