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In a Subaru class action lawsuit, a Wisconsin woman claims that Outback and Forester vehicles may be equipped with defective windshields.
Plaintiff Christine Powell says the windshield defect pose an “imminent and significant safety hazard” in addition to causing monetary losses and other damages.
The alleged Subaru windshield defect reportedly causes cracks, chips, and breaks seemingly without any cause. These damages can reportedly occur even at low mileages and when a vehicle is brand new.
When the defective windshields crack, they allegedly prevent the operation of Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. According to Subaru, this system “monitors traffic movement, optimizes cruise control, and warns you if you sway outside your lane.”
When the windshield is broken, this system is allegedly unable to function as intended – reportedly meaning that drivers are not able to use a feature that likely drove their purchasing choices.
According to Powell’s Subaru class action, the defect affects 2017 to 2019 Subaru Forester and 2017 to 2019 Subaru Outback vehicles.
Powell allegedly experienced the defect with her 2018 Subaru Forester which she purchased in August 2017. After a few months of use, her vehicle allegedly cracked suddenly and unexpectedly. In December 2017, Powell reportedly took her vehicle to her local Subaru dealer who denied any responsibility and made her pay for the windshield replacement.
Powell’s windshield allegedly broke again in May 2019. Due to living several hours away from her nearest dealer, Powell has reportedly not taken her vehicle in for repairs and “hesitates to incur additional monetary losses and other damages.”
The Subaru class action claims that Powell and other consumers have experienced the defect and, in some cases, have been forced to foot the bill for repairs on their vehicles. Subaru has reportedly received hundreds of complaints about the issue but has failed to take any action to resolve the problem or reimburse consumers.
“Defendant has known for years of defects in the windshields of earlier model Subaru vehicles and Defendant is aware of a tremendous volume of complaints of this defect in the windshields of the Class Vehicles,” the Subaru class action lawsuit claims.
Powell seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchase or leased a 2017 to 2019 Subaru Forester or 2017 to 2019 Subaru Outback vehicle and suffered a damaged windshield. She also seeks to represent a Class of the same consumers from Wisconsin.
Did you purchase or lease a Subaru vehicle with a windshield defect involving chipping, cracking or breaking? Share your experiences in the comment section below!
Powell and the proposed Class are represented by Peter A. Muhic and Peter H. LeVan Jr. of LeVan Law Group LLC and Katrina Carroll, Edwin J. Kilpela Jr., and James P. McGraw III of Carlson Lynch LLP.
The Subaru Windshield Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Powell v. Subaru of America Inc., Case No. 1:19-cv-19114-NLH-JS, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
UPDATE: On March 6, 2020, Subaru asked a judge to dismiss a class action lawsuit claiming the windshields in some Subaru vehicles crack during normal use.
UPDATE: The Vehicle Safety Defect Investigation is now open! If you own a vehicle that has a safety defect and you believe it should be covered by the warranty and it’s not, submit your information here.
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49 thoughts onSubaru Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Windshield Defect
Bought a 2020 Forester and experienced a chip on the way home for an unknown reason. Six weeks later I got another quarter sized chip fo no apparent reason. In both cases the problem occurred on an interstate highway with no hazards anywhere in sight.
I have a 2018 Legacy, and the windshield had to be replaced within 2 months of ownership. Fast forward a year later, I was hit with the tiniest pebble and it instantly cracked from the bottom middle to the top. It took them over a week to get a new windshield in and scheduled install, so I had to drive with a crack right through the middle of my windshield for a couple weeks, which is a huge safety concern. Here we are 4 months after that, and it cracked yesterday for no apparent reason….just driving down the road by myself, nobody around, and boom, 8 inch crack appeared. At $800 a replacement, this is getting super expensive, not to mention the hassle of getting it replaced.
I also met the similar issue on my new Subaru2020 forester premium which I bought it in December. This morning I enter my car and found that there is a small crack on the front windshield. And there should be no one hit the car. because the car was parked at my garage since last evening. I sent an email to my Subaru dealer, but still haven’t gotten any response. I will try to call him tomorrow if still no response.
I purchased a 2018 Forester in May of 2019. 5 days later a small rock was kicked up by a truck and it hit the windshield. The windshield immediately cracked and the crack spread across 1/2-2/3 of the windshield. I’ve never had a windshield split like this. My 2005 CRV has been driven all over the country, taken small rocks and had nothing but a small chip in the windshield. I was shocked how easily this one broke.
I purchased a 2019 Forester within 24 hours I had 4 chips and a large crack in my windshield. I drive for Lyft and cannot work with a cracked windshield. They were backordered for 45 days. I missed 3 weeks of work an Subaru would not replace it. My 2nd windshield lasted 7 months. My 3rd windshield chipped within 24 hours and cracked 2 weeks later. My 4th windshield chipped and cracked 4.5 hours after it was installed and calibrated. Every time I lost another 2 to 3 hours work to replace and calibrate the glass. I am so disgusted. Waiting to here what Subaru is going to do. 5 windshields in 10 months is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
My 2017 Outback got a crack in the windshield less than 6 months after I bought it and dealer refused to fix it. Then it got 2 more cracks this past summer Aug of 2019.
I’ve had to replace my windshield on my 2015 Forester twice this year. The problem is not limited to newer models.
2018 impreza windshield is covered in chips. Less than 10,000 miles, never drove on gravel roads or anything to cause this many chips.
Same problem here bought my 2019 WRX with cvt and within a month I had a crack in my windshield. Over 1k to replace the windshield.
I have had my windshield completely crack twice in the last 7 months. This is utter garbage.