Subaru Cracked Windshield Lawsuit Update - Warranty Claims Are Dismissed

We still own a 2016 Subaru Outback and the windshield cracked starting at the base near the defroster within the first year. It cost almost $500 for an OEM replacement. We filed a claim with Subaru, which was denied. We also filed a complaint with NHTSA and never even received a response. While I generally don't like trail lawyers, companies like Subaru can simply ignore customers without consumer class action lawsuits. Buyer beware!

Subaru has developed an art form – weaseling out of accepting responsibility, or paying for repairs, of their too-often, defective products. Compensating their lawyers, not their customers.

They’ve taken a page from GM’s playbook (personal experience).

We just got a Subaru ascent, two days ago, our windshield cracked, we don't know what to do.

2018 Forester xt, one windshield cracked and was replaced through insurance but it took forever because the OEM replacement had to come from Japan and they initially did not have them in stock. The new windshield didn't make it long before it too cracked. Haven't replaced yet.

A line in the article read that a judge dismissed part of the lawsuit because the cars were not presented to Subaru for repair, I’ve had 3 cracked windshields on my ‘18 Outback and was told by my dealer that they do not repair windshields. I was told I had to use an aftermarket repair person. Something is not right.

I bought a 2020 outback and the windshield broke about 500 miles in. I didn't do anything about it for a while but actually took the vehicle in for a hitch to be put on and the dealer completing ignored it and never said it was a factory default. I replaced it recently and at the time did not know about this lawsuit. It cost me about 450 bucks. What a bunch of assholes suabau is!!

As a Subaru service Dept employee,articles and comments like this just make me sick. 99.9% of cracked windshields that come thru my high volume dealer all have been impacted by an outside influence. A hard object striking a vehicle resulting in damage is by no means a defect. Perhaps folks should sue to get better paved roads so debris doesn’t damage their vehicles instead of blaming the manufacturers.

Our 2020 Outback was damaged by a pea sized rock 2 months after our 3 year lease began..at that point we knew ehy Subaru was offering windshield insurance. Pretty much proves they know..Anyways we had them replace it..it was like 2 k but our own insurance paid most..but 4 months later a half pea size dust partical cracked our brand new windshield.just like before not impact crater just keeps on increasing in size.the crack grew an inch a day..finally stopped after 2 feet of curves..we decoded not ti replace it until we return it in 2 years. But 2 days ago another dust particle created a 2nd crack..it grew an inch an hour...I talked eith a windsheid progessional..they said Subaru makes thinner inferrior windshields so the Eye Sight installed is not distorted...Subaru Knows ..let me in on this class action lawsuit..Charles from California

What about 2015 and 2016 Outback. I have a '16 and I am on my 3rd windshield. The windshields are too thin (to minimize weight?).

This is the first I'm hearing about this lawsuit. I have a 2018 Impreza Sport that I bought new, and its windshield cracked out of nowhere this past summer. There was no discernable origin to the crack; it was simply there one morning when I went out to my car and it covered half the windshield. People told me, "Sometimes it just happens due to the heat of summer," though it hadn't been any warmer than usual around that time and I've never had this happen to me with a car before. Due to Covid and distance from a dealership, I had it repaired through my insurance by Safelite within a day or two. Perhaps this voids my "warranty claim" as it says it did for some owners in this lawsuit, but I had it fixed in this manner because I didn't realize it could be a Subaru issue and thus covered under the warranty to begin with. Thankfully, I only had to pay a $50 copay.

I can't help but wonder how many others have had this happen and it didn't occur to them it could be a defect with Subaru windshields itself -- I'm certainly one of those people.

I own 2021 outback Subaru. Brought 2 months ago. Yesterday had spontaneous large crack in windshield. Started at base radiate upward then left about 3 inches. Called dealership automatically said a rock hit it. No rock no debris. Still waiting on return car. If I knew about this beforehand I would have never purchased a Subaru.

I was driving home to NJ from MI 10/30/20, when I noticed a crack in my windshield - drivers side bottom corner just above the state registration tag. I was in OH on the interstate going around 65 with the traffic. It had been slushy snow turned to rain by late morning. The crack progressed a bit as I reached my destination. It increased the next few days so I called my local repair shop and got a windshield replaced by one of those specialty mobile windshield repair groups. I did not call the dealership because they are costly and I thought that I just missed a rock hitting the windshield in all that traffic. A friend who also had a Forester sent me Torque's article by Denis Fliel. Thanks Denis & Torque. I filed a complaint with the NHTSA by calling 1-888-327-4236. Very nice and efficient people, easy to file and does not take long. Note: have your Vin available and know around when it happened and how many miles on your car - I just estimated the mileage.

I've had my Outback for six months and just replaced windshield today for the second time. Like I would ever take this car off road. It is the most delicate car because of the windshield.. I'm afraid to take it through a car wash for fear of the wind shield cracking.