What 638 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Outback Wilderness

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.

NHTSA ODI 11253444

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.

NHTSA ODI 11242237

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.

NHTSA ODI 11222569

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.

NHTSA ODI 11189816

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.

NHTSA ODI 11187188

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.

NHTSA ODI 11163652

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.

NHTSA ODI 11118220

SPONTANEOUS CRACKS ON WINDSHIELD AND THEIR EXTENSION DURING HOT, SUNNY DAY. FOR THE SAFETY ISSUE, IT HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11102877

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY REASON.

NHTSA ODI 11102362

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.

NHTSA ODI 11101812

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.

NHTSA ODI 11098158

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.

NHTSA ODI 11092125

WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND AT ABOUT 55 MPH ON A SMOOTH LEVEL DIVIDED HIGHWAY ON A CLEAR DAY WITH A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 45 DEGREES MY MOON ROOF EXPLODED. BOTH THE GLASS PORTION AND THE INNER SLIDING COVER WERE CLOSED. THERE WAS A LOUD "WHAM," AND THEN A RATTLING SOUND THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE SHARDS OF CLASS BOUNCING AROUND ON THE INNER SLIDING COVER. NO DEBRIS OTHER THAN THE GLASS WAS INSIDE THE ROOF, AND WE CHECKED 100 YARDS BACK IN THE DIRECTION FROM WHICH WE CAME AND FOUND NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE HIT US FROM ABOVE. LUCKILY, THERE WAS A SUBARU DEALER NEARBY, AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR VACATION WITH A LOANER WHILE THEY FIXED THE MOON ROOF. WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPLACE A LOST "SMART KEY" AT THE SAME TIME, AND THAT IS REFLECTED ON THE ATTACHED BILL BUT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS EVENT. WE WERE UNINJURED, BUT HAD THE INNER SLIDING COVER BEEN OPEN, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOWERED WITH BROKEN GLASS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11084232

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.

NHTSA ODI 11072064

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

NHTSA ODI 11047298

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.

NHTSA ODI 11025142

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.

NHTSA ODI 11024212

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.

NHTSA ODI 11022393

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.

NHTSA ODI 11021726

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.

NHTSA ODI 11006456

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR THAT THE REAR WINDOW LOOKED FROSTED OR WHITE. WHEN THE CONTACT CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED INTO PIECES AND LEFT A BIG HOLE AROUND THE GLASS. THE CONTACT CALLED BROWN SUBARU DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWN SUBARU COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE REAR WINDOW WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,500. UPDATED 08/04/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WOULD BE GRANTING A REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 09/25/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10995354

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.

NHTSA ODI 10979655

WINDSHIELD CRACK APPEARED SUDDENLY ORIGINATING NEAR THE HEATING ELEMENT AT THE BOTTOM .DO NOT SEE ANY VISIBLE ROCK HIT MARKS . DEALERSHIP DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AND I HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED USING MY INSURANCE .

NHTSA ODI 10956481

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON I-684. THERE WAS NO OBJECT THAT HIT THE GLASS OR SOUND OF ANYTHING HITTING. JUST A CRACK ORIGINATING FROM THE DEICER AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND UP AND TO THE RIGHT THAT APPEARED SUDDENLY. THERE WAS NO ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE CAR WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE DEFROSTER WAS ON AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10915621

REAR VIEW MIRROR BROKE LOOSE FROM WINDSHIELD WHILE BEING ADJUSTED. VEHICLE STATIONARY, VEHICLE OFF, PREPARING TO DRIVE AFTER BEING PARKED DURING THE WORK DAY. A CHUNK OF GLASS REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE BASE OF THE MIRROR. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 600 MILES ON IT AND THE MIRROR HAD NOT BEEN SUBJECTED TO ANY ABNORMAL FORCES. BALL SOCKETS ON MIRROR SUPPORT SEEM VERY TIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 10883635