Two class actions allege that Subaru EyeSight can brake with nothing in the way, fail to brake when needed, or pull the steering wheel. They target its Pre-Collision Braking, Rear Automatic Braking and Lane Keep Assist.
Sampson v. Subaru of America settled without Subaru admitting fault, and the Court approved the settlement in November 2025. Subaru denies the claims, and no court has decided for either side.
Hall v. Subaru of America, a proposed class action over combustion-powered models from the 2022 model year on, was filed May 11, 2026 in federal court in New Jersey and remains pending.
- Case or litigation name: Sampson, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc. (settled class action); Hall, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc. (pending proposed class action)
- Defendants: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Court and docket number, when available: U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey: Sampson 1:21-cv-10284-ESK-SAK (settlement website); Hall 1:26-cv-05266
- MDL number, judge, and case count, when an MDL exists: No MDL
- Filing date: April 27, 2021 (Sampson); May 11, 2026 (Hall)
- Main allegations: Plaintiffs allege EyeSight Pre-Collision Braking, Rear Automatic Braking and Lane Keep Assist brake with nothing ahead or behind, fail to brake when needed, and steer the vehicle unexpectedly; Subaru denies the claims
- Products or people involved: Sampson: certain Subaru models from model years 2013 to 2024 identified by VIN; Hall: Subaru combustion-powered models from the 2022 model year on
Table Of Contents
- Latest Subaru EyeSight Lawsuit Updates
- May 11, 2026: Hall Class Action Targets Newer EyeSight Models
- January 6, 2026: Road & Track Reports Settlement Terms
- November 3, 2025: Court Holds Final Fairness Hearing and Approves Settlement
- September 27, 2025: Sampson Claim Deadline Passes
- August 28, 2025: Exclusion and Objection Deadline Passes
- July 29, 2025: Warranty Extension Takes Effect
- March 31, 2025: Court Preliminarily Approves Sampson Settlement
- April 27, 2021: Sampson Class Action Filed
- What Is Subaru EyeSight?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Potential Compensation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
Latest Subaru EyeSight Lawsuit Updates
May 11, 2026: Hall Class Action Targets Newer EyeSight Models
Autoblog reported that Alexander Hall and Laurene Germano filed Hall v. Subaru of America, Inc. on May 11, 2026, over newer models with EyeSight [1].
The proposed class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, docket 1:26-cv-05266, before Judge Karen M. Williams. The 87-page complaint alleges EyeSight braking and lane-keeping defects in 2022 and newer models.
January 6, 2026: Road & Track Reports Settlement Terms
Road & Track reported the terms of the Sampson class settlement on January 6, 2026 [2]. The nine named plaintiffs receive $5,000 each. Class counsel receives $2,428,118.67. The settlement also includes a warranty extension and expense reimbursement.
November 3, 2025: Court Holds Final Fairness Hearing and Approves Settlement
The Final Fairness Hearing in Sampson v. Subaru of America was held on November 3, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. (EST). The Court approved the class settlement in November 2025, according to the settlement website [3].
September 27, 2025: Sampson Claim Deadline Passes
The settlement website says the deadline to submit a claim in the Sampson settlement passed on September 27, 2025. It applied to class members seeking reimbursement for EyeSight repairs they had already paid for.
The date fell after the exclusion and objection deadline of August 28, 2025, and before the Final Fairness Hearing on November 3, 2025.
August 28, 2025: Exclusion and Objection Deadline Passes
The deadline to exclude yourself from the Sampson settlement passed on August 28, 2025. The deadline to object to the settlement passed the same day, the settlement site says.
The exclusion deadline applied to owners who wanted to stay out of the settlement. Both dates followed the July 29, 2025 warranty extension.
July 29, 2025: Warranty Extension Takes Effect
Effective July 29, 2025, Subaru of America extended the New Vehicle Limited Warranties on Settlement Class Vehicles, the settlement site says. The extension covers 75% of the cost of a Covered Repair.
It lasts up to 4 years or 48,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicle’s In-Service Date. The extension is a benefit of the Sampson settlement.
March 31, 2025: Court Preliminarily Approves Sampson Settlement
glassBYTEs reported in August 2025 that the New Jersey federal court preliminarily approved the Sampson class settlement on March 31, 2025 [4].
Preliminary approval came before the exclusion, objection and claim deadlines of August 28 and September 27, 2025. The Final Fairness Hearing followed on November 3, 2025.
April 27, 2021: Sampson Class Action Filed
Plaintiffs filed the Sampson class action against Subaru of America on April 27, 2021, according to the same glassBYTEs report. The case number is 1:21-cv-10284 in the District of New Jersey.
The suit alleges Subaru failed to disclose defects in its EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. The settlement site lists the full docket as 1:21-cv-10284-ESK-SAK.
What Is Subaru EyeSight?
According to Subaru, EyeSight is a driver-assist system. It may not operate optimally under all driving conditions [5]. Subaru says it warns a driver who sways outside the lane.
Subaru says it uses dual-color cameras near the rearview mirror. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentive driving. Both cases center on what EyeSight does when it brakes or steers.
Who May Be Affected?
The Sampson settlement class covered current and former owners or lessees of certain vehicles. They were bought or leased in the continental United States. The vehicles were identified by VIN. The covered models were:
- 2013-2022 Legacy and Outback
- 2015-2023 Impreza and Crosstrek
- 2014-2021 Forester
- 2019-2022 Ascent
- 2016-2021 WRX
- 2022-2024 BRZ
The Hall complaint covers Subaru’s combustion-powered lineup from the 2022 model year on. Qualifying depends on an individual legal review.
Owners whose brakes applied with nothing ahead, failed to apply, or whose steering pulled during lane changes match the allegations.
Reported Injuries or Damages
As Repairer Driven News describes it, the Sampson complaint alleges the system brakes when nothing is in front or behind [6].
It also alleges automatic braking sometimes fails to activate. It says Lane Keep Assist tries to correct the vehicle’s steering.
The Hall complaint alleges unexpected hard braking on highways, in turns and on empty roads. It also alleges failure to brake when a hazard is ahead. It says Lane Keep Assist can yank the steering wheel or stop working.
One Crosstrek driver in the Hall complaint alleges neck and shoulder pain after the SUV braked on an empty country road. These are allegations, not court findings.
The Hall complaint also cites many complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many involve phantom braking at highway speeds.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep these records for any EyeSight braking or steering event:
- Repair invoices and proof of payment for EyeSight work
- The vehicle identification number (VIN) and model year
- Dealer service records and any dealer response to your complaints
- Photographs or dash-camera video of braking events
- The date, place and speed of each event
- Any complaint you filed with NHTSA
- Medical records, if you were injured
- Police or insurance reports
Keep the original records. Write down each event soon after it happens. Before you repair or sell the vehicle, photograph the problem and copy your service history.
Filing Deadlines
Filing deadlines depend on state law, on where the owner lives and on when the problem or injury happened. A missed deadline can end a claim, so a lawyer should be consulted promptly.
The Sampson settlement claim, exclusion and objection deadlines have already passed, so a Sampson claim can no longer be filed.
Potential Compensation
A vehicle-defect claim can seek repair costs and out-of-pocket expenses. If a person is hurt, it can also seek medical expenses.
The Sampson settlement gave class members a warranty extension. It also reimbursed 75% of past paid repairs. Those benefits come from that settlement. They do not decide any other case.
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case’s facts, such as the vehicle, the model year and any injury, shape potential compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Recent Lawsuits Against Subaru?
The recent lawsuits against Subaru over EyeSight are Sampson and Hall. Both allege Subaru concealed the problems. Sampson points to advertising and manuals. Hall says Subaru kept promoting EyeSight as a must-have safety feature. Subaru denies the Sampson claims.
Did Subaru Admit Fault in the EyeSight Settlement?
Subaru did not admit fault in the EyeSight settlement. Repairer Driven News reported that Subaru settled the Sampson case without admitting fault, and Subaru continues to deny the claims in that case.
How Can I Check Whether My Subaru Was in the EyeSight Settlement?
You can check whether your Subaru was in the EyeSight settlement with the VIN Lookup Portal on the settlement website. A matching model and year alone does not show coverage. Specific vehicle identification numbers set it.
What Does the Research Say About Subaru EyeSight Problems?
The research on Subaru EyeSight problems is limited. In January 2026, Car and Driver could find no NHTSA recall or investigation for the Sampson EyeSight allegations. The Hall complaint relies on consumer complaints to NHTSA, which are reports and not regulator findings.
References
- https://autos.yahoo.com/safety-and-recalls/articles/subaru-eyesight-lawsuit-says-cars-134500634.html
- https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a69927514/subaru-eyesight-lawsuit-ends-after-4-years-plaintiffs-lawyers-get-2-4-million-dollars/
- https://www.eyesightsettlement.com/
- https://glassbytes.com/2025/08/subaru-owners-could-see-settlement-over-alleged-adas-flaws/
- https://www.subaru.com/eyesight.html
- https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2026/01/07/new-jersey-judge-finalizes-settlement-in-subaru-eyesight-driver-assist-suit/