by Subaru Owners Complain About SiriusXM Ads While Driving
Automaker Stellantis faced a wave of criticism earlier this year after numerous owners began receiving unwanted pop-up advertisements on their vehicles’ infotainment screens. Now, Subaru, a company known for building practical family cars, is joining this unwanted list. A controversy is unfolding around in-car advertising.
Owners report that the messages appear not just at an inconvenient time, but at the worst possible moment – while the vehicle is in motion. The way they take over the screen creates serious safety risks.
Owner Community Shares Evidence and Concerns
Owners are actively discussing the issue on platforms like Reddit and specialized Subaru forums. They are not only talking about it but also providing visual evidence of their complaints. One of the most shared posts belongs to user bajungadustin, who recounted nearly getting into an accident because of such an ad.
“I’ve gotten this Sirius XM ad a few times over the last few years. The last time was the final straw because I almost crashed because of it. My entire infotainment screen changed, forcing me to take my eyes off the road. Since I was going 55 mph in the winter, I drifted a bit off my trajectory, got into a skid, and almost went into a ditch. This wouldn’t have happened if that ad hadn’t popped up.”
The problem, it turns out, has existed for several years but is only now gaining widespread attention. As far back as 2022, a Subaru owner mentioned receiving Sirius XM ads, despite never subscribing to the service.
What is Subaru’s Response?
When The Autopian publication reached out to Subaru for comment, the company stated it was hearing such complaints for the first time. Subaru declined to answer questions about the frequency of the ads, ways to disable them, or their potential danger as a driver distraction.
“We will discuss these messages at an upcoming meeting and always take customer feedback into account. This is the first we are hearing of this issue. These messages appear twice a year: around Memorial Day and Thanksgiving, to inform customers that all channels are available to them for about two weeks.”
Previous Cases and Legal Aspects
Earlier this year, Stellantis explained the appearance of unskippable ads at every stop as a software glitch. And in November, a 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee owner reported new advertisements about buying a new Jeep appearing in their SUV.
It’s clear that car owners do not appreciate advertisements appearing in their vehicles. Some community figures, including consumer rights advocates and prominent YouTubers like Louis Rossmann and Steve Lehto, argue that the presence of unwanted ads while driving could fall under consumer protection or “lemon” laws.
The reasoning is that if a vehicle has features that create a distraction risk, cannot be permanently disabled, and degrade the ownership experience, then perhaps it does not meet the promised standard of a “safe car.” While this issue has not yet been challenged in court, such cases make such a development almost inevitable.
This Subaru situation points to a broader trend in the automotive industry, where manufacturers are increasingly viewing infotainment systems as a new platform for monetization and customer communication. However, as the complaints show, the balance between added services and basic driving safety has been disrupted. The question of who bears responsibility for the potential consequences of such distracting messages – the manufacturer, software provider, or service provider – remains open. Subaru’s further response to these “new” complaints for them could become an important precedent for the entire market, determining whether a car’s screen can be considered the driver’s private space or an open advertising medium.
