Subaru Loses Lawsuit Over Faulty Outback Windshields

I own a 2015 Subaru Outback lease/purchased in Canada but built in Indiana.
The windshield has developed a crack without any indication that it was caused
by a projectile. The windshield was identified as a one that a 'spontaneous
breaking' but it apparently is only considered eligible for replacement by
Subaru if the car is equipped with windshield wiper de-ice blades which I contend
is irrelevant if the glass cracks and the windshield is deemed DEFECTIVE.

Wife and I were stopped for traffic. No traffic either direction. 3300 miles on a 2019 Outback. I hear a “pop” from the drivers side upper left portion of the windshield. There is a very apparent stress crack emanating from the left side of the windshield. We are across the street from the dealership we bought it from. Immediately drive there to make the problem known. We’re initially told, “Oh, something hit the windshield!” BS... We push our complaint and photos, VIN and mileage are recorded. They’ll get back to us. Two days...nothing! Tomorrow there will be a reckoning...

I own a 2015 Outback. The windshield cracked up from the bottom spontaneously last week. The first Subaru service manager looked and said it was not a warranty issue. The second Subaru service manager looked and showed me the written Subaru instruction that indeed it was a warranty issue and is replacing the windshield and recalibrating the cameras under warranty. I finally found my October 2015 letter from Subaru notifying me of the problem in detail and informing me of the "Important Notice: Warranty Extension for Windshield Cracking at Deicer on 2015 and early production 2016 Legacy and Outback".

We own a 2018 Subaru Outback. We purchased it in January of 2018, and by March of 2018, we had a crack starting from the top, that happened while driving in town. We never saw a pit or small defect prior to getting into the car after an errand and seeing a now large crack-no noticeable chip to speak of. Much to our surprise, it was just about $900 to replace because they also have to recalibrate the isight, which was $250.00. Now, less than a year after it was replaced, we were out in the mountains, heard a small rock hit, did not notice where the chip might have been, if there was now a chip, and within 10-min of driving, it begins to crack. We never even had a chance to try and get it repaired before it just cracked. In all my years of driving, I've never had to get a windshield replaced (and TWICE NOW) after a small chip, where I was typically able to get it into a repair place soon after a chip. Apparently, Subaru glass doesn't afford even a day to get in and get a repair done before it just altogether cracks.

My 2018 Outback Touring developed a mystery crack from edge of window on drivers side and grew very quickly...just a hairline crack...no impact of any kind anywhere! Being replaced as we speak under insurance but doesn’t sound really positive. Quite disappointed and now dealing with the radio dying. Complete blackout...software update did not work so have to order a replacement head unit...just told it will take a month to get in?? Only had the car 6 months...has taken the joy completely out of owning a Subaru...

I purchased my 2018 Subaru Outback in August. Experienced the first cracked windshield on 11/01/2018. Had it replaced at my expense. The second cracked windshield occurred on 01/29/2019. I am not a happy Subaru owner.

My 2015 Forester developed a 10 inch crack on the passenger side over a week end. Dealer pointed to a minute chip just below the wiper blade. Right. Scumbags.

I bought a new 2019 Subaru Outback ~6 weeks ago and a 4-5 inch crack developed from the bottom of the windshield in the center while driving on the highway on a sunny 28 degree day. The crack went straight up and extended to 9.5 inches over the next 2 hours and then developed a perpendicular crack 11 inches long to form a T. Prior to this, we didn't experience anything hitting the windshield (ex: pebble). The road was smooth. I'm contacting the dealer today. The car has 2,460 miles on it. This is clearly a defective windshield.

Hi Mandy,

It's odd that my car also had this similar issue at 2,500 miles. Word of caution from my own experience - when you contact the dealership, be careful. They might tell you that they do not replace windshield and send you to their vendor. Make sure you bring the car into the dealership first to have them inspect it and you should also take pictures from inside and outside the vehicle.

Subaru refused my claim even though the windshield vendor agreed that nothing cause the crack but a faulty windshield or the windshield wiper mechanism (heater) shot out. They claimed I did not bring the car into the dealership even though I tried to explain it to them - they just sent me to the vendor.

I hope that your experience is better than mine because Subaru Customer Service i(regional in New Jersey) were awful. They basically listened and then kept asking me for more and more information. They even tried to dismiss my claim because they thought I had not serviced my car for the first oil change and when I produced the documents to prove I did get the first oil change, they found another reason to dismiss my claim and ignore that something is seriously wrong with the manufacture of these vehicles. We can't all be wrong!

Just bought a new Subaru Legacy. Wife was driving with no other traffic and the windshield popped and cracked side to side for no reason.
Called dealer and they said call our insurance company. Now I find out they know they have a problem and are not fixing it
Time to make another call

2018 Outback- on 2 occasions a small rock hit my windshield. On both occasions the cracks spread resulting in the windshield being replaced. It’s unbelievable that a windshield can’t withstand normal driving conditions. 2 windshields in 9 months isn’t bad luck; it’s a bad product.

My 2015 back developed a spontaneous crack while was was warming the car up with the defroster on. The crack began about 8 inches up the passenger side pillar and spread to center. Subaru has denied the claim,

I found this article because my 2015 Impreza's windshield cracked and spread today after installing new wiper blades. I think we should all contact the NHTSA for a more comprehensive investigation to the manufacturing defects. If Subaru can't keep the quality in its products then they'll suffer for it in the future.

I just filed a complaint on the NHTSA website. I suggest anyone else with similar windshield cracking problems do the same. Maybe enough complaints directed at the right entity will produce some results.

Yes Beverly, I had those millions of pinpoint dots all over the windshield of my less than 1 month old 2018 Outback in Sep. 2018, that esp showed up when the sun shined on the windshield. Subaru tried to blame me for driving through a sandstorm !! They "say" they replaced it late Dec. 2018, but the spots reappeared 2 weeks later and since then, I have noticed that they are in every piece of glass on the car (just most noticeable in windshield). It is a Subaru glass defect, that they won't admit to. Have told them I want it replaced (as I don't believe it was the 1st time) & want to inspect prior & watch actual replacement, to be sure, but do still fear the spots will return, since it's a defect, maybe a reaction to heat, sun, cold, rain, ? Don't know yet what to do about all the other windows.
It is blinding & so unsafe, as the spots reflect the sun & act like iridescent prisms, not to mention how unsightly & annoying they are. Never a Subaru again !!!

Our 2019 Outback Limited was hit by a small pebble while on the highway. After parking in my garage, I came back out 2 hrs later and found a large crack along the entire passenger side of the windshield. I'm very dissapointed and fear this will happen again after replacing it.

I purchased an '18 Limited Outback brand new and unfortunately got onto the highway after a big truck was spewing rocks. The car in front of me sprayed them onto me and I got a rock chip which eventually spread to a crack just outside my normal viewing angle. I've scheduled a replacement with Safelite (May '19) and I'm thinking about asking for non-OEM glass just so I won't go through something similar or what everyone else seems to be going through.

Same here, I have a 2018 Outback and driving home with my husband yesterday noticed a crack start to develop, about 10 inches from the base of the windshield, no pebble mark, just a smooth crack!

My 2019 Legacy Limited was 54 days old, had 1400 miles on it, and has spent every night and most days in the garage. I called Subaru 1 day after I noticed the crack, and was told that my insurance should cover it. When I checked online and found so much info regarding this problem, I called the dealer again. They said this could not be handled at the dealership level and to contact Subaru. Are there any more recent lawsuits that one could join as a class action?

My wife was just driving to do some shopping and our windshield cracked in almost a perfect arch like maybe it was installed wrong. Ours is a 2018 Outback with 33000 miles...a friend of mine has an Outback with 15000 and is on his THIRD windshield. Taking ours to the dealer for an oil change and the recalls, I intend to see what they have to say. I have a $500 deductible insurance...now I do not think I will replace it until Subaru figures this out and takes care of it.

I purchased a 2017 Subaru Outback with 3,000 miles from the dealer and traded them my 2001. At that time had I known the Outback had windshield issues I would have wanted more for my trade in to cover the crack I have now into the midway of my windshield. I noticed another little spot today starting on the left side but it hasn't begun to crawl yet. I took it to Safelite and they want $862.99. I've only put 6000 miles on the car since July 2018. I'm retired don't do much driving. I've never had an accident so I carry a high deductible. Now after reading all the other complaints I believe I must drop my deductible to cover windshield issues. I'm very disappointed with Subaru and I've recently had a recall scheduled for a replacement of the Distance to Empty logic. 4 members in my family bought various Subaru models because I had such good luck with my Forester which lasted 17 years. I wish I had changed the water pump and hung onto it.

2018 Subaru Outback Limited, 9000miles. Came out from work to find a 12 inch crack descending down the middle of windshield. Told by dealership that there may be a recall coming because this is a common problem. Also to contact my insurance to have this replaced now. My deductible is $1000, so that's not happening. Seriously can't believe this is not covered under warranty. Shame on you Subaru!

I have a 2015 Outback and while I am on my first windshield, it has cracked 3 times on me. First was a small impact that developed into a crack that has squared off my lower driver side. This one was rejected by Subaru and I was told I would have to pay for it on my own. With Eyesight they quoted me $1600 at the dealership. The second crack happened about 1 month ago and started as a small impact at the base of my windshield and has now spread from the center to the passenger side (about 20" with a curl now) and just last week a third impact strike on the passenger side. It was ok for about a day, but then spontaneously streaked up from the impact about 15". I am having it replaced, but I don't want to think that after every small hit I am going to have to replace my windshield. I don't drive closer than 3 car lengths behind anything and have had multiple other cars which have taken worse hits and had nothing happen. This is sad...

2017 Crosstrek. 2 windshield replacements in 2 years