This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Windshield crack from wiper area, extending 12 inches upward, with no obvious impact damage. Parked the car in my driveway, returned to drive the car and "[xxx]" - just like that - noticed a crack grew out of nowhere! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Windshield cracked starting on driver's side and extended over a foot to the middle. No impact from rock or other road debris occurred when crack started.
A few weeks after purchasing my brand new 2019 Subaru Forester, I was driving on the expressway when all of a sudden my windshield cracked. There was no rock or any debris that flew towards my windshield. The crack started near the top of the windshield on the passenger side and angled down and toward the driver's side. It started at about 6 inches and progressed to at least a foot long by the end of the trip.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the windshield cracked and was replaced three times in a six-month period. The contact was concerned that the design of the hood and the thickness of the glass in the windshield was a contributing factor to the failures. Additionally, there was an abnormal sound in the transmission whenever the gear shifter was shifted into reverse. The contact also stated that the backup camera failed to operate intermittently. The contact also stated that when the stop/start function was reactivated on several occasions the vehicle idled roughly and lunged forward. The vehicle was taken to moore Chrysler Jeep Fiat (8600 w bell rd, peoria, AZ 85382, 800-757-0140) however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50.
Windshield developed a large crack while driving on the freeway at 60 miles per hour. There was no rock chip that I could hear or see. As with other failures of this type, Subaru of America and the dealer do not warranty this or admit to what is clearly a major issue with this model's windshield.
- Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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The windshield has suddenly developed a large (19") crack in it on the passenger side. We believe something very small kicked up and hit it the upper corner during highway driving on a Friday, and there wasn't noticeable damage when it was parked a few minutes later, but the following Monday morning, after the car was sitting in the temperature controlled garage all weekend, there was a very large crack. The car had less than 3,000 miles on it and we had it for less than 6 months.
Small crack in windshield starting under passenger wiper blade. No suspected debris impact. Car has not been driven due to ongoing pandemic. Happened while parked in driveway.
A unknown small object hit the windshield while I was driving 65 mph on a interstate freeway which caused a large crack. Vehicle only has 10,000 miles on it.
I have driven my car infrequently if at all for the past few weeks as the country has been sheltering at home - this is probably the least amount of stress any car has ever been put under. The last time I used my car was over a week ago and otherwise it's been sitting in my apartment's small, outdoor parking lot doing nothing at all. Weather for the last week has been extremely moderate in the high 60S Fahrenheit and no wind at all. Then I went out to my car to look for something and instead found a giant crack extending across half my windshield and curving down under the bottom "sealed" edge. This has to be a manufacturer issue as I haven't even used it. Even before the current immobility, with a 7 minute Suburban commute there really wasn't much going on with a car supposedly built for tough conditions.
I drove to a shopping center and parked. After a couple hours, I returned to my car, and found the windshield was cracked from the top passenger side diagonally across to the center of the windshield. I had the windshield replaced by safelite.
After driving the new 2019 Subaru Forester for only a couple of months, I noticed lots of chips and fine scratches on the front windshield. And now, after driving it for less than 8 months, a 12'' crack appears on the windshield with the car fully covered in the garage. I contacted the local Subaru dealer and they told me I need to pay about $1200 to replace the windshield. I know there are multiple lawsuits on this issue and Subaru owners are having this as a common issue. This is definitely a manufacturing defect.
I have experienced 2 cracks in my windshield in the 1st 10 months of ownership. Both instances occurred while I was driving on a highway. I heard a loud noise and later noticed that a crack appeared on my windshield. In our previous 30 years of driving, neither my wife nor I have experienced any windshield cracks and we believe that the windshield provided with our 2019 Subaru Forester (purchased new) is defective.
Rock cracked windshield, while moving on freeway, drivers side. 2 days later crack ran about half way across windshield in front of driver. Large truck sent rock into windshield, while moving down freeway.
Windshield is defective and easily damaged. First damaged occurred on November 24, 2019 with 4501 miles driven. A small pebble struck the windshield resulting in a small star burst crack while the car was in motion. Second damaged occurred on March 15, 2020 with 8,651 miles driven. A stress crack from the passenger side windshield originating right below the wiper blade defrosting heating element. The crack was not caused by any impact. Later it was noticed after the car was driven and parked in the driveway. Reviewed many other Subaru customer complaints about the same stress crack originating from below the passenger side wiper heating elements. I strongly believe the 2019 Subaru Forester should be recalled for either having a structural design fault that causes stress cracks to form at the bottom of the glass or the glass is very brittle from minor strikes or flexing.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rochester, NY, USA