[Trekkerman]

I am new to the Forum and first time Subaru owner with a 2022 Crosstrek. In review past posts I note that this radio issue has been occurring at least since 2017 model year. Can anyone explain to me why Subaru, who otherwise makes such a great ca,r is unable to fix this problem?

 

[AngryBob]

My last 3 "bought as new" cars I've had all remember the state the radio was on when you turned off the car. ( 2004 WRX, 2013 Kia Soul, 2021 Crosstrek ) All my previous cars I had going back to the 90's were bought used with aftermarket stereo's, so I can't remark on how those work. But as far as I know all recent cars remember the state of the radio when you kill the ignition and restore that when you start them again. Are you saying you turn off the radio before turning off the car, and it automatically starts when you start the car again ?

 

[JRHAWK9]

It's much more than just a radio these days.

 

[DSM]

Before you turn the car off, press and hold the volume button (about 3 seconds) until the head unit goes black (off). It should not play when you turn the car back on this way. If you just tap the volume button, that is simply muting the volume temporarily, not actually turning it off, and you will be blasted with the radio when you turn the engine back on.

 

[SRFast]

I always considered this "problem" as a convenience. Radio systems have been this way forever.

 

[erader]

I am new to the Forum and first time Subaru owner with a 2022 Crosstrek. In review past posts I note that this radio issue has been occurring at least since 2017 model year. Can anyone explain to me why Subaru, who otherwise makes such a great ca,r is unable to fix this problem?

most people don't consider it a problem

 

[sheldon]

most people don't consider it a problem

Otherwise there would be a change

 

[Blue Bendite]

You can always leave the volume turned down to "1" and then you'll never notice it when you don't want it "on".

 

[JoeKerr]

Can anyone explain to me why Subaru . . . is unable to fix this problem?

Because they don't care?
Because they think driver's are too stupid to operate vehicle systems and their designers think the radio should always come on?
Because the technology is just too complicated?

 

[nbsdave]

I am new to the Forum and first time Subaru owner with a 2022 Crosstrek. In review past posts I note that this radio issue has been occurring at least since 2017 model year. Can anyone explain to me why Subaru, who otherwise makes such a great ca,r is unable to fix this problem?

It isn't a "problem".
It's made that way

 

[Zer0Goblin]

A total guess, but could you remove the radio fuse add a seal-in relay? The Seal-in relay is energized by a micro switch; its purpose is to close a circuit and seal itself closed until it opens again. Thoughts from someone smarter than I?

 

[sheldon]

A total guess, but could you remove the radio fuse add a seal-in relay? The Seal-in relay is energized by a micro switch; its purpose is to close a circuit and seal itself closed until it opens again. Thoughts from someone smarter than I?

Because most customers are fine the way it is. Changing it would be trivial for them. I always have the radio on, so I really don't if other cars I have owned do the same thing.

 

[caryravitz]

Well, it's torture when you are traveling and you turn the car on to loud static. And even worse if you have to explain it to a passenger. Fortunately, as noted above, you can just turn the volume down before turning the car off. Pressing the volume knob doesn't have the same effect.

My last car (Mazda 3) turned on whatever was last playing. If I turned the volume to 0, my USB disk would keep playing silently and I would lose my place on the disk. The Subaru always turns on the radio, not whatever was last playing. I find both systems obnoxious. I may want the radio/disk on, but not until I have backed out of my parking space and am on my way.

 

[Joe44usa]

Hold button in for 4 seconds. Will turn off radio forever. Or to you turn it back on. My 2019 Crosstrek Premium.

 

[Trekkerman]

Hold button in for 4 seconds. Will turn off radio forever. Or to you turn it back on. My 2019 Crosstrek Premium

Before you turn the car off, press and hold the volume button (about 3 seconds) until the head unit goes black (off). It should not play when you turn the car back on this way. If you just tap the volume button, that is simply muting the volume temporarily, not actually turning it off, and you will be blasted with the radio when you turn the engine back on.

Thank you guys for your advise, it worked!

 

[Raleighmclemore]

It can be a problem when you turn off the car while listening at full volume to Jimi Hendrix play the Star Spangled Banner at 9 PM but start the car next morning at 5 AM to take wife to airport. Loud and can initiate unusual hair styling effects. I didn't know until these posts that I can actually shut it off. Shouldn't be a problem in the future. Gracias!

 

[jrak]

I find that having the radio turn on each time I start the car annoying as well. If I am in an area where there is traffic and need to look each way before exiting a parking space, I want to focus on my surroundings and not be distracted by the radio. I've taken to turning down the volume when I exit the car, but sometimes I forget to do this .

 

[heraldhamster]

Maybe I'm slow... are you all saying that if you have the stereo system set to a specific input, Bluetooth or whatever, when the ignition is turned off that it then defaults to the radio input when the car is restarted?
Ours (2018 Sport) doesn't do this.
Or are you saying that the stereo system should default to "off" when you turn off the ignition and it doesn't?
Who does that? I've been driving for over 40 years & cannot remember any vehicle manuf. that does this.
Am I over thinking this?

 

[caryravitz]

Maybe I'm slow... are you all saying that if you have the stereo system set to a specific input, Bluetooth or whatever, when the ignition is turned off that it then defaults to the radio input when the car is restarted?
...

Yes (2021). I only use a USB disk and the radio. Regardless of what was playing when I turned the car off, or if I have the sound system turned off, when I start the car, the radio plays. Fortunately, the volume that I had set is maintained.

(My preference would be that it always starts off, regardless of what was playing.)

 

[heraldhamster]

Yes (2021). I only use a USB disk and the radio. Regardless of what was playing when I turned the car off, or if I have the sound system turned off, when I start the car, the radio plays. Fortunately, the volume that I had set is maintained.

(My preference would be that it always starts off, regardless of what was playing.)

Huh, weird. We're shopping around for a '23 hybrid. The partner only ever uses Bluetooth off her phone.
Thanks for letting me know what to check on when we find the one we want.