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Subaru has been under fire for faulty windshields and Subaru of America is hit with another cracked windshield class-action lawsuit. The first was filed last year in California claiming 2015-2016 Subaru Outback and Legacy model’s windshields were spontaneously breaking. The second was filed in October by a Wisconsin woman seeking damages against Subaru for the drivers of 2017-2019 Subaru Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek models alleged to have defective windshields.
The third and latest class-action lawsuit against Subaru of America (SOA) has been filed in California filed on behalf of consumers who purchased or leased 2017-2019 Subaru Forester, 2017-2019 Subaru Outback and 2017-2019 Subaru Legacy models. The plaintiff in the case is represented by attorneys Capstone Law and Berger Montague in San Diego.
2019 Subaru Outback
Does Subaru have a windshield cracking problem?
Subaru sent technical service bulletin (TSB) 12-192-15R in October 2016 concerning cracked windshields in 2015-2016 Legacy and Outback models and determined “Many of these failures to be the ceramic materials used for the black-colored printed perimeter combined with the silver-colored material used for the wiper deicer portion of the windshield glass.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, SOA extended the original warranty on applicable factory-installed windshields in 2015-2016 Outback and Legacy models to 5 years / unlimited miles covering windshield replacement a maximum of “one time.”
2019 Subaru Forester
The latest California lawsuit alleges Subaru Forester, Outback and Legacy windshields are dangerous because they spontaneously crack, chip and break whether tiny objects strike the windshields or not. According to the lawsuit, Subaru dealers often refuse to replace the windshields even when the vehicles are still under warranty, leaving owners with the bill.
A report from Car Complaints says having a dealer replace the windshield allegedly only leads to one defective windshield replaced with another defective windshield, at the owner's expense.
The lawsuit also contends Subaru dealers “routinely tell owners that rocks or other objects struck the windshields even when there is no evidence,” allowing Subaru to “skip out” on paying for windshield repairs and replacements when the 2017-2019 Forester, Outback, and Legacy models are still under warranty.
What should Forester, Outback, and Legacy owners do?
If you own a 2017-2019 Subaru Outback, Forester, or Legacy and have experienced a cracked windshield for no apparent reason, you can file a complaint with the NHTSA by going to this website link, or call 1-888-327-4236. Or you can submit your contact information here and an attorney from Capstone Law and Berger Montague will be in touch to review your case further.
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Denis Flierl has invested nearly 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates!
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Photo credit: Subaru USA
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Comments
I purchace a new 2020
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I purchace a new 2020 Forester in March ot replace my 2015 Forester (purchased new in 2014). Recently on the freeway I took a rock hit near the center of the windshield which produced a spider type chip about 1" in diameter. My plan was to get to get in for a repair ASAP but within 20 minute a crack had spread to about 10 inches long. I had the same type of immediate cracking from chip problem on my previous Forester until I had an aftermarket windhshield installed. I was hoping Subaru would have done better by now. I was quoted a replacement price of $1200 dollars including recalibration of the driver controls. Ugh!
I bought my first outback in
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I bought my first outback in CO Springs, love it. Moved to Kansas 2 years later and my windshield took a small rock and crack from side to side and top to bottom. We had paid for the 5 year extended warranty and only had 16,000 miles. The dealer never told me about the one time replacement and my insurance covered all but $500. (I replaced it with a non Subaru windshield because of the back order) I bought a new outback in 2019 and the same thing happened, My son has an 2019 Ascent he had a large C on his windshield he said he never took a rock. My other son has a 2020 Forester and my old outback. This is outrageous, I love my car but can;t put up with this.
I own a 2017 Subaru Legacy
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I own a 2017 Subaru Legacy Sport and about a month later a rock hit the side of the windshield and within days ran across the middle of the windshield these are expensive to fix and now the windshield has a crack running all the way through the windshield.