Subaru’s are popular vehicles, and for good reason. They are incredibly reliable and boast incredible longevity, often lasting fifteen years or more. Newer Subaru’s are equipped with great features like the touchscreen that makes navigation and connecting to your smartphone easier than ever.
But what happens when your Subaru touchscreen stops working? It can be frustrating on the road to suddenly be without the ease of the touchscreen at your fingertips.
Here’s what to do if you find yourself with a frozen or unresponsive Subaru touchscreen.
First, determine the cause of the issues you are experiencing with your touchscreen.
There could be a problem with the operating system, power supply, or even a short circuit. Try to resolve any of these issues by:
- Resetting or restarting the screen system.
- Check the connectors and fuses.
- Consult with an electrician.
- Contact your car dealer if the problem persists.
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Why is the touchscreen not responding?
There are three common issues that many Subaru owners experience that may be causing your touchscreen to be unresponsive or frozen.
1. The Operating System Error
Your touchscreen may be frozen or unresponsive due to a ‘bug’ or error that occurred in the operating system. These are common in Subaru systems and may be fixable with a simple soft reset.
2. Short Circuit
Sometimes, an electrical current can flow through the wrong route rather than the intended circuit, causing it to short circuit. You’ll know your system is short-circuiting if you notice a burning smell, flickering lights in the car, or see melted residue on wires. It’s important to resolve a short-circuited system immediately to prevent a fire.
3. Power Supply Problem/Blown Fuse
The third most common problem is with the power supply. The power supply button is right beside your touchscreen. Turn it off and check the box to see if the fuse has detached or blown out. A fuse blows to prevent the power supply from getting to the car head unit, forcing the touchscreen to shut down for safety.
Does the touchscreen problem affect all Subaru Models?
Newer Subaru models from 2016 have similar issues with their touchscreens. A class action lawsuit filed against Subaru in 2020 claims that there are problems with the Starlink infotainment system developed by Harman International in Subaru touchscreens.
Drivers have reported that these touchscreens would be unresponsive or the backup camera would freeze. Sometimes, the central head unit would stop working entirely, needing to be replaced.
Some manuals indicate that touchscreen operations may be impacted by proximity to TV towers, power plants, filling stations, broadcast stations, large displays, airports, or any other place from which strong radio waves or noise emanates.
They also mention that issues may arise when carrying or charging a portable wireless communication device, such as a radio or cellular phone, in the vehicle.
Can you just reset the frozen screen?
Yes! Depending on the Subaru model you have, you can take a few simple steps to reset a frozen screen.
How to Reset the touchscreen in different Subaru Models
Subaru Crosstrek
To reset the unresponsive touchscreen in your Subaru Crosstrek, press and hold down the power, tune, and CD ejector buttons simultaneously for at least 10 seconds. Doing so will reset and restart both the touchscreen and the head unit system.
Subaru Forester
Like on a Subaru Crosstrek, pressing the power/volume, tune/scroll, and CD ejector buttons on your Forester touchscreen will reset it. The tune and volume buttons are located just below the screen, and the CD ejector is above the tune/scroll button. Continue pressing the buttons until the screen turns off and reboots.
Subaru Outback
The reset button on the Subaru Outback’s touchscreen is located on the left volume knob of the touchscreen display. Hold down this button until a message pops up saying, “Would you like to turn the display off?” Simply keep pressing the reset button until the screen turns black. The system will then reset and restart.
What to do if your Subaru touchscreen doesn’t work
If your Subaru is experiencing one of the three most common issues with the touchscreen, check out these fixes that may solve your problem.
1. Reset
Try resetting the system to resolve a frozen or black screen. A soft reset is excellent because it does not impact your data or saved settings.
If your Subaru touchscreen stays frozen after resetting it, you might have a defective operating system. You should call your car dealer to resolve the issue, especially if the vehicle is still under warranty. They might replace the head unit where the touchscreen is located or update any necessary software.
2. Circuit Check
If you suspect you may have a short circuit, be sure to check the connectors. If that does not resolve the issues, you may need to contact an auto electrician for expert advice.
3. Power Supply Check
If you do find that you have blown a fuse, remove the blown fuse and replace it with the correct amperage fuse. It is crucial to find the correct amperage or your replacement could cause more issues.
4. Expert Help
Are your DIY attempts to fix your touch screen falling short? If all else fails, don’t hesitate to call in the experts for assistance.
If your car is under warranty, the manufacturer or dealer may be able to fix your touchscreen for free. If not, it is still worth a call to a mechanic, dealership, or auto electrician who can expertly service your vehicle’s touchscreen.
Can you replace a Subaru touchscreen?
Your car dealership can replace a Subaru touchscreen for you if none of the other fixes resolves the issue. If you are handy with cars, you can even purchase a replacement touchscreen and install it yourself to save some cash.
Subaru touchscreen replacement cost
If you choose the DIY route, an after-market replacement screen will run you about $245. You can also browse official Subaru parts and accessories for purchase in your area on the Subaru website.
No matter where you purchase your new screen, saving on labor costs is a huge benefit to doing it yourself. There are many YouTube tutorials online that will provide step-by-step instructions.
If you decide to get your replacement touch screen at the dealership or certified mechanic, it will likely cost you between $1,000-$1,500 for parts and labor, depending on your location.
