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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
Purchased a Subaru Forester in August 2018. Within 12-18 months had 3 chips and numerous cracks. This is not how a windshield should perform. Very frustrated that I spent over $30k and Subaru CLEARLY cut corners on glass quality.
2020 Outback with 5200 miles. Windshield cracked while parked in the driveway. Horizontal crack originating at the midpoint passenger side. Steelership claims there’s not an issue and wants to charge us. They don’t seem to realize it’s not the cost of the windshield but that they are losing customers. If they don’t want to step up to the plate then we’ll find another brand.
The windshield on my 2018 Subaru Forester cracked on it own while I was sitting at a traffic light. Worse new car I have ever bought.
I purchased a 2019 Outback in 12/2018. In November 2019 got in the car to go to work and saw a huge crack on driver side that splintered over half the windshield. Nothing caused it that I knew of. Last week, May 2020, was driving at a relatively low rate of speed. It could have been a rock, but it is shattered again. It’s my only complaint about this car. If it happens again, I will sadly not buy another Subaru.
I am on the verge of switching my subaru xtrek to another vehicle (except subaru make) I bought it mid of 2018 and already had 2 incidents of chip and crack and needed replacements.. upon researching about “subaru windshield” I found lawsuit against them/substandard windshield and lots of complaints about having chips/cracks without apparent reason. Hope they will take responsibility of replacing it (wishful thinking) :(
My windshield on a brand new 2020 subaru outback cracked while sitting in the driveway. No impact. It started at the bottom of the window and the crack spread fast almost all the way across the window in a few days.
Same pattern!!!! My brand new 2019 Subaru Outback was parked. I came outside and the windshield was cracked from the lower left driver side corner all the way up through the middle of the windshield. No impact!
Luckily I have glass coverage.
I have a 2019 Outback and this past month I had a crack start from the lower edge of the windshield on driver’s side. No impact point can be found meaning it does not appear anything hit the windshield, the crack formed from the outside edge and has now moved past the halfway point to passenger side.
Seems to see a pattern here: crack developed at lower driver side. 2020 Forester. The crack came on suddenly and unexpectedly. Contacted both Subaru USA and NHTSA. If the windshield is hit by “environmental factors” a suddenly crack is a safety concern. In my past experience, even when an object hits the windshield and chips it you have at least a few days to take necessary measure to have ti repaired and not having a sudden crack literately out of blue.
I have a 2020 outback. It’s parked in the driveway not being driven right now, and the windshield has cracked from the lower driver’s side corner to the center. No reason that I can see! I have contacted the dealer service dept about it, and am hoping to hear back.
I have a Subaru 2019 purchased in February of last year. When driving on the highway one day, a rock hit the upper passenger side of my windshield and sent a crack instantly across the width of my entire windshield in the summer of 2019. I am not sure how many miles I had on it, but it was less than 15000. In March of 2020 I noticed a small chip and 4″ crack in the upper middle portion of my windshield. The crack is spreading down my windshield and I am going to have to do yet another windshield replacement soon. I have 25,000 miles on the vehicle. I have had one windshield replaced due to cracked windshields in my 20 years of driving and now I will have to replace two in less than year. The Subaru windshields seem very cheap to me.