What 488 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Forester Wilderness

Hi, I came home. Parked in my carport on a moderately cool morning. Three hours later I came out and there was a huge crack up the center of my windshield around 10” long

NHTSA ODI 11448691

Temperature dropped to -20 and large crack randomly appeared on driver side windshield. This crack has caused the eyesight safety feature to not work meaning I don’t have lane departure warning or forward collision warning. Informed my warranty does not cover the windshield repair or required camera recalibration.

NHTSA ODI 11448105

I bought my 2018 Subaru Forester in may of 2020 it is now January of 2022 and I have replaced the entire windshield THREE TIMES. If requested, my vehicle can be inspected. It is clear that this windshield is too fragile and poses a safety risk for myself and those passengers that enter my vehicle. It is also costing me a lot of money to repair multiple windshields and causing my insurance to go up for something out of my control. I can only imagine what would happen if I were ever to get into an accident with the windshield being that fragile. I am not a dangerous driver nor have I ever been in an accident, I have a clean record. A class action lawsuit filed in 2017 stating that “The cracks were allegedly due to the deicer creating a condition that makes the glass susceptible to cracking after a minor strike to the glass, such as the stone's impact“ it also stated that the lawsuit included 2.5 million Subaru models between the years of 2017-2020. “[XXX], represented by Attorneys [XXX] Law Group, Moon Law APC, and [XXX], contends the Subaru models have "defective and dangerous" windshields that are prone to "cracking, chipping and otherwise breaking."” After the first windshield crack in June of 2020 (1 month after I purchased the vehicle) I called my authorized Subaru dealership and asked if there was a common problem or known safety issue with the windshields, I was told there was not and my issue was singular. This is a SEVERE safety concern. A minor crack went through both panes of the windshield and rapidly become in my line of vision. I feel as though this is an unfair and unjust safety concern that is costing Subaru drivers like myself their safety and money. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11448115

Hello, I am writing to report an incident of a cracked windshield while driving on highway 5 in Los Angeles, CA. I have owned this vehicle for about 6 months. The vehicle is available for inspection and I have attached the photos for review. The windshield has been inspected by a Subaru dealership who states they cannot repair or replace the windshield. The dealership suggested filing a claim with NHTSA and visiting their partner, Safelite AutoGlass. A Subaru dealer and partner, Safelite AutoGlass, both confirmed that Subaru's defective or weak/brittle windshield is a known and common issue. The windshield malfunction appears to be a recurring problem across several models nation-wide with a lawsuit pending: https://bergermontague.com/cases/subaru-windshield-cracking/. Furthermore, this commonly known issue was not prefaced during contract reviews and Subaru warranty does not cover the damages. The windshield issues was not highlighted or recommended for coverage when purchasing insurance. Safelite AutoGlass offered to replace the windshield with the original glass and confirms we do not have the option of choosing stronger or better quality windshield options. Continuously replacing a poor product with the same poor product could be dangerous if this continues to occur especially in the event it blocks visibility. Additionally the frequency of the problem will be burdensome especially since this car was purchased specifically to drive in harsh weather conditions. There was no warning, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to this occurring. If Subaru produces weak windshields it should be a service covered under all warranties and/or offer better repair/replacement options.

NHTSA ODI 11445819

Windshield easily getting chips and pits affecting visibility and now a crack from, a small pebble.

NHTSA ODI 11444962

On 10/9/2021the front windshield was hit by a small rock on the lower left driver's side and a crack developed within a few minutes. The crack grew and obstructed the driver's field of vision. This required the entire windshield being replaced. This was done by Safelite AutoGlass on 9/13/2021 at my residence. It was paid by my insurance and I paid a $100 deductible. In addition the replacement windshield was damaged by another small rock hitting it on I71 north near Louisville KY. This time the damage was limited to a bulls eye fracture. This was repaired by myself using a Rainx windshield repair kit. The windshield seems very fragile and prone to be damaged easily as both "rock his" did not seem that bad and should not have caused damage. I found after this repair that there are additional complaints and a class action lawsuit for similar problems with this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11443258

My windshield appeared to crack for no reason. The crack randomly appeared one day without a corresponding incident (no previous chips/crack in that area and nothing hitting my windshield). The crack began on the edge of the windshield in the upper corner on the passenger side and has continued to spread. There is no mark or indication in that area that the windshield was hit. The dealership mentioned when I purchased the car that I should get the windshield warranty due to an excessive amount of windshield cracking in my area. They claimed Subaru even did an investigation into Subaru vehicles in Michigan due to the high windshield replacement rate. It appears to be a defective windshield that the company is aware of and not recalling. The crack has spread across 80% of the windshield at eye level. It must be replaced for safety reasons but Subaru says this is over $1,000 as they have to calibrate it.

NHTSA ODI 11440769

Second time windshield had to be replaced from cracking after sustaining small rock chip.

NHTSA ODI 11436057

WINDSHEILD CRACKED ON PASSENGER SIDE FOR NO REASON

NHTSA ODI 11428789

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when she noticed there was a crack on the windshield. There was no impact to the windshield that could have caused the crack. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,203.

NHTSA ODI 11424447

The windshield cracked over half way across due to no apparent reason. Noticed it in the morning after vehicle had been parked in a protected area. The crack continued to get bigger over the next day and now covers over half of the windshield.

NHTSA ODI 11419116

Changing wipers blades. Blade hit passenger side windshield and creates a 12 inch crack. Windshield had to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11418179

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THE UPON ENTERING HER VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A VERTICAL CRACK AT THE BOTTOM BASE OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED WITHOUT INCIDENT OR IMPACT. WITHIN HOURS, THE CRACK WAS EXTENDED AND FORMED A CURVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED DELLENBACH SUBARU SERVICE CENTER (3103 S. COLLEGE AVE, FORT COLLINS, CO 80525, (970) 226-3100) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,300.

NHTSA ODI 11416428

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL FRACTURES ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH A GLASS REPAIR FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT LEARNED OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ODI 11414913

A SMALL ROCK FLEW UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CRACKING THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE IMPACT OF A ROCK THAT SMALL.

NHTSA ODI 11414934

WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE FOR NO REASON AND NO IMAPCT

NHTSA ODI 11414990

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE CRACK STARTED EXPANDING. WAGNER SUBARU (5470 INTRASTATE DR, FAIRBORN, OH 45324) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11414505

IN UNDER TWO YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD ON MY VEHICLE TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, A ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSED A VERY SMALL CHIP. THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON, THE CHIP HAD BECOME A LARGE CRACK THE CAME DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD NEARLY HALFWAY DOWN THE WINDSHIELD. I PAID THE EXTRA MONEY TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WITH OEM GLASS. MORE RECENTLY (LESS THAN 1.5 YEARS LATER), THE WIPER BLADES ON MY WINDSHIELD WERE REPLACED. THE ONE WIPER BLADE WOULD NOT LET GO AND THE BLADE CAME BACK DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE SPRING. NO MARKS WERE OBSERVED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON, A CRACK CAME UP FROM THE BLADE AND RAN ACROSS NEARLY 1/3 OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DATE RECORDED IS FOR THE SECOND INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11413859

CRACKING WINDSHIELD ONCE A YEAR SINCE LAST YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11413527

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT A HORIZONTAL CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT INCIDENT. A WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ANOTHER SMALLER CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE BOTTOM, CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD ALSO WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH CRACKS OBSTRUCTED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED RAFFERTY SUBARU (4700 WEST CHESTER PIKE, NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA 19073, (888) 711-0779) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,300.

NHTSA ODI 11413234

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2018 SUBARU FORESTER (PURCHASED NEW) TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS DUE TO (MINOR) ROCK STRIKES (HIGHWAY DRIVING) IN THE LOWER QUARTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. I NOW HAVE A THIRD CRACKED WINDSHIELD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 45 YEARS AND I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE EVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD UNTIL I BOUGHT THIS CAR! I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH SUBARUS AND THAT ONE LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED AND THAT 1-2 ADDITIONAL LAWSUITS, INVOLVING 2017-2019 FORESTERS ARE PENDING

NHTSA ODI 11408638

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO CAUSING DAMAGE. SHORT CRACK IN MOTION THAT GREW OVER SEVERAL NIGHTS WHILE PARKED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. HAD TOWED TO THE DEALER

NHTSA ODI 11407915

WHILE LEAVING FOR WORK THIS MORNING, I NOTICED A CRACK ON MY WINDSHIELD ON THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE, RIGHT ABOVE THE FRONT SPEAKER. IT APPEARS THE CRACK IS ONLY ON THE INSIDE AND IS NOT CAUSED BY ANY OUTSIDE DAMAGE OR FORCE.

NHTSA ODI 11407554

WINDSHIELD UPPER PASSENGER SIDE IS CRACKED APPROX 12" OVERNIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT WAS PARKED STATIONARY IN A COVERED GARAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11406928

WINDSHIELD HAS NUMEROUS CRACKS AND CHIPS FROM SEVERAL EVENTS. IT CHIPS AND CRACKS TOO EASILY. ALL EVENTS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION WITH SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 70 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11405782