Subaru Class Action Lawsuit 2026: EyeSight Settlement Closed, New Braking Defect Case Filed
Quick Answer
- The original Subaru EyeSight settlement is real, closed, and paid, but a new, separate lawsuit covering 2022 to 2026 models is now active with no settlement yet.
- Prior settlement paid up to 75 percent reimbursement for repairs; the new 2026 case has no confirmed payout amount.
- There is no open claim deadline right now; the old one passed September 27, 2025, and the new case has no claim form yet.
If you’re searching “subaru class action lawsuit” in 2026, you’re likely one of two groups: someone who already filed under the closed EyeSight settlement wondering where their check is, or a newer Subaru owner just learning about a fresh lawsuit filed this May.
This case history spans two distinct lawsuits, and confusing them costs people money and time. The first settlement covered roughly 3.4 million older Subarus and closed its claim window on September 27, 2025. The second, newer case, Hall et al. v. Subaru of America, was filed May 11, 2026, and covers different model years entirely, with no payout figure confirmed yet.
This article separates the two clearly: what’s closed and paid, what’s brand new and unresolved, who qualifies for what, and what a surprising detail from the new complaint reveals, that Subaru allegedly kept selling vehicles with the same braking issue in model years built after the first settlement was already reached.
The Facts
| Case | Two separate cases: Sampson v. Subaru of America (closed, settled) and Hall et al. v. Subaru of America, No. 1:26-cv-05266 (new, active) |
| Status | Prior settlement: final approval granted November 5, 2025. New case: filed May 11, 2026, no settlement yet |
| Fund Size | Prior settlement: reimbursement paid directly by Subaru, not a capped fund. New case: Not yet confirmed |
| Est. Per Person | Prior settlement: up to 75 percent of repair costs reimbursed. New case: Not yet determined |
| Claim Deadline | Prior settlement: closed September 27, 2025. New case: no claim form exists yet |
| Administrator | Prior settlement: JND Legal Administration. New case: not yet appointed |
| Proof Needed | Prior settlement: repair invoices and VIN. New case: not applicable yet |
Is the Subaru Class Action Lawsuit Legit?
Yes, both Subaru lawsuits are real, court-filed cases, not scams or rumors circulating online.
The first case, formally Sampson v. Subaru of America, Inc., was filed in April 2021 by nine plaintiffs and resolved through a class action settlement that received final approval from a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. That case is closed and fully paid out.
The second case, Hall et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc., Case No. 1:26-cv-05266, is a fresh, separate lawsuit filed May 11, 2026, in the same court. It remains in early litigation with no settlement.
Key facts confirming legitimacy:
- Both cases are publicly filed and searchable through federal court records.
- The prior settlement’s final approval order and payment records are matters of public court record.
- The new complaint runs 87 pages and cites more than 25 NHTSA consumer complaints as supporting evidence.
Subaru EyeSight Settlement: What Did the Original Case Cover?
The original Subaru EyeSight settlement covered current and former owners and lessees of certain 2013 to 2024 Subaru vehicles equipped with EyeSight driver assistance systems, and that claim window is now closed.
The lawsuit alleged defects in three specific EyeSight features: pre-collision braking, rear automatic braking, and lane keep assist. Subaru denied all claims and maintained the systems were not defective, but agreed to settle to avoid the cost and risk of continued litigation.
Vehicles covered under the closed settlement:
- 2013-2022 Legacy and Outback
- 2014-2023 Impreza and Crosstrek
- 2014-2021 Forester
- 2019-2022 Ascent
- 2015-2021 WRX
- 2022-2024 BRZ
Key Takeaway: If you owned one of these specific model years and missed the September 27, 2025 deadline, that settlement window is permanently shut, and it has nothing to do with the new 2026 lawsuit.
Subaru Lawsuit: What Is the New 2026 Case About?
The new Subaru lawsuit, Hall et al. v. Subaru of America, alleges the EyeSight automatic emergency braking system commands unwanted brake activation with no driver input and no actual obstacle present.
Filed by plaintiffs Alexander Hall and Laurene Germano, the complaint claims a communication breakdown among the vehicle’s ABS control module, transmission control module, engine control module, and Vehicle Dynamic Control module causes unexpected hard braking in real-world driving.
Vehicles named in the new 2026 lawsuit:
| Model | Model Years Covered |
|---|---|
| Legacy, Outback, Ascent | 2023-2026 |
| Impreza, Crosstrek | 2024-2026 |
| Forester, WRX | 2022-2026 |
| BRZ | 2025-2026 |
The plaintiffs are seeking to represent a nationwide class, along with separate Maine and Virginia state classes, of everyone who purchased or leased one of these vehicles other than for resale.
Subaru Eyesight Class Action: How Much Money Could You Get?
For the new 2026 lawsuit, there is currently no confirmed payout amount, because the case is still in early litigation with no settlement reached.
For the closed, prior settlement, reimbursement terms were clearly defined and already paid out to qualifying claimants who filed on time.
Prior settlement (closed) benefits:
- Reimbursement of up to 75 percent of certain out-of-pocket EyeSight repair costs.
- A four-month warranty extension starting July 29, 2025, covering repairs during that window.
- Payments provided directly by Subaru of America, not deducted from a capped settlement fund.
- Reimbursements reduced by any amount already covered by Subaru, an insurer, or another source.
For the new case, since it was only filed in May 2026, there’s no tier structure, no fund size, and no per-person estimate yet. Any number you see claiming otherwise right now is not verified.
Reality Check
No legitimate settlement administrator will text you asking for payment information to “process” a Subaru claim before a settlement even exists, and the new 2026 case has no claim form at all yet. Filing a claim under the prior, closed settlement was always free through JND Legal Administration. If you get an unsolicited message about a new Subaru payout, verify it against official court filings before responding.
Subaru Class Action Settlement: Are Payments Still Being Mailed?
Yes, if you filed a timely claim under the original EyeSight settlement, reimbursement checks are being mailed on a rolling basis tied to when your claim was received.
Under the settlement terms, reimbursements go out within 150 days of either the claim’s receipt or the date the settlement became final, whichever comes later. Since final approval was granted November 5, 2025, most valid claims were expected to result in payment by around May 10, 2026.
If you filed before the deadline and haven’t been paid:
- Confirm your claim was submitted correctly before September 27, 2025.
- Contact the Settlement Administrator directly: Subaru EyeSight Settlement c/o JND Legal Administration, P.O. Box 91063, Seattle, WA 98111.
- Have your VIN or your unique settlement ID and PIN ready when you inquire.
- Ask specifically about your claim’s individual timeline, since 150 days is calculated from your claim date.
- Do not resubmit a new claim, since only one reimbursement per vehicle is allowed for a given repair.
How to Check Eligibility for the New Subaru Lawsuit
You can check whether your vehicle might fall under the new case by comparing your model year against the list in the Hall complaint, though eligibility won’t matter for compensation until a settlement or verdict happens.
Steps to determine your situation:
- Confirm your Subaru model and model year against the Hall lawsuit’s covered list.
- If your vehicle also falls under the older, closed settlement’s 2013-2024 range, check the separate JND VIN lookup tool for that case specifically.
- Keep dealer service records and diagnostic reports if you’ve experienced unexpected braking events.
- Report safety incidents to NHTSA if you haven’t already, since the new complaint already cites more than 25 such reports.
- Watch official legal-news sources for updates on class certification or a proposed settlement.
- Avoid any third party offering to “register” you for compensation in the new case; there’s nothing to register for yet.
Key Takeaway: Owning a newer vehicle covered by the 2026 lawsuit does not affect your rights under the older, closed settlement if you separately owned a qualifying earlier model.
Subaru EyeSight Class Action: Why File a Second Lawsuit?
The new complaint argues that Subaru’s continued use of similar EyeSight technology in newer model years, built after the first settlement was reached, shows the company never fixed the underlying defect.
The Hall complaint specifically references the earlier Sampson v. Subaru case as a predecessor, noting the persistence of the same alleged brake-actuation issue into current model years undermines any claim that Subaru implemented effective remedial measures.
Subaru has continued revising EyeSight across model years. The 2025 Forester, for example, adopted an electric brake booster along with updated control software. Despite that update, the new lawsuit alleges 2025 and 2026 model-year vehicles still exhibit the same braking behavior described in earlier complaints.
Think of it like a store that recalls a defective product, then keeps selling a newer version with the same underlying flaw; the second lawsuit essentially argues Subaru did exactly that.
What Happens Next
May 11, 2026 (confirmed): Hall et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc. filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Ongoing (2026): Case proceeds through early litigation; Subaru has not yet filed a public response to the complaint’s allegations.
Expected next step: Motion to dismiss or answer from Subaru, timing not yet confirmed.
Possible mid-term stage: Class certification proceedings, which could take many months.
Expected, based on prior case pace: A settlement or trial resolution is not likely before late 2027 at the earliest, based on how long the original EyeSight case took from filing to final approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Subaru EyeSight settlement still open?
No, the original EyeSight settlement’s claim deadline passed on September 27, 2025, and the case received final court approval on November 5, 2025.
Reimbursement checks for timely claims were expected to be mailed by around May 10, 2026.
There is no way to file a new claim under that specific settlement now.
What is the new Subaru class action lawsuit about?
The new lawsuit, Hall et al. v. Subaru of America, alleges the EyeSight automatic emergency braking system activates without driver input or any actual obstacle present.
It covers 2022 to 2026 model-year vehicles across nine Subaru nameplates.
The case was filed May 11, 2026, and remains in early litigation with no settlement yet.
How much money can I get from the Subaru lawsuit?
For the new 2026 case, there is no confirmed payout amount, since no settlement has been reached.
The prior, closed settlement paid up to 75 percent reimbursement for qualifying repair costs, plus a warranty extension.
Any specific dollar figure for the new case right now is not verified.
Which Subaru models are covered by the new lawsuit?
The new lawsuit covers 2023-2026 Legacy, Outback, and Ascent, 2024-2026 Impreza and Crosstrek, 2022-2026 Forester and WRX, and 2025-2026 BRZ models.
This is separate from the closed settlement’s 2013-2024 model-year coverage.
Check your specific VIN and model year against both cases if you’ve owned more than one qualifying Subaru.
Do I need to file a claim for the new Subaru lawsuit right now?
No, there is no claim form available yet, because the case has not reached a settlement.
Class certification and litigation proceedings must happen before any claims process opens.
Watch official legal-news sources for updates if a settlement is proposed.
Can I still get reimbursed under the old Subaru EyeSight settlement?
Only if you filed a valid claim before the September 27, 2025 deadline.
Late claims are generally not accepted under that closed settlement.
Contact JND Legal Administration directly if you filed on time and haven’t received payment.
How long did the first Subaru EyeSight case take to resolve?
The original case was filed in April 2021 and reached final settlement approval on November 5, 2025.
That’s roughly four and a half years from filing to final court approval.
The new 2026 case is likely to follow a similarly long timeline before any resolution.
Does owning a newer Subaru affect my rights under the old settlement?
No, the two cases are entirely separate and cover different model years.
If you owned a qualifying vehicle under the closed 2013-2024 settlement, that claim window already applied to you regardless of any newer vehicle you also own.
The new 2022-2026 lawsuit has its own separate class definition.
If you already filed under the original EyeSight settlement, the only action left is checking your payment status with JND Legal Administration. If your vehicle falls under the new 2026 lawsuit, there’s nothing to file yet, just keep your service records and watch for updates.
The date that matters most right now: as of July 19, 2026, the new Hall v. Subaru case remains in early litigation with no settlement fund and no claim form.
