Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Numerous class action lawsuits against Subaru have been compiled into one complaint by consumers who claim their cars’ windshields are prone to crack.
The first complaint was filed in October 2019 by Christine Powell and the other complaints followed in courts in California and New Jersey.
The plaintiffs maintain that Subaru sold 2017-2020 Subaru Forester, 2017-2020 Subaru Outback, 2017-2020 Subaru Crosstrek, 2017-2020 Subaru Legacy and 2017-2020 Subaru Impreza vehicles to the customers but didn’t disclose the windshields were defective.
The defect allegedly presents a safety hazard to drivers and pedestrians. Spontaneous cracking can impair the driver’s view and distract the driver, according to the consolidated Subaru class action lawsuit. In addition, the plaintiffs claim the replacement windshields they paid for, which were provided by the company, have the same defect and are equally dangerous.
In addition, the customers claim the defect deprives them of the ability to use the company’s EyeSight technology that is built into the windshield.
The customers allege Subaru knew the class vehicles contain the windshield defect and have concealed this information from the public and even continues to deny that the problem exists.
“Selling vehicles with dangerously defective windshields and refusing to take responsibility for the defects is directly contrary to the safety conscious, trustworthy, and reliable image Subaru advertises,” states the Subaru class action lawsuit.
The vehicle owners maintain that Subaru refuses to honor the commitment it gave to loyal customers, is jeopardizing the safety of the public, and making its customers bear the expenses of Subaru’s mistakes.
The car owners argue that Subaru refuses to replace the defective windshields under their warranty, often stating that an impact caused the windshield to crack. The “systematic” denial of these warranty claims is one part of a “concerted effort” to minimize the cost of warranty claims and shift the costs of repairs onto the customers, the plaintiffs allege.
The plaintiffs also state that had the defendants disclosed the defect to the customers, the plaintiffs would not have purchased the vehicles or would have paid less for them.
When purchasing their vehicles, customers relied on the reasonable expectation their class vehicles would be safe and have windshields that did not have any defects and did not pose a threat to their safety, states the class action lawsuit.
“Plaintiffs and the Class members operated their Class Vehicles in a reasonably foreseeable manner and as the Class Vehicles were intended to be used but nevertheless suffered significant damages to their windshields as a result of the defect,” the Subaru class action lawsuit continues.
The Subaru class action lawsuit argues that, “Plaintiffs demand that Defendants accept responsibility for replacing damaged windshields under Subaru’s new vehicle warranty at no charge to Plaintiffs and the Classes and reimburse Plaintiffs and the Classes for losses suffered as a result of the Defect. In addition, or alternatively, Subaru should be required to buy back the Class Vehicles.”
Do you own a Subaru with a windshield that cracks? Leave a message in the comments section below.
The plaintiffs are represented by Katrina Carroll of Carlson Lynch LLP, Peter Houghton Levan Jr. and Peter A. Muhic of Levan Law Group LLC and Amey J. Park and Russell D. Paul of Berger Montague PC.
The Subaru Windshield Class Action Lawsuit is Powell, et al. v. Subaru of America Inc., et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-19114, in 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.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
199 thoughts onSubaru Cracked Windshield Class Action Revised
I had to get my windshield replaced and my tint wasn’t covered. So I had to pay to retint my windshield. They tired to tell me recalibration of the eyesight wasn’t covered by my warranty plan as well. What frauds!
I bought my Subaru end of October 2019, barely hit 5,000 miles and I found a crack the size of a thumb on my windshield. Had to wait over the weekend to get it to Subaru and the crack had doubled in size in that 2 day time frame. Got it to Subaru and they said it looked like a small rock caused the crack. I drove a Toyota Corolla previously same roads and drive yet never had a cracked windshield BUT my new “safe and reliable” 2019 Subaru Impreza got a crack from a small rock not even 4 months of owning it. Subaru refused to pay for it even though I saw that there are lawsuits in regard to this issues with Outbacks,foresters, and Impreza’s. I also found that some people’s windshields have combusted on them. I’m lucky in regard that it has remained a crack.
Had my 2020 Outback for 1 week and got a (barely audible) chip in the windshield that spread to a 10″ crack within hours. I have insurance ($100 deductible) but how many more of these will I get?
Subaru has a problem they don’t want to admit to.
2015 crosstrek. Not even a month after buying it the windshield has a crack going straight across.
My 2019 Subaru Forester Sport developed at least 6-8 chips across the windshield in just 7 months (4500 miles). Dealer told me it was due to debris/salts from the road, but I do not recall any instances where I felt that something had hit the windshield. Moreover, I have been driving my other car (Honda) on the same roads for the past 5 years, and never had any chip or crack on that vehicle. Never ever, before this instance. I have had to repair/replace the windshield on any of my vehicle. If the Subaru windshields are so fragile, it seems like I will need a new windshield after every road trip. Definitely something wrong with the quality of windshield. Poor quality stuff that needs to be fixed by the company.
On June 30, 2018, I was driving my 2018 Subaru Crosstrek Limited Edition on my way to work. I heard a noise while driving but kept driving since I was just blocks away to work. I parked in the monitored parking lot and visually looked inside and outside my car for some indication of where the noise came from, including the windshield from the inside and outside. I saw no cracks to the windshield or other area of the vehicle. It was hot outside (90’s).I went in to work. When I got off work I went out to my car. I got inside my car, immediately noticing a 6-8 inch long crack on the driver’s side of the front windshield. I went home in shock about the large crack in my windshield. I later contacted my insurance company, and was told my deductible and to call around to find quotes on replacement. I was told by all the auto shops including my local Subaru dealer the entire windshield would need replaced but the car was so new that they didn’t have the parts in stock and didn’t know how long it would be since the car was so new. I didn’t get the windshield replaced .I felt that Subaru should be responsible for a new windshield as the car was only purchased new 9 months before. I did not have the money to go through my insurance at the time and I was told by my local dealer that Subaru did not cover the windshield in the warranty on the car. However, I believe the defect of the windshield prevents the safe and proper operation of the vehicle because Subaru’s EyeSight safety system, intended to prevent collisions, is attached to the inside of the upper windshield. I did research online at the time if other owners had complaints, but the car was so new I only found one. Now, a search reveals many complaints of defective windshields and a class action lawsuit. I worry about my safety still and I believe Subaru should be held accountable for the replacement of the windshield.
We purchased a 2019 Subaru Outback, January 24, 2019. We have had several chips repaired and one windshield replaced. It was so costly because of having to be calibrated that we turned it in to our insurance.
This past weekend we sustained yet another chip that before we had driven a couple of miles, had already spread to the point that we need another complete windshield.
I will have to check my dates, but I am fairly certain the other wind replacement was less than three months ago.
We are so upset to see all the reviews online of windshield issues. We bought this as our “retirement” car, thinking it would be of good quality and last forever. We obviously cannot afford to keep it if we have to replace the windshield 2+ times per year!
Please send me more information on the class action suit in regard to these horrible windshields.
(Above was written several months back – Still have not replaced it the second time as we are concerned a new one would immediately be cracked again. I believed there are 7 or 8 cracks too large to repair at this time. – will gladly furnish photos )
I had a 2017 subaru impreza with a cracked windshield.
I currently own a 2020 subaru crosstrek
Bought a brand new 2020 Subaru Outback December 30th. Within 3 weeks my windshield cracked. When I brought it to the dealership January 22 they said it must have been a rock chip. I have owned several vehicles including a 2002 Outback that I still have and none have ever shattered over 16″ from a rock chip. They took a photo and sent it to Corporate and they refused to cover it under the warranty. It’s ridiculous.
2017 forrester 2016 crosstrek. Both had to have windshield replaced within a year