2020 Outback on the third windshield. Cracks started at the bottom of the windshield just to the passenger side of center, went pretty much straight up 8 inches and then curved towards the driver’s side several inches and continued to grow. No nicks, scratches or other indication of impact damage. Dealer replaced the windshields at no cost, but after the second replacement said they would not be replacing it again and I would have to make an insurance claim. There obviously is a manufacturing defect. Subaru should do a voluntary recall and fix this problem permanently.
Happy ending alert: I bought a brand new Crosstrek and the front AND rear windshields cracked under 2,000 miles. I took it to my dealership, had them assess during my 1st servicing. I took extensive videos the day BEFORE taking it to the dealership with a social media generated date filter on each video & photo. I refused to sign off liability on other, unrelated upgrades I had also scheduled that same day, until they put their observed windshield cracks in writing in a physical receipt they gave me. Luckily, that upgrade was a rear-differential protector I bought with my car and took them 6 months to order. I called corporate, sent the photos and digital copies of receipt from the dealership. Corporate had me take it back to the dealership. The dealership passed it back to corporate, etc. Then I finally went to the dealership and called Corporate while at the dealership. Corporate said that the service manager at the dealership rejected my claim, so I walked into the service manager's office on speakerphone and asked corporate to repeat why the claim was rejected. They repeated that the service manager was to blame. This fired up the service manager -- who hated me at the time -- to kick it into 12th gear. Finally, corporate is replacing both windshields at $0 charge. Lessons learned: 1. If you have comprehensive coverage insurance like me then save yourself the literal 15 months' back-and-forth by calling your insurer and explaining you bought a car and have hard evidence the dealership acknowledges this is an item under warranty, the dealership & corporate refuse to honor their warranty, pay your deductible, and let your insurance company's lawyers sue them for the entirety of damages. You will still pay your deductible upfront, but those who did you wrong will be dealt with.(first 12 months' of Subaru warranty covers windshields damage on new vehicles) 2. Call your State's Attorney General Office and report this to them. (The BBB is worthless and has 0 legal jurisdiction.) 3. Save pictures and videos of all evidence using social media filters with time/date stamps and upload as 'Private' to keep your digital evidence from being easily dismissed. 4. Understand that accepting any warranty claim is legally considered a settlement. In other words, if & when I accept this warranty claim, I'll be releasing all rights to sue Subaru or to file a complaint with the Attorney General. This is why Subaru will try to make your life stressful and pressure you into taking the first deal they offer. In my case, I was initially offered $500. By persevering, Subaru is now offering me $3,800 replacement parts. 5. You will not find the info I'm my comment online because I am fortunate enough to have a great, personal attorney that explained all of this to me. 6. Hang in there. Breathe. Add comprehensive coverage to your insurance because you'll need it with Subaru, unless you CAN afford an attorney or paying your deductible 2,3,4 times within a few years for the windshield alone. I know this is lengthy, but I hope this helps SOMEBODY out there in this world.
My wife has a 2017 Outback. We purchased it new. As of April 2023 we are on windshield #12. 8 of those cracked on their own, no rock hits on them or anything. Guess it’s one and done for us with Subaru.
This DEFINITELY happened to me. I purchased a 2019 Subaru Forrester in 2019 and 4 months in I got a huge crack in the bottom of my windshield. My car was parked and fine and I came out to find it. This lead to other problems in my car that Subaru refuses to acknowledge or rectify. They should be sued for ignoring this.
When I got in my car this morning a noticed a crack from the top of my windshield down to where the rear view mirror is. No chips from a rock or anything...after googling it I found hundreds of people with the same issue...Kind of weird that Subaru isn't doing anything about it. I'm dreading what they're going to charge to replace this.
Just got my 2024 Crosstrek not even a month ago, have not made my first payment on it and have a 16 in crack on the driver side. The crack spread immediately within minutes. Local glass repairs cannot even buy a new windshield to replace it so they told me to call Subaru. Subaru says they won’t replace it for me because I did not buy the glass warranty from them and referred me to another glass repair. Called the 3rd place Subaru referred and they said they can’t order one and they would try calling Subaru directly. Still haven’t heard back from them, but I doubt they will be able to fix it either.
2023 impreza. Under 7k and this is the SECOND crack. Replaced one month ago due to a small rock hitting it. Replacement cracked for NO reason. As others have stated, to the right of center on the passenger side. About 5 inches. Literally was just sitting in the driveway.
I don't even have 10,000 miles on my 2022 Outback. Friday night it was fine, and Saturday morning, sitting in my long driveway, there was a crack on the passenger side out of nowhere.
2022 Outback. Cracked windshield within six months of delivery. Several cracks started - one at base of windshield on driver's side and the other on the passenger side half way up on the side.
Have a 2020 Outback purchased new. Now it's 2023 and all of a sudden there a crack in the windshield coming from the bottom area just right of being in the middle. Crack goes up about 4 to 5 inches then curves toward the driver side for about 4 inches. There are small is a small rock nick elsewhere on the windshield which have been there for some time with no cracks. Don't see any rock nicks even when looking very closely using magnifier lens. Took to dealership to ask and they quickly look at the windshield crack and advise it was done by a very tiny rock and was found by using a ball point pen placing the pen in the crack area and rolling it in the crack. Not sure how value that result is but they will not replace it under warranty or due to the fact there been so many with same crack windshield issue as mine. Not sure why none of the other rock nicks caused any cracks but the one place where I can't find any rock nicks there is a crack and starts from under the cover for the wiper blades and goes upward for several inches. I believe the issue is a mfg issue and even if its a rock nick, it should take a decent size nick to cause any type of cracks. It the crack is from a rock then why didn't any of the other nicks cause cracks and the one place where one can not be found there is a crack.
My new 2023 Forester just got crack, here in Puerto Rico. The dealership is asking for $2,995 for the windshield, mounts $79 and $280 for labor. If I go with the replacement($880), they say that the eyesight probably have problems.
Replaced three windshields within 25,000 miles on our 2022 Subaru Legacy. Installed a non-oem for the fourth install (Pilkington) and haven't experienced a crack/break since (on 57k now). Was told by an ex-Safelite employee that the recalibration cost is a scam since these systems aren't attached to the windshield.
mine cracked 15 minutes off the dealer lot, right inbetween the whiper blades... currently praying the dealership helps. 2016 crosstrek with 60k... first car and already issues not even 24 hours in...
Seems like they are moving away from the manual going forward so they can have it on every single car. Curious if they still use the same windshield though.
Thanks for the information. I have a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek and I have changed my front windshield twice in 11 months. First crack was from a small piece of gravel. My second windshield was from the top beveled edge at the top of the windshield I was the reason for the crack Safelite claimed it was from impact from something. I argued till I was blue in the face. There was no impact. I am definite. It was a defect in the windshield.
I purchased a 2024 Subaru Forester Sport in August 2024. Within 3 days, we drove up to the mountains. A rock cracked the passenger side windshield - Chip Repair. 2 days ago, we drove up to the mountains. A rock cracks the windshield. I'm pretty sure we need to replace the windshield. The car is 7 months old. Not happy.
Interesting. We have a 2018 impreza bought new. 105000ks. Always parked outside. No cracked windscreens at all. We are in Australia, so maybe the problem might be related to the cold temps in the us or something. There is a theory that having the windscreen heater on for too long might be a cause. Have just bought an outback and have taken the low excess windscreen option just in case.
i have a 2019 subaru forester and i'm on my 3rd glass replacement... 2 front windshields.. and a passenger front window... and for those who have replaced their windshields.. u know how expensive they are... i've never ever had this happen to the many vehicles i have owned in the past.. Subaru not taking a stance and ignoring the many complaints is horrible and this will be my 1st and last Subaru ... btw.. the passenger window...... no rock hit it.. i live in Virginia and temp was probably 50 degrees that day..... it just busted out while i was driving.. the scariest thing i've ever encountered..
2 Foresters one a 2014 the other a 2020. 2014 = No Eyesight, 2020 = Eyesight BOTH have cracked windshields running mid glass from passenger side toward driver side. In my 2020 I was sitting in my driveway I had just gotten into the vehicle and was getting ready to start it, engine not running and literally heard and saw my windshield crack right in front of my own eyes\ears. Took it to the dealer and of course the service department stated no longer under warranty due to mileage (~50K) and that it had to have been hit by something to crack, dismissing what I told them about seeing it crack right in front of me, the story from them became yeah something hit prior hard enough for it to crack later... ITS A BIG SCAM FOR GARBAGE WINDSHIELDS!!! I HAVE TWO CRACKED SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS!!!
I have a 2016 Forester with a crack center bottom of the windshield. Long before the crack, I always have heard a popping/straining sound coming from my windshield. Has anyone else experienced this? I want to buy the 2024 Forester, but if this issue isn’t resolved, I’ll be going to Toyota.
2016 with EyeSight… on my 3rd windshield (broke overnight in a climate controlled garage each time). Put ZERO deductible on my insurance after 1st replacement so it’s been annoying but free to replace. 😡
2019 Outback. Purchased new in November 2018. First windshield crack just occurred over this past weekend. I should consider myself lucky I made it 4.5 years without a crack. Darn thing started out in the lower right hand corner and has now spread to halfway across the windshield. I haven't driven the car in two days and the crack keeps expanding.
I very much appreciated your video explanation. My car is 4 weeks old and after 2 weeks had 2 cracks in the windshield. I replaced it 4 days ago and now I need to have it replaced again. 80 miles later another crack. It is a 2023 Legacy limited and for what it cost me, I should not have to deal with cracked windshields. Thank you for sharing.
2020 Outback on the third windshield. Cracks started at the bottom of the windshield just to the passenger side of center, went pretty much straight up 8 inches and then curved towards the driver’s side several inches and continued to grow. No nicks, scratches or other indication of impact damage. Dealer replaced the windshields at no cost, but after the second replacement said they would not be replacing it again and I would have to make an insurance claim. There obviously is a manufacturing defect. Subaru should do a voluntary recall and fix this problem permanently.
Just like all 3 of my 2016 ones did.
Happy ending alert:
I bought a brand new Crosstrek and the front AND rear windshields cracked under 2,000 miles. I took it to my dealership, had them assess during my 1st servicing. I took extensive videos the day BEFORE taking it to the dealership with a social media generated date filter on each video & photo. I refused to sign off liability on other, unrelated upgrades I had also scheduled that same day, until they put their observed windshield cracks in writing in a physical receipt they gave me. Luckily, that upgrade was a rear-differential protector I bought with my car and took them 6 months to order.
I called corporate, sent the photos and digital copies of receipt from the dealership. Corporate had me take it back to the dealership. The dealership passed it back to corporate, etc. Then I finally went to the dealership and called Corporate while at the dealership. Corporate said that the service manager at the dealership rejected my claim, so I walked into the service manager's office on speakerphone and asked corporate to repeat why the claim was rejected. They repeated that the service manager was to blame. This fired up the service manager -- who hated me at the time -- to kick it into 12th gear.
Finally, corporate is replacing both windshields at $0 charge.
Lessons learned:
1. If you have comprehensive coverage insurance like me then save yourself the literal 15 months' back-and-forth by calling your insurer and explaining you bought a car and have hard evidence the dealership acknowledges this is an item under warranty, the dealership & corporate refuse to honor their warranty, pay your deductible, and let your insurance company's lawyers sue them for the entirety of damages. You will still pay your deductible upfront, but those who did you wrong will be dealt with.(first 12 months' of Subaru warranty covers windshields damage on new vehicles)
2. Call your State's Attorney General Office and report this to them. (The BBB is worthless and has 0 legal jurisdiction.)
3. Save pictures and videos of all evidence using social media filters with time/date stamps and upload as 'Private' to keep your digital evidence from being easily dismissed.
4. Understand that accepting any warranty claim is legally considered a settlement. In other words, if & when I accept this warranty claim, I'll be releasing all rights to sue Subaru or to file a complaint with the Attorney General. This is why Subaru will try to make your life stressful and pressure you into taking the first deal they offer. In my case, I was initially offered $500. By persevering, Subaru is now offering me $3,800 replacement parts.
5. You will not find the info I'm my comment online because I am fortunate enough to have a great, personal attorney that explained all of this to me.
6. Hang in there. Breathe. Add comprehensive coverage to your insurance because you'll need it with Subaru, unless you CAN afford an attorney or paying your deductible 2,3,4 times within a few years for the windshield alone.
I know this is lengthy, but I hope this helps SOMEBODY out there in this world.
My wife has a 2017 Outback. We purchased it new. As of April 2023 we are on windshield #12. 8 of those cracked on their own, no rock hits on them or anything. Guess it’s one and done for us with Subaru.
Wow didn’t realize it was that bad. That’s insane
I have replaced mine 3 times in 2 months. This insane. They give defective parts.
outback 2020, 3 windshields in 14 months, got rid of it, been happy since
This DEFINITELY happened to me. I purchased a 2019 Subaru Forrester in 2019 and 4 months in I got a huge crack in the bottom of my windshield. My car was parked and fine and I came out to find it. This lead to other problems in my car that Subaru refuses to acknowledge or rectify. They should be sued for ignoring this.
When I got in my car this morning a noticed a crack from the top of my windshield down to where the rear view mirror is. No chips from a rock or anything...after googling it I found hundreds of people with the same issue...Kind of weird that Subaru isn't doing anything about it. I'm dreading what they're going to charge to replace this.
😬
When people start posting vids about cracks in windshields, you really think there isnt a problem subaru? Embarrassing. Way to support your fan base
Just got my 2024 Crosstrek not even a month ago, have not made my first payment on it and have a 16 in crack on the driver side. The crack spread immediately within minutes. Local glass repairs cannot even buy a new windshield to replace it so they told me to call Subaru. Subaru says they won’t replace it for me because I did not buy the glass warranty from them and referred me to another glass repair. Called the 3rd place Subaru referred and they said they can’t order one and they would try calling Subaru directly. Still haven’t heard back from them, but I doubt they will be able to fix it either.
2023 impreza. Under 7k and this is the SECOND crack. Replaced one month ago due to a small rock hitting it. Replacement cracked for NO reason. As others have stated, to the right of center on the passenger side. About 5 inches. Literally was just sitting in the driveway.
I don't even have 10,000 miles on my 2022 Outback. Friday night it was fine, and Saturday morning, sitting in my long driveway, there was a crack on the passenger side out of nowhere.
Yikes!
2022 Outback. Cracked windshield within six months of delivery. Several cracks started - one at base of windshield on driver's side and the other on the passenger side half way up on the side.
Have a 2020 Outback purchased new. Now it's 2023 and all of a sudden there a crack in the windshield coming from the bottom area just right of being in the middle. Crack goes up about 4 to 5 inches then curves toward the driver side for about 4 inches. There are small is a small rock nick elsewhere on the windshield which have been there for some time with no cracks. Don't see any rock nicks even when looking very closely using magnifier lens. Took to dealership to ask and they quickly look at the windshield crack and advise it was done by a very tiny rock and was found by using a ball point pen placing the pen in the crack area and rolling it in the crack. Not sure how value that result is but they will not replace it under warranty or due to the fact there been so many with same crack windshield issue as mine. Not sure why none of the other rock nicks caused any cracks but the one place where I can't find any rock nicks there is a crack and starts from under the cover for the wiper blades and goes upward for several inches. I believe the issue is a mfg issue and even if its a rock nick, it should take a decent size nick to cause any type of cracks. It the crack is from a rock then why didn't any of the other nicks cause cracks and the one place where one can not be found there is a crack.
My new 2023 Forester just got crack, here in Puerto Rico. The dealership is asking for $2,995 for the windshield, mounts $79 and $280 for labor. If I go with the replacement($880), they say that the eyesight probably have problems.
Replaced three windshields within 25,000 miles on our 2022 Subaru Legacy. Installed a non-oem for the fourth install (Pilkington) and haven't experienced a crack/break since (on 57k now). Was told by an ex-Safelite employee that the recalibration cost is a scam since these systems aren't attached to the windshield.
mine cracked 15 minutes off the dealer lot, right inbetween the whiper blades... currently praying the dealership helps. 2016 crosstrek with 60k... first car and already issues not even 24 hours in...
😮
Haven’t even driven my brand new car 12 miles, and the window is already cracked
Take it back
We just bought a 2023 Crosstrek without eyesight. (Manual). We prefer not to have it. Here is another reason not to get eyesight.
Seems like they are moving away from the manual going forward so they can have it on every single car. Curious if they still use the same windshield though.
It’s defective cheap windshield Carlex nonsense.
Thanks for the information. I have a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek and I have changed my front windshield twice in 11 months. First crack was from a small piece of gravel. My second windshield was from the top beveled edge at the top of the windshield I was the reason for the crack Safelite claimed it was from impact from something. I argued till I was blue in the face. There was no impact. I am definite. It was a defect in the windshield.
2019 legacy checking in, cant even remember if im on my 6th or 7th now. little over 50k miles
Just drove home in the new Impreza and it cracked less than 12 miles
We have had our crack 3 times 2018 Subaru outback
I have a 2019 crosstrek limited. About to get my 4th windshield. 🤦🏼♀️
I keep hearing stories like this, crazy.
I purchased a 2024 Subaru Forester Sport in August 2024. Within 3 days, we drove up to the mountains. A rock cracked the passenger side windshield - Chip Repair. 2 days ago, we drove up to the mountains. A rock cracks the windshield. I'm pretty sure we need to replace the windshield. The car is 7 months old. Not happy.
Interesting. We have a 2018 impreza bought new. 105000ks. Always parked outside. No cracked windscreens at all. We are in Australia, so maybe the problem might be related to the cold temps in the us or something. There is a theory that having the windscreen heater on for too long might be a cause. Have just bought an outback and have taken the low excess windscreen option just in case.
i have a 2019 subaru forester and i'm on my 3rd glass replacement... 2 front windshields.. and a passenger front window... and for those who have replaced their windshields.. u know how expensive they are... i've never ever had this happen to the many vehicles i have owned in the past.. Subaru not taking a stance and ignoring the many complaints is horrible and this will be my 1st and last Subaru ... btw.. the passenger window...... no rock hit it.. i live in Virginia and temp was probably 50 degrees that day..... it just busted out while i was driving.. the scariest thing i've ever encountered..
2 Foresters one a 2014 the other a 2020. 2014 = No Eyesight, 2020 = Eyesight BOTH have cracked windshields running mid glass from passenger side toward driver side. In my 2020 I was sitting in my driveway I had just gotten into the vehicle and was getting ready to start it, engine not running and literally heard and saw my windshield crack right in front of my own eyes\ears. Took it to the dealer and of course the service department stated no longer under warranty due to mileage (~50K) and that it had to have been hit by something to crack, dismissing what I told them about seeing it crack right in front of me, the story from them became yeah something hit prior hard enough for it to crack later... ITS A BIG SCAM FOR GARBAGE WINDSHIELDS!!! I HAVE TWO CRACKED SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS!!!
I have a 2016 Forester with a crack center bottom of the windshield.
Long before the crack, I always have heard a popping/straining sound coming from my windshield. Has anyone else experienced this?
I want to buy the 2024 Forester, but if this issue isn’t resolved, I’ll be going to Toyota.
And this is why I passed on a brand new Forester. Between the possible oil consumption issues and ultra delicate windshields, it wasnt worth it.
2016 with EyeSight… on my 3rd windshield (broke overnight in a climate controlled garage each time). Put ZERO deductible on my insurance after 1st replacement so it’s been annoying but free to replace. 😡
That’s why I got a CX-5 instead.
2019 Outback. Purchased new in November 2018. First windshield crack just occurred over this past weekend. I should consider myself lucky I made it 4.5 years without a crack. Darn thing started out in the lower right hand corner and has now spread to halfway across the windshield. I haven't driven the car in two days and the crack keeps expanding.
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I very much appreciated your video explanation. My car is 4 weeks old and after 2 weeks had 2 cracks in the windshield. I replaced it 4 days ago and now I need to have it replaced again. 80 miles later another crack. It is a 2023 Legacy limited and for what it cost me, I should not have to deal with cracked windshields. Thank you for sharing.
i got mine crack because of a rock!