Subaru Owner Complains About Ads Appearing On Infotainment Screens As Cars Advance

JAKARTA A number of car owners Subaru expressed complaints regarding the appearance of a pop-up ad SiriusXM on their vehicle infotainment screen. This disturbance was complained about because it appeared without warning, even when the car was driving, so it was considered to have the potential to disrupt the driver's concentration.

Complaints began to be widely discussed after SiriusXM's promotional message, which offered free access until December, appeared on various Subaru models ahead of Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States. Despite its seasonal promotion, the message is still considered annoying because it uses the main screen that is the center of control of the vehicle.

One of the owners of Subaru Crosstrek 2024 admitted that he had experienced a dangerous situation due to the appearance of the pop-up. He said that the infotainment screen suddenly changed completely when the car was traveling at a speed of around 55 mph.

Reporting from The Drive, Friday, December 5, the sudden change made him look away from the road and almost slipped onto the outside side of the track. He emphasized that the incident would not have occurred if an advertisement did not appear while the car was running.

Similar complaints have emerged since 2022 based on various uploads on forums and Reddit. Some owners of Subaru Outback also reported the same experience, including pop-ups that appeared when they were using Apple CarPlay.

This condition raises criticism that the appearance of vehicles that should focus on safety functions is actually being used for promotion purposes. Responding to the controversy, Subaru stated that SiriusXM's notification only appears twice a year, around Memorial Day and Thanksgiving.

The ad is to inform you of free access over a certain period. The company also said that this is the first time they have received complaints about it, and will review user feedback in an internal meeting.

However, the voice of the Subaru community of owners shows that this disturbance has been going on for several years. Many think that advertising shouldn't appear when the car is being driven because it has the potential to distract. Others say pop-ups have appeared frequently in 2022, but are now rare.

There has been no official decision from Subaru regarding whether this practice will be terminated or an option will be given to disable it. However, increasing complaints show that the promotional model through the connected vehicle system is still a sensitive issue, especially with regard to driver comfort and safety factors.