Skip to main content

Subaru Recalls Outback, Legacy, BRZ; Rearview Camera Will Not Display

Subaru recalls certain Outback, Legacy, and BRZ models for a rearview camera malfunction. Is your vehicle on the list?

Subaru is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a combination of the Harman Kardon audio system display hardware and software may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the rearview camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the image will not display while backing up the vehicle.

According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of potentially involved vehicles is 71,190. The recall affects certain 2018 Subaru Outback, Legacy and BRZ models. The number of affected Outback vehicles is 61,443 and Legacy vehicles is 7,279. The number of affected BRZ vehicles is 2,468.

What you should do

You should contact your Subaru dealer for an appointment to have the audio system display software updated in your vehicle, free of charge. Until this repair is performed, Subaru advises owners to use caution when driving in reverse if the rearview image is not displayed. “You should always check the rear view and the surrounding area by turning your head rearward and/or using the mirrors and move backward at a slow speed.”

Subaru manufactures the Outback and Legacy models at the U.S. plant in Lafayette, Indiana, and the Subaru BRZ is made in Japan. Vehicles not included in the recall have a different head unit supplier or have a different hardware/software combination.

In another recall last year, The 2018 Subaru Outback and Legacy models were recalled due to a software error. The low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty. This was part of a larger global recall affecting all 2018 Subaru Outback and Legacy models.

Remedy

Subaru has notified 2018 Outback, Legacy, and BRZ owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The time to perform this software update is approximately 30 minutes. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-844-373-6614, and Subaru's number for this recall is WTZ-85.

Leave your comments below, share the article with friends and tweet it out to your followers!

Follow all Subaru news on FacebookTwitter and Instagram

Photo credit: Subaru

Comments

Eric (not verified)    February 24, 2019 - 3:47PM

Certain 2018 Crosstreks were recalled in a Subaru email two months ago. The reason for the recall was not given in the notice, but a search of the recall in online blogs, gave the Harmon Karmon back up camera issue. One time my camera blacked out, but I stopped and restarted car, and was fine. Federal regulations are driving the safety recall. Subaru website does not allow online booking of repair appointment, without first speaking to an appointment specialist, so naturally convenient to delay repair until vehicle maintenance service is needed.

JOHN A. FORRESTER (not verified)    March 7, 2019 - 4:17PM

My outback head unit has been one problem after another over the course of the first year of ownership. If the rest of a subaru were is horrible as that system, they would be out of business fast.