4.3

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,618 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #37

Oct 012019

Outback

  • 42,000 miles
I received a small chip from a rock that then spread to about an 8 inch crack. It's been that way with no change for months. Then this morning we dropped to 26 degrees and when I turned on the defroster for the windshield the crack shot across the entire windshield. I hadn't even moved the car yet. I have been told by safelite that this windshield was faulty and Subaru should replace it under warranty but the Subaru here in missoula, mt is refusing to do so. I see that ca had the same issue and they sued Subaru. Do I have to do that too to get them to help me?

- Frenchtown, MT, USA

problem #36

Aug 232019

Outback

  • 61,100 miles
About a week a go I noticed a crack in the windshield on the passenger side. I can not attribute it to a rock our other road debris. Close inspection shows a very small chip directly under the wiper blade, which would protect the windshield from a rock etc. The crack extends vertically down under the plastic trim and up almost to the wiper blade sweep limit. This is the second windshield in my vehicle. In 2017 I thought I get hit by a rock. A large chip appeared on the drivers side and a crack immediately appeared. I paid for a repair by the dealer. It was not covered by warranty or insurance. I am now wondering if the first windshield was hit by a rock or not. Regardless, I cant believe I will be on third windshield in a vehicle I have not yet had to replace the brake pads.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #35

Jan 282019

Outback

  • 49,000 miles
I've only recently learned of the spontaneous windshield cracking issue that is in litigation. This happened to me. I was stopped, waiting at a light near the intersection of Washington and the entrance to I-70 in denver. Suddenly, the windshield loudly popped and a large crack appeared on the passenger side which has since progressed in many different directions. I spoke to the dealership and they offered no assistance. I've not yet had it replaced as I'd learned of this lawsuit, but no definitive progress has been made, I'm reporting it here. I do not have a picture, but will update this post later, if possible.

- Longmont, CO, USA

problem #34

Jun 212019

Outback

  • 65,000 miles
A crack on the windshield suddenly appeared while driving on highway with no other vehicles around. The crack was 8" long and started near the bottom corner on the driver's side. After parking it overnight, the crack spread across half the windshield. When we had the windshield replaced, safelite could not find any evidence of a cause, no chips or evidence of a rock hitting it. Even with the extended "gold" warranty, Subaru would not cover the replacement.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #33

Mar 182019

Outback

  • 66,000 miles
Car was stationary and had not been driven in several hours and the windshield cracked from the top center down about six inches across both the driver and passenger field of view. There was no previous damage, major or minor, from the point where the crack appeared to start from.

- Evans, GA, USA

problem #32

Feb 282019

Outback

  • 35,000 miles
Please forward this message onto whom it may concern at Subaru of America customer service. 2016 Outback 3.6R bulletin number: 12-192-15R; NHTSA id:10093903; revised: 11/19/15 update bulletin number: 12-192-15R; NHTSA id:10093903; revised: 03/06/17 issue: Spontaneous cracked windshield hello, I am the original owner of mentioned vehicle, 2016 Outback 3.6R equipped with the all-weather package and eyesight. On February 28, 2019 a small visible running crack one inch in length appeared just in front of the driver side front windshield. With inspection the crack actually started at the lower portion of the front windshield in the deicer/defroster area. Since then the cracks have increased daily in length and in number. One running crack has now spread across the entire lower half of the front windshield towards the passenger side. Another visible running crack one inch in length now heading in the opposite direction on the drivers side of front windshield. It too originates from the lower portion of the front windshield in the deicer/defroster area. Under very close photo inspection at the junctions of these merging cracks chipping is occurring causing additional spidering cracks. I did contact my Subaru dealership service department on March 5, 2019.a salesperson filled out and I signed an information form for reporting this issue to Subaru America. I was not offered and did not receive a copy. Have not heard back from them yet. This issue and repair mentioned in tsb id: 12-192-15R needs to be addressed as soon as possible. I have attached detailed photos and mc-10093903-2280.pdf document. This should expedite the replacement process.

- Township Of Washington, NJ, USA

problem #31

Dec 262018

Outback

  • 5,000 miles
Our windshield has had 3 chips/cracks in it since new. The first one was a chip that was repaired by safelight. The second was a crack/chip where the entire windshield was replaced by safelight. Both of these happened while the vehicle was on-highway. Both were in different spots, but were located on the drivers side. The third one was a large crack on the driver side we noticed yesterday (12/26/18) with no apparent chip associated. We're not sure if this happened while vehicle was moving or stationary. Dates for the initial cracks are estimates, but first one we estimate to be 8/2017. The second one where the windshield was replaced is estimated May 2018. We noticed others were having similar issues after doing a search 12/26/18. It also appears that Subaru had acknowledged there was a problem with some 2015 and 2016 models, but our vehicle VIN did not show up when doing a search.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #30

Jul 022018

Outback

  • 0 miles
3 months after getting my Outback the windshield cracked at the base and went up and over. I replaced the windshield at a cost of $500. My windshield recently cracked again and when I take to them at the service counter they said it is not covered under warranty. I should not have to buy a windshield every year for a brand new car. For a car that is supposed to be 5+ star safety rated I should have an intact windshield. The cracks also appeared overnight. They were not there when I parked the car, but when I got in it the next morning. Also - no chipping or staring was found where the crack stared on the bottom of the windshield.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #29

Jun 132018

Outback

  • 36,000 miles
Spontaneous cracks on windshield and their extension during hot, sunny day. For the safety issue, it had to be replaced.

- Columbia, MO, USA

problem #28

Jun 072018

Outback

  • 33,200 miles
Driving on a 4 lane highway in a rural area at 7:30 in the morning, no other traffic around. I heard a sound like a small stick being broken. It got my attention and I wondered what in the world was that. About 10 miles later I noticed a crack coming up from the bottom of the windshield right in front of my face. It developed into 2 circle cracks in my viewing area. Dealer said it was a old chipped place or a new chip that causes it. Never notice a chip before or after I heard the snap.

- Kcmo, MO, USA

problem #27

Feb 212018

Outback

  • 45,000 miles
Windshield has cracked twice in 16 months. The 1st crack happened while driving on highway with no one around me- heard a pop and had an L shaped crack appeared on my windhield. The windshield was not struck by anything. After much negotiation with the dealer (the car was under warranty with about 10,000 miles), suburu replaced the windshield. The second crack appeared while stationary in my driveway after turning on the vehicle. I literally watched as an L shaped crack appeared on the windshield. I have not repaired that yet. I did not repair it because it will happen again in a few months. The crack has since spidered throughout the entire windshield. To date, I have received no notification from suburu. I am not looking forward to another fight with suburu.

- Western Springs, IL, USA

problem #26

May 062018

Outback

  • 30,850 miles
Windshield spontaneously cracked. I have dashcam footage showing before and after the formation of the crack. There was no impact of any object to cause the crack over any period of time.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #25

Feb 092018

Outback

  • 19,500 miles
Sudden 6" crack in windshield originating on the lower edge under the wipers. I had driven the car home for lunch and back to work at 1:15pm and the crack was not there. When I got off work at 4pm the crack was there. Drove car home and put it in the garage. The next morning at 7am the crack was approximately 12" long running at a diagonal towards the outer edge of the windshield.

- Jacksonville, IL, USA

problem #24

Nov 182017

Outback

  • 24,400 miles
On November 18 we were driving along interstate 10 when a crack appeared in the windshield. There is no evidence of a rock hitting although we can't say definitely whether it did or did not

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #23

Sep 232017

Outback

  • 22,000 miles
Driving on the highway early in the morning, no other cars around, heard a loud pop followed by a large upside down "L" crack coming from the bottom.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #22

Aug 142017

Outback

  • 0 miles
I had difficulty several times removing the key from the ignition. The last time this happened, I was able to remove the key, but the car died. I called the dealer and they gave me the local towing company. Napleton Subaru kept the car for two days and could not find anything wrong with it. I have been afraid to drive the car on the highway, or go too far from home.

- Buffalo Grove, IL, USA

problem #21

Sep 082017

Outback

  • 7,500 miles
The windshield developed a crack while the vehicle was parked. There was no damage from the road or other sources. This problem has been reported by dozens of owners of Subaru Outbacks, especially ones with the Subaru eyesight safety system, which my vehicle has.

- Macungie, PA, USA

problem #20

Sep 022017

Outback

  • 28,000 miles
The windshield developed a fissure over 2 feet long with no known (visible or audible impact) I simply noticed it as I was driving home and it was not there when I left home. It starts in the lower passenger side under the black portion and runs half way across the windshield.

- Carmel, IN, USA

problem #19

Jul 192017

Outback

  • 26,200 miles
Front windshield spontaneously cracked from top of driver side down both sides while sitting in home driveway for about two hours on clear, 90 degree day. No impacts noted while driving about 25 miles earlier in the day, and no chip in windshield at apparent impact point. Nothing fell on the vehicle in the driveway or exerted pressure on the glass.

- Sewickley, PA, USA

problem #18

Apr 142017

Outback

  • 20,000 miles
While driving down an open road going about 45mph with no trees and no other vehicles around us, our sunroof exploded. I say exploded because we thought we had been shot. It was a very loud pop and then we were instantly covered in glass. Like almost the entire sunroof was now in pieces and inside the car. I actually googled "exploding sunroof" because we knew we didn't hit anything. There are literally pages of accounts of this happening and there are numerous manufacturers listed as having this problem. Anyway, Subaru did replace it and we did not have to file a claim with our insurance but we could have been seriously injured if we were going any faster. The prevailing theory is that in order the save weight on the affected vehicles, the frame of the sunroof isn't rigid enough allowing the glass to move too much which causes the spontaneous explosion.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

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