Merlin

As promised, here is an update now my Forester XT is back from its first service. They road-tested the satnav and agreed with me that it was not working properly and would need to take the matter up with Subaru UK. Particularly obvious during the road-test were the verbal announcements happening as you are driving past the required turning! Just now I had a follow-up call, to let me know there is a software update available. So the car is booked back in for the SD Card to be re-programmed and for this to be installed at the end of March. I will post a further update after then, when I hope to find the software update has cured the various malfunctions we have endured up to now. Once the satnav is sorted, the XT will be an even better car to drive - verging on perfect in my opinion!

Disappointed to read that your latest visit to your Subaru dealer did not produce a good result. Seems a real shame to me that a great car is being marred by an unreliable OEM satnav. It seems to me that the problem lies in the software - so Subaru may need to refer the issue back to their supplier in order to get it resolved. It seems strange too that all the other owners out there are not reporting the satnav problems; perhaps they haven't worked ot how to use it yet?! As it's not very user-friendly, when compared with a TomTom or Garmin product we have been accustomed to using until now. Ashburton Motor Works told me on the phone that they were unaware of any problem with the 2014 Forester XT satnav; but I have asked them to check it out for me while my car is with them for its first service next week. I will post an update after then.

Hi John, Thanks for posting your update regarding the XT satnav. Until I read this, I had high hopes my local dealer would be able to fix it; now I have very little confidence that they will! Mine exhibits most of the problems you describe and I am sure there must be other owners out there with the same. Although it is probably only the Harmon Kardon unit, which is faulty; other models than the xt may use a different product? My xt is due in the workshop at Ashburton Motors early next month - so we'll see what they say. I'll keep you posted. Merlin

I have a similar problem with my Forester XT purchased last March. Compared with the portable TomTom satnav that I used to use, the satnav in the Forester is unreliable and worse than useless. For example, the instructions to turn or leave a motorway or dual carriageway are spoken as you are passing the turn or slip road! I intend to ask the dealer to sort this out at its first service next month. Otherwise a great car to drive. I would be interested to hear if your satnav is now still working properly and if you have any further info re. How it was put right?