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2017-2019 Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek. Subaru windshield lawsuit
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By Denis Flierl Oct 27 2019 - 6:54am

Subaru Hit With Another Lawsuit Over Forester, Outback, Crosstrek Defective Windshields

Subaru has more bad news than good news in October. See what is happening to some new 2017-2019 Subaru Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek windshields.
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Subaru of America (SOA) can’t seem to catch a break and is now hit with its second class-action lawsuit in two weeks. Torque News reported on October 16, Subaru and Toyota have a new lawsuit over recall repairs on the BRZ and Toyota 86 causing engine fires. A new class-action lawsuit filed this week seeks damages against Subaru for the drivers of 2017-2019 Subaru Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek models alleged to have defective windshields.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Christine Powell by attorney Peter Muhic of Philadelphia and attorneys for a Pittsburgh-based firm, Carlson Lynch LLC, contends 2017-19 Forester and Outback models have "dangerous" windshields that are prone to "cracking, chipping and otherwise breaking.”


2017-2019 Subaru Outback windshields

A similar windshield lawsuit was filed against SOA in 2017 claiming the 2015-2016 Subaru Outback and Legacy model’s windshield were spontaneously breaking. A judge ruled the plaintiff had sufficiently alleged claims on behalf of a proposed class of California drivers under a mix of state and federal consumer protection, unfair competition and warranty laws. The California judge ruled Subaru knew of the defects and the plaintiffs received compensation in that lawsuit.

The recent lawsuit says replacement windshields for 2017-2019 Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek models are not fixing the problem and contends the defect prevents "the safe and proper operation" of technology intended to prevent collisions. Subaru uses a driver assist safety system attached to the inside of the upper windshield and the lawsuit contends cracks in the windshield hamper the EyeSight safety system from working properly.


2019 Subaru Forester

Powell, a Wisconsin woman, says the windshield on her 2018 Subaru Forester cracked twice in an 18-month period. The suit says Subaru will not cover the cost of a new windshield or pay for recalibrating the vehicles' EyeSight driver-assist system which can cost from $1,000 to $2,000.

Torque News checked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website and found numerous complaints about Outback and Forester windshields cracking, and some while the car is parked.


Subaru Crosstrek

What should Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek owners do?

If you own a 2017-2019 Subaru Outback, Forester, or Crosstrek and have experienced a cracked windshield for no apparent reason, you can file a complaint with the NHTSA by going to this website link, or call 1-888-327-4236. Or you can submit your contact information here and an attorney from Carlson Lynch will be in touch to review your case further.

You Might Also Like: Subaru Resumes Production Of New Forester And Crosstrek, Expect Delays If You Want One

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Comments

Gerald S Wright wrote on October 27, 2019 - 12:07pm
2019 outback windshield cracked halfway across last week and estimated cost is $1200.00. Not covered in the protection plan I purchased.
Joseph Sebal wrote on October 27, 2019 - 12:28pm
I replaced a 2016 forester windshield 2 week after purchase and had chips repaired on a 2019 already
Lois wrote on October 28, 2019 - 2:15pm
Go on car complaints.com for the many problems with Subaru. I have 2015 worst of the worst. I wouldn’t have another one if they gave it to me. Way too many expensive dangerous problems. Thought I was getting the best. So disappointed.
Arnold Milstein wrote on October 27, 2019 - 2:16pm
I bought a 2020 Outback on September 19th in Florida. On October 17th I came out of my house in New Jersey to find a crack in the windshield. I took it to the dealership and they said it was from a chip and the cooler weather caused it to crack. It sounds plausible, but now I wonder.
Patrick Keegan wrote on October 27, 2019 - 4:28pm
Your product knowledge seems lacking.. Today's comments re: Outback engines and horse power. Subaru no longer makes a 3.6 engine. It was a 6 cylinder engine. You suggested in your article that it was one of two choices. Please update the information given to the public.
Allena Bothwell wrote on October 27, 2019 - 5:48pm
I own a Subaru outback 2017
Rodney A Bennett wrote on October 27, 2019 - 5:54pm
It is very important to have all rock strike chips immediately repaired as the heating element on the bottom of the windshield WILL cause it to crack during cold weather... I live in a quasi rural area where a lot of idiots have monster tires that extend past their fenders. I have had two rock strikes because of these morons at $45.00 each to repair, so far my windshield has not cracked.
Karen Henion wrote on October 27, 2019 - 6:48pm
Have a 2018 outback. Would like to see comments. So far no problem with windshield
Matt wrote on October 28, 2019 - 3:16pm
I have a 2018 outback, already gotten 3 chips repairs within a 1 year ownership and a mysterious crack formed on my lower passenger side of the windshield. Waiting for it to get larger before I spend the money of getting it replaced. It's quite depressing as my 2003 acura has been hit with rocks on multiple occasions and it still has the OEM glass that was on the car the day it came off the lot. I thought it was just my luck but after seeing this article I'm wondering if its just the crap glass they use.
thomas h parisi wrote on October 27, 2019 - 8:58pm
My wife has a 2017 Outback and I know a rock or road debris hit the windshield but we have so many 100's of snow like chips in this windshield like if we drove through a dust storm, I know what those are as we had lived in Phoenix for 30+years. And now are in the Midwest
Digitaldoc wrote on October 27, 2019 - 10:22pm
Subaru needs to seriously work on these recurrent quality issues and recalls. It is disappointing to see these types of things. Hope they get it worked out soon.
Sirius Black wrote on October 27, 2019 - 11:50pm
First of all I think Subaru didn't know they were defective and the California lawyers are nuts. Second perhaps people should actually LEARN TO DRIVE so they don't NEED the driver assist system to get around. Lastly windshields even defective ones don't just spontaneously crack. Start looking for the ACTUAL reasons your windshields are cracking people.
Zigfrid wrote on October 28, 2019 - 1:16pm
I remember you in the 90s telling people to learn to use their brakes instead of getting cars with ABS
Love My Outback wrote on October 28, 2019 - 8:36pm
Dear Sirius, Safe driving, always important. Point well taken. Been driving safely for 45 years. However, Subaru offered a product with certain driver assist features. Necessary to the driver assist features was a windshield specifically engineered to allow a camera to accurately capture images through the windshield. Now, I would agree that windshield chips and cracks don’t occur spontaneously. However, when a windshield is measurably more subject to chips or cracks due to impact of foreign objects or variations in temperature than an ordinary windshield because of the specific engineering of the windshield to enable the delivery of driver assist, that is not ‘spontaneous.’ That is cause and effect. But not within acceptable tolerance. That is the defining characteristic of a defect. Frankly, I bought my Outback because I loved the car. Still do. This particular vehicle was equipped with driver assist. Fine by me. Less than two months after buying the car, I noticed a tiny crack in the windshield. I have no idea when it occurred. I’ve been driving a long time and this has happened on other cars. But I always heard it and knew it when it happened. Subaru didn’t offer to sell me a car with a windshield measurably more subject to chips or cracks due to impact of foreign objects or variations in temperature that would not ordinarily damage windshields commonly provided. If they did, who would buy it? Why yes, please. I’ll take the windshield more easily damaged. This is not about judging people for having vehicles with driver assist. It’s about buying a defective product. Period. I didn’t sign on for that. I still love my car, but there it is.
Steve wrote on October 28, 2019 - 8:49pm
Yes these windows do just crack on their own. Ours cracked and they was nobody around us at all. I checked the windshield and absolutely no chips etc. it just cracked acrothe entire windshield.
Tekeru Jones wrote on October 28, 2019 - 12:04am
People need to stop giving Subaru a hard time. Their market has grown exponentially in recent years, growing pains are to be expected. Besides if more people would use the brains they were born with and weren't so lawsuit happy we'd all have less problems. Please people LOOK at your windshields closely, use your brains. They don't "just crack spontaneously" something is causing it. A rock, weather fluctuations perhaps a careless kid that bounced a basketball off your windshield. Look at them, then go get it fixed quit complaining and sueing.
Tiny Cadon wrote on October 28, 2019 - 10:52am
Wow, who would've thought the problem was complaining & su"e"ing & NOT defective parts that the company refuses to cover! I guess if everyone just stops complaining & suing then the windshields will just repair themselves???
ABC wrote on October 28, 2019 - 5:33am
I thought that if you bought a Subaru everything in your life would be perfect?
Victoria Favale wrote on October 28, 2019 - 5:42am
I own 2016 Subaru Forester
Steve wrote on October 28, 2019 - 11:11am
My question to everyone that is having the issue with the window is how can .Subaru have so many dealership around the the USA and when those customer test drive the car don't have the same problem. The only way a window can crack is driving on the road.
Jennifer N Stam wrote on October 28, 2019 - 11:42am
I own a 2019 Forester Sport. I have already replaced my windshield but I'm not sure if it's related. My front windshield was hit by a rock that kicked up from a semi. It cracked slightly at the time, but within a few days was cracked 3/4 of the way across.
Gary parendo wrote on October 28, 2019 - 11:45am
No data in this article or lawsuit. As in are Subaru windshields cracking more than others. Anyone can file a lawsuit and it is easy to find a lawyer to file a class action. All antidotal evidence. Almost every car I have owned has been chipped and cracked. I am in Minnesota and a cold snap will do it. Also chips are not because of Subaru. We just traded a 2017 Outback for a 2020 Outback. No problems at all.
John Forsythe wrote on October 28, 2019 - 3:55pm
I bought a 2018 Crosstrek and had to replace the windshield with in the first year!! And my orange paint has chipped so bad it looks several years old already.... bad paint as well!!! Take it to the dealership and they tried to say it was just because of where I live in the mountains!!!
Frances wrote on October 28, 2019 - 4:31pm
Bought a 2018 Subaru Crosstrk last June. Only recall for was radio software need to be replaced. Problem solved. Love my Subaru. Great MPG, great in snow. If dump trucks covered the haul, pebbles and rocks wouldn't damage any windshields. Hwy patrol need to tickets these drivers.
Jack Rogers wrote on October 29, 2019 - 10:17pm
Absolutely ludicrous. Here I am driving a Honda Accord and wanting to purchase a Subaru within 2 years time for my next vehicle. These stories here have completely turned me off of buying a Subaru. I can't imagine replacing a windshield, then doing it again a few months later because the original problem still has not been resolved. I'm really glad these class action lawsuits are in the works. -------------------------- Having said that - I look at the new CR-Vs and they have 1.5T engine problems with gas getting into the oil crankcase, as well as insufficient, if any at all, cabin heat in the winter. Just nuts. This problem is still going on. ------------------------------ Toyota Rav4 - maybe that's an option for an ok awd system but I don't know. I really wanted to try out the superior Subaru system.... -------------------------------------------
Philip Davis wrote on November 2, 2019 - 4:48pm
Windshields, headgaskets and the irritating motor turning off at red lights is nothing compared to the shady characters that sold me my 2019 Forester
Allen D Schultz wrote on November 2, 2019 - 11:45pm
You can sure spot the shills for Subaru. I'm not convinced the problems with Subaru windshields is because of the Eyesight system. And I don't think I should have to learn to drive safely without Eyesight to allegedly accomodate a thinner windshield for eyesight. That's an engineering problem for Subaru to solve. I've been driving for 45 years and I seamlessly switch between vehicles with and without various safety features. I do not need Eyesight. It is a safety net and under normal circumstances it isn't used or needed. But we all know that in normal circumstances accidents will happen, so yes, I will appreciate it when Eyesight saves my tail. Subaru offered it for sale, I felt it was worth it, and I want it to work. If a thicker windshield solves the spontaneous cracking and that compromises Eyesight they can refund the premium price for it. All this said, I love the car, it is my 4th. I owned a Subaru when half the shills were not even born. So don't pretend to tell me how I should drive.