Steven Cohen  |  February 21, 2020

Category: Auto News

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subaru dashboard and interiorNumerous 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.

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199 thoughts onSubaru Cracked Windshield Class Action Revised

  1. Lane says:

    2022 outback, went to sleep normal, woke up to a crack on passenger side running horizontal to about the middle of the windshield. Zero chips to infer why it would ever crack. First Subaru, first windshield crack in my life. Pretty angry.

  2. Ken S says:

    We have a 2022 Outback and the windshield has cracked for the 3rd time just this week. Had it replaced just a month ago. I think Subaru deserves another class action lawsuit.

  3. Jon says:

    I have a 2019 Subaru Outback that has had three windshield replacements already due to a crack developing on the same spot every time.

  4. Wendy Blumberg says:

    We have a 2220 Outback with only 23,00 miles on it and our windshield just cracked. My son’s 2017 Outback has replaced his windshield 3 times.

  5. herschel nagamatsu says:

    my 2020 impreza has a similar crack. however, i live in Canada and the service manager refused to honour the lawsuit despite all subarus sold in Canada are made in the united states. is there a chance Canadian owners can be added to this lawsuit or is there any other recourse? thank you

  6. jacob largo says:

    I had a cracked windshield on my 2019 Subaru Crossterk. Had it replaced for around $1500.00. I bought my brand new 2024 Subaru Outback just over a week ago and I have a crack in the windshield right where the interior rear view mirror is mounted. I went to the dealership and they told me they couldn’t do anything about it, even though I paid extra to have windshield cover through my warranty with Subaru.

    I’ve been driving for over 35 years and never had a cracked windshield, now I own two Subaru’s and have had two cracked windshield’s. The salesman (Todd Sauer) and the sales manager (Max Angus) both told me they too have had cracked windshields on their Subaru vehicles. That’s why I’m looking for other’s that may have had a similar issue.

    1. sheri davis says:

      I have a 2019 crosstrek.. exact same story as you have

      1. Gary Staffa says:

        I bought a brand new crossstrek in 2021 we just noticed a stress crack at the bottom of the passenger side front windshield. It’s definitely a stress crack. I call and as soon as I said cracked windshield they wanted my credit card. I know what a stress crack is.

  7. SEAN DAHLEN says:

    I own a 2021 Outback. I have replaced the windshield each year I have owned the car. It breaks to easily and the one that just happen 4/18/23 just broke without anything hitting it. No damage to the outside of the glass. All on the inside.

    1. Migel says:

      2019 Subaru Forester owner that got a cracked windshield after a dime hit the windshield when my nephew threw it at the car. In that same day it grew from 4in to over 12in.
      Also Subaru wants to charge 1500 for replacing and Safelite does it for 750

  8. Thomas Mahaney says:

    I bought a 2020 Forester in August 2020 within 1 year I had to replacethe winshield and within 7 months I had to replace another now 6 months later I need another one replaced. This is my 3rd and last Subaru Forester.

  9. Tracy Brown says:

    I have a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek which had two pinhead sized marks on driver’s side. There marks had perfectly smooth surfaces. During the winter I turned my car left to heat up before driving. When I can back out, the windshield cracked from the far side frame all the way across but for 6 inches left to the other side frame. Subaru said it cracked because of a rock ding. The pinpoint smooth chip when I went out was now rough as if it were (the chip) had been altered by the Subaru service manager who went out while I was kept at desk inside. They are denying me any consideration and told me to have my insurance take care of it.

  10. Sherry says:

    I own a 2019 Subaru Outback and have replaced my windshield twice 2019, 2021.

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