2026 Subaru Uncharted lighting problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Aug 28, 2026AZLighting

   Headlights visibly shake when going over bumps on the road. It is an extreme hazard and impairs visibility when driving. Issue can be replicated when car is parked. Headlight housing seems to not be fully supported and will shake when car is manually shaken.

   NHTSA complaint #11760185 · source
2. Filed Aug 25, 2026MILighting

   The headlights appear loose to the point when you drive over small bumps the lights bounce. This is causing a distraction for me as well as anyone in front of me. This car is 1 day old. I test drove the car twice before buying but unfortunately, I wasn't able to drive it at night or else I wouldn't have purchased it.

   NHTSA complaint #11759596 · source
3. Filed Aug 18, 2026IALighting

   Insufficient dampening on front headlight mounting, causing excessive shake/ jitter of headlights at night. This design issue allows the headlight cut-off level to hit the eyeline of oncoming traffic. Aside from the safety issue of occasionally blinding other drivers, the shaking/flickering also causes headaches on long drives at night.

   NHTSA complaint #11757730 · source
4. Filed Aug 14, 2026WALighting

   Vehicle is brand new and when driving at night it is incredibly distracting the way the light from the headlights bounce and shake/jitter all over the place. Other drivers think I'm flashing lights at them because the roads aren't even that bad. These headlights need fixed.

   NHTSA complaint #11757067 · source
5. Filed Aug 14, 2026NYBody & StructureLighting

   The headlights jitter and shake while driving on normal road conditions, due to poor mounting inside the bumper. You can push on the headlight housing and notice it move. This causes very districting conditions while driving at night, oncoming traffic flashes high beams often thinking that I'm flashing them or something. I took it to the dealership to get it looked at after seeing numerous owner reports online about it, and got a similar result, with the dealership admitting…

   NHTSA complaint #11756884 · source
6. Filed Aug 4, 2026DCLighting

   The headlights in the car shake while driving. Especially noticeable at night, and if the ground is not perfectly smooth, the light beams vibrate/shake in a distracting way that is unlike any other car I've driven.

   NHTSA complaint #11754873 · source
7. Filed Jul 30, 2026NYLighting

   Headlights vibrate/jiggle (as if they are loose within the housing) when going over normal road surfaces at night. This is distracting for the driver and probably for oncoming traffic as well. This is a known issue with this model.

   NHTSA complaint #11753721 · source
8. Filed Jul 28, 2026PALighting

   When driving in the dark the headlight housing bounces a lot causing the headlight beams to bounce and dance like crazy over any and all little bumps on the road and is very distracting to me the driver and more than likely cars driving towards me and I feel that this could be a safety concern and a manufacturing defect The headlight housing is not rigid on the vehicle you can manually move the housing very easily and I feel they did not secure it to the vehicle properly

   NHTSA complaint #11753198 · source
9. Filed Jul 22, 2026PALighting

   Just bought brand new 2026 Subaru Uncharted GT, noticed the headlights flicker or shake a lot while driving especially when going over slightly bumpy roads. It’s very distracting to me as a driver and I would think to other drivers in front of me or opposing drivers. No specific lights or warnings come on when this happens. I have read online that many drivers have the same issue with their Subaru.

   NHTSA complaint #11752009 · source
10. Filed Jul 14, 2026IALighting

    Headlights (high & low beams) bounce as if loose when hitting any sort of uneven road surface. Edges of light almost appear to flicker when this is occurring which is anytime headlights are on and car is moving. Extremely distracting and creates uncertainty when driving in rural areas.

    NHTSA complaint #11750470 · source
11. Filed Jul 5, 2026NHLighting

    Headlights visibley shake when the car encounters a bump in the road, during braking, and anything else that can create an impulse on the car. The vehicle is available upon request for inspection. It creates a distint and distracting event that is distracting to the operator when and potentially on-coming traffic when driving at night. I have heard that others have also verified this with dealers, but I have not personally had the opportunity to bring it to mine. The problem…

    NHTSA complaint #11748349 · source
12. Filed Jun 26, 2026COLighting

    When going over a bump or anything that makes the car bounce (however slight) causes the light beam to oscillate which is not only distracting but makes it hard to see things at night consistently.

    NHTSA complaint #11746814 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology