Pop-up ads have started appearing in Subarus, and owners aren't happy

[Kamaji]

Pop-up ads have started appearing in Subarus, and owners aren't happy

Story by Leon Poultney

* Ads for Sirius XM are popping up in Subarus
* Japanese marque claims it has had no complaints
* A growing number of manufacturers are trialling in-car ads

According to reports from Subaru owners in North America, pop-up ads have started appearing on the infotainment systems of a number of models, causing a Reddit and forum-based outcry from those not pleased about the decision.

One Reddit user said an advertisement for Sirius XM popped up on the screen while driving at 55mph, and the owner stated they “almost wrecked because of it.”

This caused a number of other commenters to wade in on the thread, with some claiming it has only happened occasionally and, by ticking the ‘do not show me again’ button, it prevents the ads from appearing.

While others have said they receive the pop-up once or twice and week, claiming it “startles” them each time. One Reddit user said: “This seriously p*ssed me off when it happened to me, also when I was driving”.

The Autopian contacted Subaru for comment, but the Japanese marque claimed it was “the first we’ve heard of any issue” and that it hadn’t directly received any negative comments from customers until now.

In-car ads aren’t going away

Stellantis, which is the parent company of Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, Fiat, and many more, has hit the headlines on multiple occasions this year over reports that it too has been pushing pop-up ads to the infotainment systems of its models.

What’s more, users complained there was no way to opt out of the advertisements, with Setallantis claiming it was merely a glitch.

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Source:  https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/pop-up-ads-have-started-appearing-in-subarus-and-owners-aren-t-happy/

[Kamaji]

This should be flat-out illegal.

[DB]

Link doesn't work.

[Kamaji]

Link doesn't work.

@DB

Try this one:  https://www.carscoops.com/2025/03/could-pop-up-ads-in-cars-become-a-thing-experts-think-so/

[Timber Rattler]

Somebody will get killed in an accident because of the distraction.

[DB]

@DB

Try this one:  https://www.carscoops.com/2025/03/could-pop-up-ads-in-cars-become-a-thing-experts-think-so/

That worked, thank you.

[Smokin Joe]

This should be flat-out illegal.

Yep. Anything that distracts a driver from their operation of the vehicle is a hazard, not only to the driver and any passengers, but to everyone else on the road (or nearby) around them.

Advertisements are DESIGNED to capture and keep your attention!

Not a formula for safety, IMHO.

I do not own a vehicle with a screen in the dash. I rented two in the past year, and both times, the first thing I did was close the screen out. Bad enough being in a novel vehicle driving in East Coast traffic without having something competing for my attention.

[Kamaji]

Yep. Anything that distracts a driver from their operation of the vehicle is a hazard, not only to the driver and any passengers, but to everyone else on the road (or nearby) around them.

Advertisements are DESIGNED to capture and keep your attention!

Not a formula for safety, IMHO.

I do not own a vehicle with a screen in the dash. I rented two in the past year, and both times, the first thing I did was close the screen out. Bad enough being in a novel vehicle driving in East Coast traffic without having something competing for my attention.

I like the big screen in my Subaru Outback for map displays, but it can be a distraction to look for the environmental controls or the music controls. 

And, just for the record, I haven’t seen any ads on it from Subaru or from Sirius xm, although I keep getting emails from Sirius. 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

The infotainment system come Sirius/SM ready and if you don't join and try to go to XM source, it displays you a phone number to call, I wonder if that is what they mean by ad?