One of the most common issues that owners of the Subaru Outback report are touchscreen problems. The built-in touchscreen center console is where most of the main functions for the Subaru Outback are controlled. When this touchscreen is not working, many features of your vehicle will become unavailable.
This guide will help you figure out what is causing your Subaru Outback touchscreen issues and offer some troubleshooting methods that can help you address these issues. If you own a Subaru Outback and are having touchscreen issues, it is important that you address them as soon as possible.
Driving with a broken touchscreen console can cause dangerous driving conditions for you and others. The information in this guide can help you resolve these issues quickly and easily.
Starlink is the software that controls the media functions of Subaru vehicles. Using Starlink, users can pair their compatible devices and control the with their vehicle’s touchscreen console.
You can use the information provided in this guide to help you accurately identify and resolve any types of issues that could be causing your touchscreen issues.
It is important that you address any issues regarding your touchscreen as soon as possible. It can be dangerous to drive with this part of your vehicle not functioning correctly.
Common causes of the touchscreen issues include bugs and glitches, out-of-date software, faulty cables, and components, or out-of-date firmware. All of these issues have been discussed in detail in this guide along with detailed troubleshooting methods that you can consider for solving these issues.
Why Is Subaru Touch Screen Not Working
The next part of this guide will focus on the different reasons that your Subaru Outback touchscreen is not functioning properly. You should use this list to help you identify your issue so that you can address it using the proper troubleshooting method.
1. Bug
Bugs and glitches are another common cause of Subaru touchscreen issues. These types of errors are typically caused by some type of internal run-time issue that the software has encountered. All software applications are subject to the occasional bug or glitch that causes errors with functionality.
When you encounter bugs and glitches, they quite often resolve themselves. Because of the random nature and ambiguity of the causes of these types of errors, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of your issues.
That being said, persistent issues that are attributed to bugs or glitches can be solved using the troubleshooting methods listed below. All of the methods in this list have been proven to resolve touchscreen issues that are being caused by bugs or glitches.
Fix one: Perform Cycle Key
A cycle key is the best way to fix your Subaru Outback touchscreen software when you are experiencing display issues.
To do this, you will first need to turn your vehicle all the way off. This includes accessory mode and the engine. If your vehicle does not turn off until you exit the vehicle you should open and shut your door to simulate this.
Once you have ensured that the vehicle has shut down completely, including all radio and touchscreen functions, you should leave the car off for at least 2 minutes before starting it back up.
After you have done this, you will have successfully key cycled your Subaru vehicle. This is the best way to encourage the resolution of display issues caused by bugs and glitches.
Fix Two: Perform a Soft reset
A soft reset is another way that you can help encourage your Subaru Outback touchscreen software to resolve any internal issues that could be causing your black screen issues.
To perform a soft reset on your vehicle, you will first need to press and hold the Volume for at least 30 seconds.
You should continue to hold down these buttons until the screen goes black. This will usually take around thirty seconds.
If the screen is already black due to black screen issues, simply holding down the volume button will automatically start the soft reset process.
After the soft reset process is complete, your display issues should be resolved. All of your user settings will remain intact after you complete the soft reset process.
Fix Three: Perform Master Reset
If you are experiencing persistent errors with your Subaru Outback touchscreen, you should consider doing a master reset of the Subaru Outback touchscreen software system. The process to do this is extremely simple.
All you need to do to perform a master reset of your Subaru Outback’s touchscreen software system is to enter into the settings menu and selecting the factory reset option.
Once you have selected the option to factory reset your Subaru Outback, you will see the system reset notification on your touchscreen console. Follow the on-screen prompts to finish the Master Reset process.
This will perform a complete reformatting and refresh all of the files associated with your Subaru Outback software. This can usually resolve most issues that you are having with your Subaru Outback.
You will only be able to perform a master reset of your Subaru Outback touchscreen system while your vehicle is stationary. This is a safety feature that helps keep drivers from editing Bluetooth settings while driving.
Obviously, if you are unable to use your touch screen due to there being no display or unresponsive, you should attempt to first soft reset your vehicle. Initiating the master reset in this manner will call for the use of the touchscreen in some capacity.
Fix Four: Wait For A Few Days
You could simply attempt to wait out your issue. Bugs and glitches usually resolve themselves without any additional action from the user. If you simply wait for a few days, there is a possibility that your issue will resolve itself.
This may not be an ideal solution but it can save you time and a headache when trying to resolve your Subaru Outback’s touchscreen issues. If you are able to wait for the problem to resolve itself then this could be your best option for dealing with bugs and glitches.
Fix Five – Contact Dealership or Subaru
If you are still experiencing problems with your Subaru Outback’s touchscreen software after resetting and updating your software, you should consider contacting Subaru to get additional support for your issue.
Subaru, or your licensed Subaru dealer, can offer additional troubleshooting methods and suggestions for resolutions to the issue that you are experiencing.
You can contact Subaru by phone or on their website. You can also take your vehicle to the Subaru dealership to have them take a look at your Subaru’s touchscreen system.
If you choose to contact Subaru online or by phone, then you will need to provide a detailed account of your issue.
A Subaru technician will be assigned to your case and they will help walk you through any potential troubleshooting methods that you may have overlooked. This is often the best course of action when you are having Subaru Outback touchscreen software issues.
Having to take your vehicle in for repairs or dealing with customer support remotely can be frustrating.
Rest assured that Subaru is the highest authority on your vehicle and the software that controls the touchscreen software. They can offer you the best advice for resolving your particular issue.
2. Short Circuit in the System
If there is a short circuit in your vehicle’s electrical system, this could cause you to encounter issues with your vehicle’s touchscreen. A short circuit is generally caused by faulty wiring. You should use the troubleshooting method below to help you resolve this issue.
Fix: Check the Connectors and Take The Help of a Car Electrician
You should check the connectors for your Subaru Outback’s touchscreen and get the car to an electrician for inspection if you notice there is an issue. It is not advised that you attempt to deal with connector issues yourself unless you have extensive experience dealing with wiring and electrical components.
3. Bad Cables
The cables associated with your Subaru vehicle’s touchscreen could be causing your issues. Cable issues could result in your touchscreen not receiving the proper amount of power to be used properly.
Cables are an important aspect of your vehicle and should be maintained and checked regularly to ensure that they are functioning correctly.
Fix: Disconnect, Then Reconnect Cables
You should consider disconnecting and reconnecting all of the cables associated with your vehicle’s touchscreen. This will help reestablish a connection that might have been faulty in your touchscreen wiring.
You should be cautious while disconnecting and reconnecting these wires and only do so when the vehicle is powered all the way off. It is also not advised that you attempt to fix your touchscreen’s cable unless you have some degree of prior electrical and mechanical knowledge.
If you notice connection issues with your touchscreen you should take your car to a licensed technician before trying to remedy the issue yourself. A Subaru technician will be able to help you with your issue.
4. Display is Faulty
If your touchscreen console display has been damaged or has cable connection issues, it could cause black screen issues. Display issues are rare, but could be caused by old age, misuse, or damage from a crash or exposure to liquid.
If you experience black screen issues persistently, then you likely have a damaged display and will not be able to properly use it until the issue is addressed.
A display can be rather expensive to fix so it is important that you rule out all other causes of your black screen issue before considering replacement or repair.
Fix – Recover or Replace
You should consider taking your vehicle to the Subaru dealership to have it repaired or replaced. Your touchscreen display is not something that can be easily repaired at home and should only be attempted by a certified Subaru technician.
A Subaru mechanic will be able to examine your display and determine whether a repair or replacement is appropriate. If you are lucky, they will determine that your problem is caused by software issues, which will save you a lot of money on display repairs.
5. There’s No Power Going to It
If your battery is running low on power or there is some kind of power transfer issue, it could cause your touchscreen display to not work correctly. If your touchscreen is not receiving the proper amount of power, you will experience black screen issues.
There are also fuses associated with your touchscreen console that could have been blown and need replacing. Power issues are a common cause of your black screen issues. Power issues are one of the main causes of touchscreen issues.
Since your Subaru Outback’s touchscreen uses a significant amount of power to use, when it does not receive the proper amount of power it will not function properly.
Fix – Check Fuse Box
You should check the fuse box to ensure that any blown fuses are identified and replaced. This will ensure that your center console display has the proper power to function. The fuse box for your infotainment console will be located in varying positions depending on the model of Subaru Outback that you own.
You should consult your vehicle’s user manual for the exact location of the fuse box or take it to a mechanic and have them examine it for you. Since there are electrical components involved, it is very important that you access the fuse box carefully and only when the car is completely powered off.
6. Subaru Starlink Out of Date
The most common cause of Subaru Outback touchscreen issues is out-of-date software. Like any software-based application, your Subaru depends on regularly scheduled updates to maintain optimal performance.
Without these updates, the Starlink software that is used to control your touchscreen will likely encounter more frequent errors, including the screening going black and being unresponsive.
Updates that are released for your Subaru Outback will generally include many bug fixes and patches that will serve to remove these errors. Because of this, it is important that you always stay up to date with your software updates.
You will need to manually download and install any updates that are available for your vehicle. The process to correctly do this will be outlined in the suggested troubleshooting method below.
Fix – Update Subaru Starlink
To start the update process for your Subaru Starlink software, you will first need to start the engine of your vehicle. Select the I Agree button when prompted. Once your vehicle and the audio unit have completely powered on, enter into the Settings menu on your vehicle’s touchscreen.
Once in the Settings menu of your vehicle, select the General tab. In the General tab, you will see the System Information tab. Enter into the System Information tab and you be able to see if your current software version matches the most recent version released by Subaru.
If it does not match the most recent version of the software release for your vehicle, then you will need to connect your Subaru Outback to an internet connection using Wi-Fi. To do this, enter back into your vehicle’s Settings menu using the touchscreen. Enter into the General tab found there and you will see the Wi-Fi menu.
In the Wi-Fi menu, ensure that it is turned on and enabled. You will also be able to choose what connection you wish to use in the Wi-Fi menu. Once you have selected the appropriate internet connection, enter back into the Settings menu and General tab.
In the General menu, you will see the Check For Updates option located at the bottom of the screen. Select the Check For Updates option and your Subaru Outback will automatically detect any available updates for your vehicle.
Once the update files have been located, you will be prompted to download and install the update files. Confirm this, and the vehicle will automatically begin the update process. Once the update has been completed, the system will restart and you will be using the most current version of the Starlink Software.
Final Thoughts
This guide has provided you with all of the information that you need to resolve your Subaru Outback touchscreen issues. This issue causes the infotainment console to not display correctly and can be extremely frustrating.
You can use the information provided in this guide to help you accurately identify and resolve any types of issues that could be causing your touchscreen issues. It is important that you address any issues regarding your touchscreen as soon as possible. It can be dangerous to drive with this part of your vehicle not functioning correctly.
Common causes of the touchscreen issues include bugs and glitches, out-of-date software, faulty cables, and components, or out-of-date firmware. All of these issues have been discussed in detail in this guide along with detailed troubleshooting methods that you can consider for solving these issues.
It is important that you do not operate a vehicle that is exhibiting touchscreen issues and that you do not try to remedy them while driving.
I have a Subaru VX – 5 years old. The touch screen has come away from the glass? The screen has been unresponsive once – any idea how this would happen as they are quoting $7,000 to fix for a new one?