What 638 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Outback Wilderness

WINDSHIELD BEGAN CRACKING NEAR THE BOTTOM (CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS) BUT THERE WAS NO ROCK OR DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD THAT PROMPTED THE CRACK. IT JUST APPEARED AND THEN HAS SPREAD ABOUT 2 FEET.

NHTSA ODI 11407190

THIS MORNING MY WIFE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD OF OUR 2016 3.6R SUBARU OUTBACK PURCHASED 3/2016. IT ORIGINATES AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD, PASSES OVER THE 6 RED DEFROSTER WIRES BELOW THE WINDSHIELD, AND EXTENDS ~10" UP ON THE DRIVERS SIDE TOWARD THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THERE ARE NO PITS ETC., THIS CRACK ORIGINATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK PERFECTLY MATCHES THE CRACK PATTERN AND DESCRIPTION IDENTIFIED IN SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN 12-192-15R, REVISED 11/19/15. THAT BULLETIN WAS ISSUED AS A RESULT OF SUBARU'S LOOSING A LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA REGARDING BROKEN GLASS WINDSHIELDS BECAUSE OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT. UNFORTUNATELY SUBARU IS ONLY REPLACING DEFECTIVE GLASS ON OUTBACKS UP TO VIN G3222455/G3210476. OUR MANUFACTURING VIN IS EARLY 2016, AND THE JUDGE IN THE CASE DID NOT EXTEND JUDGMENT AGAINST SUBARY TO COVER OUR OUTBACK. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OUR OUTBACK AS FOR THE CALIFORNIA CASE. HERE IN NEW JERSEY WE HAVE BEEN HAVING SEVERAL WEEKS OF HARSH WEATHER, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE ~20 DEGREES F IN THE MORNING. THE OUTBACK IS GARAGED, IT IS A WARM GARAGE. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A 2016, WE ASSUME THE EXTREME IS A FACTOR. THIS IS NOT A STONE HIT PROBLEM, ALL THE DRIVING IS NORTHERN NJ SURBURBAN ROADS, NOT HIGHWAY DRIVING. WE SEE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. ATTACHING A PHOTO OF CRACK. I RUN MY FINGER OVER THE CRACK AND ACTUALLY CAN'T FEEL ANYTHING, NO DINGS, NOTHING.

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I DROVE MY CAR TO SKI. I PARKED MY CAR. THE SNOW ACCUMULATED ON WINDSHIELD. AND THEN I FOUND THE WINDSHIELD HAS A LONG CRACK.

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2016 SUBARU OUTBACK'S FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASONS

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II WAS DRIVING ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY WITH NO CARS IN CLOSE VICINITY WHEN WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CRACK WAS ON DRIVER SIDE NEAR EDGE ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG. ON INVESTIGATION, THERE WERE NO NICKS OR PITS IN THE WINDSHIELD, JUST THE CRACK. WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WAS BEING REPLACED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS WIERD THAT A SIMILAR CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AS HE WAS REMOVING THE SHIELD FROM THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11361475

FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED, ORIGINATING FROM THE EDGE OF THE WINDOW, ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO WHILE PARKED WITHOUT ANY OVERHANGING HAZARDS OR ADVERSE WEATHER. THERE IS NO ASSOCIATED GLASS 'DING' FROM AN IMPACT. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT LED TO A LAWSUIT AGAINST SUBARU INVOLVING 2015-2016 OUTBACK'S.

NHTSA ODI 11360352

WE PURCHASED A CAR BRAND NEW IN SAVANNAH, GA AND SINCE HAVE REPLACED WINDSHIELD THREE TIMES. IT HAS A SMALL CRACK AGAIN. ALL OUR REPLACEMENTS OCCURRED AGAINST OUR INSURANCE. OUR COVERAGE HAS INCREASE IN PREMIUMS. PREVIOUSLY, I NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON REGULAR OCCURRENCE. ANOTHER ISSUE - WHEN IT RAINS THE VISIBILITY IS EXTREMELY POOR. DESPITE I BUY THE EXPENSIVE WIPERS TO REPLACE THEM AT LEAST ONCE IN 12 MONTHS UNABLE TO ADJUST/INCREASE THE WIPER SPEED FOR THE HEAVY RAIN MAKES THE DRIVING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. OPTIONAL EYESIGHT WHICH WAS ADDED AS AN OPTION IS SHUTS ITSELF DUE TO THE HEAVY RAIN AND IS NO HELP. EYESIGHT IS ALSO UNDERPERFORM WHAT WAS PROMISED BY MANUFACTURER. ALL ABOVE APPLIES FOR VEHICLE IN MOTION.

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SPONTANEOUS CRACK DEVELOPED DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD IN MY 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK WHILE DRIVING. NO OBVIOUS REASON SUCH AS IMPACT WITH STONE OR ROCK WAS INVOLVED- LARGE CRACK JUST SUDDENLY APPEARED. HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHERS HAVING SAME ISSUE, AND SUBARU HAS HAD AT LEAST 3 CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST THEM FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. *TR

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THIS IS THE 2ND WINDOW THAT HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2 1/2 YEARS. IT APPEARED TO CRACK SPONTANEOUSLY. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AT PEACOCK SUBARU HILTON HEAD (111 DRIVERS WAY SUITE A, HARDEEVILLE, SC 29927) FOR A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER, NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,688.

NHTSA ODI 11322888

MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN A PEBBLE STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND A CHIP WAS FORMED ON 8/26/2016. THIS CHIP WAS IMMEDIATELY REPAIRED. THIS WAS ONLY MONTHS FROM PURCHASING A BRAND NEW 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK; FACTORY TO DEALER. THEN, WHILE PARKED, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE CHIP FORMED A SPREADING CRACK ON 11/13/2017. AT THIS POINT, THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED WITH NEW, ORIGINAL SUBARU GLASS. *TR

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MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE WIPER BLADE, WHILE DRIVING WITH A FACTORY WINDSHIELD. THE 6" CRACK FROM THE CORNER ALMOST IMMEDIATELY TURNED INTO A CRACK ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD - AGAIN NO TRAUMA OR ROCKS. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY WITH NO POTHOLES OR ANYTHING. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND IT HAS AGAIN SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WITH NO TRAUMA (NO ROCK OR BUG IMPACT OR OTHER IMPACTS/DAMAGES) ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY THE WIPER BLADE. I BELIEVE THAT THE SUBARU WINDSHIELD AS WELL AS THE DEFROST SYSTEM ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD WINDSHIELD IN UNDER 3 MONTHS. OTHER SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS AND SUBARU CONTINUES TO BLAME IT ON ROCKS. THE SECOND CRACK HAPPENED WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY!

NHTSA ODI 11318525

IN FEBRUARY 2019 I HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN MY 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK BECAUSE OF A CRACK THAT STARTED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE EDGE FROM A VERY TINY CHIP, AND PAID ABOUT $950 (OEM EQUIPMENT AND DUE TO THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM CALIBRATION REQUIRED). ON FEBRUARY 29, 2020, I DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE NEW WINDSHIELD, IN A SIMILAR PLACE (PASSENGER SIDE, TINY CHIP AT THE EVERY EDGE (BLACK PART OF WINDSHIELD), THAT THEN EXTENDED HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I COULD NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE THE TINY CHIP, AND IT REALLY WAS TINY AND VERY SHALLOW. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED ALL DAY IN A SAFE, SECURE AREA. THE CRACK WAS NOT THERE IN THE MORNING WHEN I PARKED THE CAR, BUT WAS THERE BY THE END OF THE DAY. PHOTO ATTACHED. IT DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE TO HAVE TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD ANNUALLY! SUBARU HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR WINDSHIELDS!

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I HAD PURCHASED MY CAR IN FEB 2016. WE HAD TO HAVE WINDSHIELD REPLACED 90 DAYS LATER. AND THEY TOLD ME " THE GLASS IS THINNER DUE TO EYE SIGHT. I'VE HAD WIND SHIELD REPLACED 2 OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY,AND IT WAS STRUCK BY ROCKS. I WENT TO SUBARU AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR GLASS. AND EACH TIME IT WAS REPLACED. 1 AT THEIR COST AND 2 AT MIND. ALL OF THE PAPERS WORK I CAN GET FROM INS. COMPANY

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WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN L SHAPE . ON DAY AFTER SNOW FALL. WHEN CLEARED THERE WAS THE CRACK

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I HAVE A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK, WHICH I'VE OWNED SINCE NEW (09/15/2015). I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 8 WINDSHIELD SO FAR, SOMETIMES WITHIN 3 MONTHS, OR EVEN 2 DAYS APART. I DRIVE AROUND SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA (NOT STATISTICALLY HIGHER RISK FOR WINDSHIELD DAMAGE) THIS CONSTANT ISSUE WITH THE WINDSHIELD AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE CAR IN CASE OF FOREIGN OBJECT IMPACT OR SPONTANEOUS CRACKING, BECAUSE OF REDUCED VISIBILITY AND COMPROMISED STRUCTURAL/IMPACT PROTECTION

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FRACTURE WAS EVIDENT ON THE WINDSHIELD BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN THE MIDDLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRACTURE WAS HORIZONTAL OF WHERE THE REARVIEW MIRROR WAS ATTACHED. MICHAEL'S SUBARU OF BELLEVUE (15150 SE EASTGATE WAY, BELLEVUE, WA 98007 (425) 641-2002) OFFERED FOR THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE IF THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO ASSIST IN HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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CRACK IN WINDSHIELD DIRECTLY BEHIND THE REARVIEW MIRROR HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY WITH NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF IMPACT, FOUND ONE GETTING INTO THE CAR WHICH WAS IN OUR GARAGE

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NUMEROUS WINDSHIELD CRACKS, SEEMS TO OCCUR SPONTANEOUSLY.

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I HAVE NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE LOWER CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD AND I HAVE NOT BEEN WITH A ROCK OR ANY OBJECTS. I PURCHASED THE SUV THE FEBRUARY OF 2019 AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE A NEW DEALERSHIP WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE INCLUDING LAWSUITS REGARDING SUBARU WINDSHIELDS THAT SPONTANEOUSLY CRACK. THE WINDSHIELDS FROM SUBARU SEEM TO BE VERY FRAGILE AND I HAVE CONCERNS OF A DEFECT.

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DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE WINDSHIELD JUST POPPED AND CRACKED. LITTLE SHARDS OF GLASS FLEW ONTO THE DASHBOARD. HAPPENED UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER.

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JUNE 2019 - WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY APPARENT IMPACT FROM ANYTHING, DRIVING BY MYSELF. REPLACED WINDSHIELD, AND WITHIN TWO WEEKS, THE SAME THING HAPPENED - WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY APPARENT IMPACT FROM ANYTHING. VEHICLE WAS MOVING IN BOTH INSTANCES. OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY DRIVING. IN BOTH INSTANCES, CRACK STARTED SMALL AND WENT HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD IMPAIRING MY VISION AND CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE.

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ON 10/10/2019 WE NOTICED A LONG CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD OF THIS VEHICLE FOR NO CAUSE. WE JUST GOT INTO THE CAR AND NOTICED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE BOUGHT OUR 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK IN JUNE 2016. THE FIRST TWO TIMES (LAST ONE REPAIRED IN MARCH 2019) THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD AS NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED. INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY IN NEW MEXICO, SO WE HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING AT OVER $300 A TIME. THIS IS CLEARLY A FAULT IN THE DESIGN OR QUALITY OF THE GLASS. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THIS FOR US AND MANY OF THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE TO KEEP PAYING THE FULL PRICE FOR NEW WINDSHIELDS. SUBARU NEEDS TO ADMIT A FAULT IN DESIGN AND PROVIDE CONSUMERS WITH WINDSHIELDS AT NO COST - PREFERABLY DESIGN ONE THAT WILL NOT CRACK. THIS IS THE FIRST VEHICLE IN 35 YEARS THAT HAS EVER CRACKED. THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE.

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WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY OBJECT IMPACT. CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE. SAME LOCATION AS LISTED IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR 2015 AND EARLY MODEL 2016 CARS. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AT ABOUT 35MPH WHEN I HEARD THE NOISE. I DID NOT NOTICE THE CRACK UNTIL LATER IN THE DAY, AS IT WAS VERY LOW ON THE WINDSCREEN AND WAS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE DRIVERS POSITION IN THE CAR. THE CRACK HAS SINCE SPREAD ACROSS AND UP THE WINDSCREEN. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR A REPAIR AND I WILL BE DOING SO AT MY OWN EXPENSE LATER TODAY.

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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?

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