Subaru Dashboards Turn Into a Pile of Sticky, Shiny Goo

Can Subaru dashboards handle the heat? A class-action lawsuit says 2005-2009 Legacy and Outback dashboards melt into a pile of sticky, shiny goo when exposed to heat and humidity.

The melted dashboards pose multiple safety risks:

1. They reflect a shine onto the windshields creating images that interfere with the driver’s ability to see
2. Some are worried that the deformed dash may impact the airbag’s ability to deploy properly
3. They give off a terrible chemical smell

Subaru Dashboard Lawsuit ∞

It should come as no surprise that the lawsuit, Janet Parks, Duane Gooch, Redmond Kelley and Gabor Vigh vs. Subaru of America, Inc. and Fuji Heavy Industries, LTD, was filed in the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida where they know a thing or two about heat and humidity.

The plaintiffs claim that Subaru has known about the problem because the dashboards had undergone testing where they were exposed to heat and humidity long-term. In addition, Subaru has received plenty of complaints and warranty repair requests.

The lawsuit seeks reimbursement for replaced dashboards which can run as much as $1000. Of course, there’s another problem — there’s no guarantee the replacement dash won’t just turn into the same melted mess.